Guest guest Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Today for you 38 news items about Mama Earth's trees. Also a special feature on Russian forests. Location, number and subject listed below. Condensed / abbreviated article is listed further below.--Alaska: 1) Protest aerial spraying,--Oregon: 2) A stewardship pilot project in the Boulder-Dumont--Montana: 3) Rocky Mountain Log Homes needs logs--Louisiana: 4) Mass urban tree death from Katrina --Pennsylvania: 5) Chesapeake Bay's problems are Pennsylvania's --New Hampshire: 6) Wilderness in White Mt. NF --Vermont: 7) Why the Governor stopped wilderness protection --North Carolina: 8) Wildlife Resources Commission staff thinned pine forests --South Carolina: 9) Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, a 20,000-acre nature preserve --Hawaii:10) Gall wasps going after Wiliwili tree --USA: 11) Recreation Site Facility Master Planning scandal --North America: 12) Quaking, aspen --Russia: 13) watchdog has submitted details to prosecutors on illegal deforestation, 14) Russia amounts to 1.1 billion hectares of forest, 15) Forest industry economy, 16) Tyumen Region, 17) Omsk Region, 18) Ust-Ordynsky Buryat Autonomous Area, 19) Evenk Autonomous Area, 20) Arkhangelsk Region, 21) Penza Region, 22) Tatarstan, 23) Tver Region, 24) Vladimir Region, 25) Bryansk, 26) Ivanovo Region, 27) Kirov Region, 28) Kurgan Region, --Uganda: 29) Saving Mabira Forest --Chile: 30) Highway plans move forward --Malaysia: 31) Indonesian smoke shuts 'em down --Indonesia: 32) persons wanted in illegal logging activity, 33) pristine rainforests of Borneo, 34) 100-year-old banyan tree dies for Islam? 35) Goa to save seven healthy trees, --Australia: 36) Forest in Hoddles Creek, 37) North-East Forest Alliance wants details, --World-wide: 38) on the road with our campaign to stop GE treesAlaska:1) The groups say aerial spraying of poison on nearly 2,000 acres of Long Island near Prince of Wales could affect fishing waters and wildlife habitat. Klukwan, a Haines-based Native corporation, owns the property and plans to use a helicopter to spray to suppress red alder and salmonberry, two native species that limit regrowth of conifer trees on the clearcut land, said Kim Stricklan, solid waste and pesticide manager for the state Klukwan wants to grow more conifers for future logging, she said Stricklan said Tuesday the plan is safe for nearby fish and wildlife habitat. " We would not have issued the permit if we had thought it wasn't safe, " she said. Long Island for years has been used by residents of Hydaburg to support their subsistence way of life, said Hydaburg Mayor Tom Morrison. " We go all around the island. Sometimes we fish on the outside and sometimes we fish on the inside. It is not that big of an island, " he said. " It is right in the main thoroughfare of some of our food gathering. " If Klukwan sprays the herbicide, he would not feel safe eating any of the food harvested from around the island, he said. Klukwan Inc.'s initial permit application was rescinded last year after several groups sued. As a result, Stricklan said, a different additive was proposed in 2006, which will reduce the chance that the chemicals will drift. Sherman remained skeptical. " I think they are saying they are supposed to do it only when it is only 7-mph-or-less winds, " he said. " That is pretty much wishful thinking. http://www.adn.com/money/industries/native_corporations/story/8269735p-8166501c.html Oregon:2) TILLER -- A stewardship pilot project in the Boulder-Dumont unit is now under way, employing 15 people from the local community. The 33-acre project in the Tiller Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest is a pre-commercial thinning operation that reduces fire fuels and pays for itself once products are sold to mills or niche markets. A partnership between the nonprofit, Ashland-based Lomakatsi Restoration Project and the UNF has created new jobs in the logging industry. The forest thinning begins with a ground-based logging operation, and skyline yarding follows. Lomakatsi's forestry restoration principles have been applied to thousands of acres of forest across Southern Oregon and Northern California in the last decade. All costs and revenue of the Lomakatsi project is tracked by the U.S. Forest Service and Lomakatsi to determine economic factors for stewardship contracting. Information: www.lomakatsi.org or 488-0208. http://www.newsreview.info/article/20061008/NEWS/110080046Montana: 3) HAMILTON - In 2002, Rocky Mountain Log Homes moved the house-log-milling portion of its operation to British Columbia, after years of struggling to find enough available standing dead trees around the region. The company was enticed to move upward of 40 jobs across the border with promises of a plentiful supply of lodgepole pine, which was killed by an explosion of bark beetles. " It wasn't cheaper for us to move, " Connell said. It's really aggravating to think that we're spending 600 gallons of diesel for every damn load of logs that comes in here, especially if you consider the huge supply of dead wood standing within a 50-mile radius of us. " From the company's log yard, Connell can see some of the 307,000 acres of timber around the Bitterroot Valley that went up in smoke in 2000. Those fires and the ones that followed left a product perfect for the log-home market. Most of it stayed on the hillsides after environmental groups sued to stop U.S. Forest Service plans to salvage logs on about 44,000 acres. " We could have kept this mill running for years just harvesting a small portion of it. " Unlike most sawmills, which depend on green trees to create a 2-by-4 or a sheet of plywood, log-home manufacturers seek out the standing dead. Trees killed by bugs, fire or disease all work just fine. " When I first started here in 1988, I could get all the house logs I wanted at $180 to $200 a thousand, " he said. " Now it's over three times that amount, if we can find it at all. " Connell thought he had next year's supply locked up when the company purchased the timber sales associated with the Bitterroot National Forest's Middle East Fork Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project. That source is now up in the air after a recent appeals-court decision placed an injunction on the project. http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/10/08/news/business/25-logs.txt Louisiana:4) NEW ORLEANS — The estimates are staggering. More than 50,000 trees were lost on public grounds, including some 2,000 magnolias, and a quarter of a million trees lost citywide. That is what Hurricane Katrina's winds and water, but mostly her salty flood waters, did to New Orleans' stately tree canopy. "It's what makes New Orleans — its tree-lined streets. Our canopy was so beautiful in this city. It's very depressing,'' Ann Macdonald, director of the city's Department of Parks and Parkways, said as she sat recently in her City Hall office discussing the devastating blow that Katrina's one-two punch of wind and water delivered to the city's tree stock. Tom Campbell, director of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry's state Urban Forester Program, said New Orleans City Park alone lost roughly 1,000 trees. "There are portions of town where you look around and the percentage of loss is really high, 80 to 90 percent in parts of Gentilly, for example,'' he said. "It's ugly as hell.'' Jean Fahr, executive director of the New Orleans nonprofit Parkway Partners Program, said some foresters project that the city lost 70 percent of its urban forest. "We've never seen such a loss in the history of the United States,'' she said, noting that the southern Florida area struck by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 lost 45 percent of its tree canopy. "Magnolias took it the worst because they couldn't handle the salt water,'' Fahr said. Macdonald said the city's live oaks that sat submerged for weeks are not yet out of the woods because they tend to die a slower death than other trees. "The jury's still out on the live oaks,'' she said. "I think it will be five years before we know the extent of the loss,'' Fahr said. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/4337552.htmlPennsylvania:5) The Chesapeake Bay's problems are Pennsylvania's. The bay's watershed -- of which the Keystone State is a prime contributor -- loses 100 acres of forestland every day, according to a report issued last week by The Conservation Fund and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. If we continue to squander this precious national resource, the report says we can look forward to forests becoming less able to absorb nitrogen, increasing the amount of that gas into the bay by 200 percent. Water quality in the bay will suffer, air quality will continue to decline, an additional 9.2 million acres of forests will be threatened by residential development; invasive pests will alter the forest forever -- 70 percent of Pennsylvania's trees already are under threat from the Asian longhorned beetle. The striking facts for Pennsylvania are magnified in York County with its long border that follows the Susquehanna River. Logging is a vital part of the state's economy, with more than 66,000 people employed in an industry with yearly sales of more than $9 billion. Sustained forestry practices help ameliorate the effect of over-logging on the bay's watershed, but it's development regulations at the township and county levels that also have a dramatic effect on the filtering process before water reaches the river and the bay. http://www.yorkdispatch.com/viewpoints/editorial/ci_4451229New Hampshire: 6) Both the 23,700-acre Wild River Range between Jackson and Sherburne and the 10,800-acre addition to the Sandwich Range Wilderness between Waterville Valley and Sandwich are wild places where signs of human impact are few. They could soon become places undisturbed by man, where nature is left to work her will, if Congress and the President approve their nominations as federally designated wilderness areas. " This is one of the richest forest habitats in the White Mountain Forest, " said Dan Yetter of Salem, who has been hiking in the Wild River range for more than a decade and loves its remote qualities far from the well-worn paths of the busy Presidential Range. " It's an entire watershed the size of Boston, a wooded bowl surrounded by majestic mountains, which has mature growth characteristics and a forest that cradles 29 species of rare plants and animals, " he said of the Wild River. Yetter is co-founder of the Friends of the Wild River, a group that since 1997 has been pushing to get federal wilderness designation for the land. " Yes, its already protected from becoming a mall, " said Julie Wormser, policy director for the Appalachian Mountain Club. " They already are part of the White Mountain National Forest. But to have that area allowed to be left alone, allowed to become old growth, to change in a natural way, provides just one of the many values of the White Mountain National Forest. " Known as the land of many uses, the forest was created to provide for logging, recreation, habitat preservation and watershed protection over a century ago. It has grown over the years to be 800,000 acres, and sees an estimated 6 million visitors a year. http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Wilderness+designation+sought & articleId=715e331a- c42c-4d33-a5df-a4eaf19c84abVermont:7) Douglas' attempt to honor the wishes of his anti-wilderness allies took the form of a letter to a House committee chairman expressing concern about a bill passed by the Senate that created about 48,000 acres of new wilderness areas in Vermont, plus more in New Hampshire. Douglas proclaimed that he supported the creation of new wilderness areas, which may have disappointed his anti-wilderness friends, but his actions have had the effect of blocking any new wilderness at all. Sens. Patrick Leahy and James Jeffords and Rep. Bernard Sanders had promoted a wilderness bill that built upon the Forest Service plan, taking land that the Forest Service had designated as something near wilderness and adding it to the officially designated wilderness areas. Douglas' anti-wilderness friends wanted no new wilderness; in fact, they hoped Douglas would appeal the Forest Service plan, which called for only 27,000 acres of new wilderness. But they understood Douglas' need to declare himself a supporter of wilderness to be compelled by politics. Ed Larson of the Vermont Forest Products Association noted that the " heat from the media was so strong and so relentless " that Douglas was forced to back away from an anti-wilderness stance. " We are sad that he did, " Larson said. He added, " I am urging my people not to throw him overboard because of it. " Rather than throw him overboard, they might want to pat him on the back. Though he claims he did not intend to do so, the wilderness bill is dead, unless the House rescues it during the lame duck session after the election. http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061007/NEWS/610070314/1038/OPINION01 North Carolina:8) Now for a dose of science to show how land management, and lack thereof, influences wildlife populations. To improve wildlife habitat at the Sandhills Game Lands near Southern Pines, N.C., Wildlife Resources Commission staff thinned pine forests, primarily used for commercial pine straw production, by harvesting timber. They followed that by planting a mixture of native grasses needed by quail and wintering songbirds. Included in this management plan were wildlife food plots and some pine stands left undisturbed. In 2001, during a summer quail call count to establish a baseline, only six quail were heard at various listening points. By 2005, over 20 quail were heard during the same count at the same locations. A similar positive trend was experienced for wintering songbird sightings like the indigo bunting and chipping sparrow. This was a positive sign of what happens when professional wildlife biologists use science to manage land for wildlife. Conversely, as a grouse hunter I participate in an annual flush survey conducted by the WRC. We report number of grouse flushed (flown) and whether it was on private or public land. The latest report on those data show an overall downward trend in flush rates since 1990 — roughly down 40 percent. Much of that can be attributed to public land, primarily National Forests, where in the last year alone there were 30 percent fewer flushes per trip versus private land. Although not scientific, you could probably connect the dots between these numbers and the increased efforts by preservationists to stop management of our National Forests. I suspect the same trend is happening for other species such as deer, turkey and the golden-winged warbler. Sportsmen, the real conservationists, have contributed billions of dollars for wildlife research and habitat. Professional wildlife biologist and foresters care deeply about providing habitat for all the wildlife in North Carolina. It is time we let them use their skills to provide that habitat, and stop listening to the preservationists who spew rhetoric without science to back it up. http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200661006065South Carolina:9) It's a natural world Joyner often sees alone. He manages the state-owned Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, a 20,000-acre nature preserve with almost no public access. Since acquiring the coastal land 30 years ago, the state wildlife department strictly has limited public visits. People often wait a year to secure a spot on a weekly bus tour of the state wildlife sanctuary near Georgetown. A warning sign at the Yawkey Center ferry tells people they will be prosecuted for visiting the state-owned island preserve without an appointment. All told, fewer than 1,000 visitors a year are allowed on the land, a fraction of the number of visitors to nearby government preserves. Some folks say the Yawkey Wildlife Center is an ecological treasure that more people should get a chance to visit. While state wildlife officials plan one additional tour a week, starting next year, they say they'll never open the center for widespread public use. "You can't just turn people loose," Joyner said. "The thing that makes this area so special is that it is protected." Expanded public access would threaten the unspoiled coastal environment —- and it could cause the state to lose the property under terms of a wealthy New Englander's will, wildlife officials say. The 20,000-acre islands have more than 12 miles of undeveloped beaches; maritime forests, thick with palmettos and live oaks; expansive marshes and tidal creeks; and the state's oldest working lighthouse. About 28,000 people visited the island last year, either by ferry or private boat, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Craig Sasser, a Wildlife Service biologist, said the agency sometimes restricts access to the island during parts of the year to protect migrating birds or other animals. But Bull Island generally is accessible. "Public support for what we're doing on these properties is extremely important," Sasser said. http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/15705264.htmHawaii:10) HALEAKALA – The tiny erythrina gall wasps that have devastated Maui's cherished wiliwili trees have spread to the remote Nuu district on the south slopes of Haleakala. "It's terrible," says Andy Graham, owner and manager of Nuu Mauka Ranch. "Nearly every wiliwili tree out there that I looked at that has leaves has got it. The new leaves are just starting to come out now and nearly all them are now looking bumpy and starting to twist." Until recently, the remote south coast region remained free of the wasp infestation, and it wasn't until last week that Graham noticed evidence of the destructive wasps. "I think until now I was in a type of denial. I thought maybe it would never get out here. I was wrong," Graham said. Research biologist Art Medeiros said he was surprised that the wasps have made their way to the isolated area, between Ulupalakua and Kaupo, especially since the disease wasn't seen there in previous years."The first year, we got to thinking that area was safe, but now we see that nowhere is really safe," Medeiros said. He said the wasps were likely carried by wind, on cars or possibly on people's clothing, and noted they may have been in Nuu last year and were not detected until now. They attack all species of Erythrina trees including non-native coral trees and the native wiliwili, distorting the tree growth and weakening them to the point where they may die.The wasp lays its eggs in the leaves and stems of the trees, inducing tumors on the leaves and young shoots, leaving behind poxlike bumps, or what Medeiros describes as "leprosy on plants." The Erythrina gall wasp, Quadrastichus erythrinae, was not even recognized until 2004 when it was described as a new species in Singapore and on two islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. In Hawaii, the pest was first reported in Manoa on Oahu in April 2004 and made its way to Maui last year spreading rapidly across Central Maui.The minute wasp, which Medeiros described as "the size of a comma," has left a deadly trail of diseased leaves and bare trees across Central and South Maui. http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=24016USA:11) In an open letter to "fellow citizens who enjoy recreating on public land with our families" making the rounds in cyberspace, Artley sharply criticizes the Recreation Site Facility Master Planning (RSFMP) project currently underway within the FS. His criticism follows vocal opposition to the project from green groups like Wild Wilderness and Western Slope No Fee Coalition that claim it will result in the closing or privatizing of thousands of recreation sites. "Something very tragic is happening to our public land," Artley proclaims. "This policy (RSFMP) was cooked up in secret by the Forest Service in 2002 with absolutely no public involvement or congressional review. By law, every RSFMP project must go through the National Environmental Policy Act process and have a public input period, but the Forest Service has chosen to ignore NEPA." Artley writes about his efforts to contact the FS Washington D.C. office to express concerns over the RSFMP process. He provided factual information about how certain sites in on four Colorado national forests were already being illegally bulldozed as a result of the process, despite severe local opposition. In the end, he concluded that his efforts to contact the agency where he worked his entire life were a "waste of time." So, he went public. As background, RSFMP orders every national forest to inventory all developed recreation sites and rank them compared to a national standard. Sites not measuring up will be closed or decommissioned (a.k.a. obliterated). "This inventory is being taken on every national forest in America," Artley writes. "The closures will affect mainly simple, remote facilities favored by local residents, hunters, fishermen, and others who prefer dispersed and minimally developed recreation sites. This seems totally illogical and absurd. We all know these simple, remote facilities have very few improvements and are easy to maintain and are maintained at minimal cost." http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/100606EB.shtmlNorth America:12) Trembling, or quaking, aspen is the most widely distributed tree in North America. No other tree grows from Maine to California. In fact, aspen thrives all the way up to tree line in Alaska and northern Canada, and way down into Mexico and Kentucky along the higher mountainous slopes of the Rockies and Appalachians, respectively. Away from the mountains, trembling aspen is abundant in the northern forests of the Great Lakes and New England states, and then dwindles in numbers in New Jersey. In Pennsylvania, it's most common in the northern sections and higher elevations. On the Pocono Plateau, trembling aspen is one of the most characteristic trees. http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061008/NEWS01/610080318 Russia:13) MOSCOW - Russia's environmental watchdog has submitted details to prosecutors on illegal deforestation being carried out through the Sakhalin II oil and gas project in the country's Far East, the Natural Resources Ministry said Thursday. The vast hydrocarbon project, led by Anglo-Dutch oil major Shell, has met with strong opposition from environmental groups and authorities over accusations of inadequate safety, massive volumes of waste disposal, seismic threats, erosion, and threats to marine life. The Ministry of Natural Resources withdrew a key permit for the project in September. Oleg Mitvol, deputy chief of Russia's Federal Natural Resources Service, said: " In talks with the Prosecutor's Office, information was submitted on several forest areas of the Sakhalin Region, showing numerous instances off illegal deforestation on the territory of the state's forest reserves, and destruction of the rich soil layer by building pipelines along the shore, through the Sakhalin II project. " The ministry, the watchdog, and the Prosecutor's Office have discussed measures to identify those infringing environmental laws, and the possible launching of criminal procedures. The ministry's press release said: " The Federal Natural Resources Service is preparing materials to be submitted to the General Prosecutor's Office on infringements of environmental law by other contractors working on the Sakhalin II project. They include Italian, Russian, and British firms. " The Russian authorities' annulment of the 2003 Sakhalin Environmental Expert Review (SEER), following action from prosecutors, was met with protests from British, Dutch, U.S. and Japanese officials. Environmental experts arrived in late September at the port of Korsakov, in southern Sakhalin, to inspect the area where excavation work was conducted earlier by project organizer Sakhalin Energy, under Sakhalin II. Mass deaths of fish and crab have been reported in the area, and inspectors earlier established that a Sakhalin Energy vessel dumped a mixture of methylene dichloride and lubricating oil into the bay. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20061005/54546582.html14) As the total forested area in Russia amounts to 1.1 billion hectares, or 80 billion cubic meters of timber, a sizable timber industry developed in the country. This is more than 24% of the world's forest reserves. About 1.4 million people work in the industry. Its annual sales volumes exceed $4.5 billion, which is 2.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Russian Federation. http://www.kommersant.com/t307741/r_3/n_43/Timber_Industry_1991-2000/ 15) If the plans of the industry's main players are implemented, the forest industry will not lose its place in the Russian economy for at least the next five to ten years. And the industry's strategic objective in this period is to maintain its place on the world market and promote increased demand at home. In any case, this objective was more or less achieved in the first four years of Vladimir Putin's presidency. And apparently it will be achieved to the greatest possible extent until 2008. By the beginning of 2001, forests had become a trendy object for investment. However, the result was not a flourishing business, but forest wars – the main industry topic from 2000 to 2004. The wars did not start as a result of multimillion-dollar investments, but from a banal dispute between one of the oldest players in the pulp and paper business, Continental Invest, which operated at the Ust-Ilimsk Forest Industry Complex (UILPK), and its partner Energoprom, whose director, Dmitry Bosov, had once represented the interests of the TWG metallurgical holding in Russia. The partners started a small corporate war at UILPK, a common occurrence in those days. But the outcome was unexpectedly far-reaching. In many respects, it determined the development scenario of the entire industry for four years. During the wars, the state's authority to regulate relations in the industry (from judicial authority to government authority) was finally discredited, especially as it concerned privatization. The investment attractiveness of companies and assets in an industry in which deprivatization actions were not a theoretical threat but a fact of life was obviously not very high. Finally, despite a lot of talk in the government about possible multibillion-dollar investments in the forest industry, it did not lead to any real budget flows in Vladimir Putin's first presidential term. http://www.kommersant.com/t487624/r_3/n_43/Timber_Industry_2000-2004/16) Tyumen Region was formed on August 14, 1944, and is one of Russia's largest regions. It has an area of 1.4 million km2 (8.4% of Russia's total area), which is equivalent to the combined areas of Germany, France, Italy, and Great Britain. The region has a population of more than 3 million.Russia's most multinational regions, with representatives of 125 nationalities, including 26 small northern ethnic groups. Tyumen Region occupies a large part of the West Siberian Plain and in fact divides Russia into two large territories: a western part consisting of the Urals and European Russia and an eastern, Asiatic part consisting of Siberia and the Far East. Nature in Tyumen land is rich and varied, owing to the region's location in three different natural climatic zones: Arctic tundra in the Far North changes southward to typical tundra and forest tundra, then to taiga, and finally to forest steppe and steppe in the south. A large part of the region (43 million hectares) is covered with forests. Birch and aspen are the predominant trees of the forest steppe in the south; pine, cedar, larch, fir, and spruce predominate in the north; and alder, birch, and willow grow in the bogs. Berries (lingonberry, blueberry, cranberry, bilberry, and stone berry) and mushrooms grow abundantly in the forests. Fur-bearing animals (mink, white fox, red fox, sable, squirrel, muskrat, and hare), hoofed animals (moose and wild boar), the brown bear, waterfowl (ducks and geese), and game birds (partridge, capercaillie, black grouse, and hazel grouse) are of great commercial importance. Humans began settling Western Siberia 15 000-20 000 years ago at the end of the Paleolithic period. More extensive settlement of the territory of Tyumen Region occurred during the Mesolithic period (8000-10 000 years ago). http://www.kommersant.com/t-75/r_5/n_419/Tyumen_Region/17) Omsk Region is located in the southern part of the West Siberian Plain midway along the Irtysh River. Its surface is a rolling plain with elevations of 100-140 m; ridged uplands (crests) are typical of the southern half of the region, while broad expanses of swamp are characteristic of the north. The region extends 450-500 km from north to south, which leads to considerable variation in climatic conditions. Most of the region's vegetation is characteristic of the steppe and forest steppe zones, except for the north, which is in the taiga forest subzone. Forests cover more than one-quarter of Omsk Region, with the predominant species being pine, cedar, spruce, fir, birch, and aspen. In the southern part of the forest zone, mixed forest gives way to a belt of deciduous birch and aspen forests, which gradually changes southwards to the " parkland " of the forest steppe zone. In historic times, many different peoples migrated through the central Irtysh region where forest and steppe cultures mingled. The native Ugrian population (the ancestors of the modern Hungarians) assimilated with the Huns in the 4th and 5th centuries A.D. during the Great Migration. About 2 100 000 people live in Omsk Region, 65% of them (about 1 400 000 people) in urban areas. The city of Omsk has a population of 1 080 000 people. The forest and woodworking industries of Omsk Region are based on regional resources and requirements. Logging is mainly concentrated in the forest zone and does not exceed 2 million m3 of whole timber per year. Nearly 90% of woodworking industry production, consisting of lumber, chipboard, and furniture, is located in Omsk and its suburbs and the remainder in Tara, Ust-Ishim, Muromtsev, and Ekaterininsky. http://www.kommersant.com/t-58/r_5/n_402/Omsk_Region/18) Ust-Ordynsky Buryat Autonomous Area is located in the southern part of Eastern Siberia in southwestern Irkutsk Region, bordering on nine of the region's districts. Its administrative center is the town of Ust-Ordynsky. It lies within the Irkutsk-Balagan forest steppe zone with its scenic landscapes of broad meadows and pastures alternating with coniferous forests. The surface is heavily cut by river valleys. Forest land covers a total area of 1 090 300 hectares [0.3% of the forest lands in the Siberian Federal District (SFD)]; this includes 614 400 hectares of coniferous forest (0.3% of the total coniferous forest land in the SFD). Total timber reserves of the main forest-forming species amount to 151.4 million m3 (0.5% of the reserves in the SFD). The predominant coniferous species are pine, larch, spruce, cedar, and fir. The leading industrial sectors in terms of their share of total industrial output are forestry, woodworking, and pulp and paper (39.6% of total output), fuel (29.3%), power (11.9%), food (8.4%), building materials (6.2%), light industry (3.3%), engineering and metalworking (0.6%), and others (0.7%). The Buryats, an ancient, distinctive people with a rich historical culture and traditions, live in the Ust-Ordynsky Buryat Autonomous Area. From the earliest times, each settlement had a master craftsman renowned for his art, whether an engraver or a woodcarver. Talented painters and sculptors worked in Buddhist monasteries (datsans). The shamans' powers were defined by the number of initiations, of which there nine in all. The ninth degree of initiation, known as zaarin, was extremely rare. Buryat shamans did not build temples, because nature was their temple. They did not cut down trees near a spring or disturb the peace and quiet of any living thing in the forest. Sacred places were set aside for shamanist celebrations and offerings; there were many of these places in the western Baikal area (Pribaikalye). Buddhism began to spread through the area in the early 18th century aided by Mongolian and Tibetan lamas. http://www.kommersant.com/t-29/r_5/n_372/Ust-Ordynsky_Buryat_Autonomous_Area/ 19) The Evenk Autonomous Area is in the most unfavorable geographical location of all administrative units of the Russian Federation in the Siberian Federal District. Evenkia occupies the central part of the Central Siberian Plateau in the basin of the Podkamennaya and Lower (Nizhnyaya) Tunguska rivers (right-hand tributaries of the Yenisei River) between 50 and 60 degrees north latitude and 89 and 106 degrees east longitude. Owing to its north-south extent, the area is located within various national zones, from Arctic and subarctic tundra, forest tundra and taiga, to alpine forests. The relief is predominately mountainous; tundra covers about 10% of the area's territory. Topographical features include the world's largest basalt rock mass formed by the mountains of the Putorana Plateau, and the ancient Anabara Mountains in the east. Intermountain basins and taiga and tundra plains complete the geographical picture. The total area of forest land is 74 891 500 hectares; this includes 42 253 300 hectares of coniferous forests. Total timber reserves of the main forest-forming species amount to 3833.6 million m3. Coniferous forests and birch taiga predominate. The main industrial sectors are the fuel, power, food, forest, woodworking, and pulp and paper industries. Reindeer herding, fishing, fur farming, and fur trapping predominate in agriculture. Dairy cattle are also raised. In spite of its unique raw material resources, during Soviet times, the area was among the country's economically underdeveloped regions, and to this day is still " economically untouched " . The territory is home to a number of small ethnic groups like the Kets (718 people), Nganasans (809 people), and Enets (209 people) with unique languages, cultures, and religions. These peoples still preserve the ancient taiga and tundra culture in their practice of shamanism, rites, ancient medicine, way of life, and occupations. http://www.kommersant.com/t-23/r_5/n_366/Evenk_Autonomous_Area/20) Arkhangelsk Region has significant forest resources, which has resulted in the formation of Russia's largest forest industry complex. The total forested area is about 20 million hectares with 2.2 billion m3 of timber reserves, including 1.6 billion m3 of mature and overmature wood. Arkhangelsk Region is located in northern European Russia and borders on the Republic of Karelia and Vologda and Murmansk regions. Its original name was Dvina Land (Dvinskaya Zemlya). Dvina Land was reorganized into Arkhangelogorod Province in 1708 by decree of Peter the Great, then into Arkhangelsk Province in December 1796, and finally into Arkhangelsk Region in September 1937. The region has a total area of 589 900 km2, 39% of which is occupied by forests, 24.2% by reindeer pasture, 19% by islands, 1.3% by arable land, and the remainder by rivers, bogs, and lakes. Forests in the region are mainly located within the northern and central taiga zones, with spruce, pine, larch, and fir predominating. The forests are the habitat of mammals such as brown bears, moose, reindeer, and foxes (including the Arctic fox) and birds like the willow ptarmigan and hazel, black, and wood grouse. Nature preserves located in the region include the Solovetsky Museum and Nature Preserve (established in 1974; area, 28 900 hectares), Kenozersky National Park (established in 1991; area, 139 700 hectares), and the Pinezhsky Nature Preserve (established in 1974; area, 51 500 hectares). The forest industry complex employs 72 000 people, or 50% of all industrial workers. About 180 companies in the region are involved in logging and wood processing. Most logging companies utilize 40-50% of their allotments. http://www.kommersant.com/t-35/r_5/n_378/Arkhangelsk_Region/21) Penza Region is located on the East European Plain, although most of its territory lies on the Volga Uplands. The region has an area of 43 200 km2, ranking 53rd among Russian regions in terms of size. It has a population of about 1.6 million people. Penza Region has a temperate continental climate with hot summers and relatively mild winters with little snow. Annual precipitation averages 600 mm. Penza was founded as a fortress, and to this day, remnants of the Lomovskaya sentry line built in 1640 have been preserved at the western edge of the city, and remains of earth ramparts dating from the mid-16th century are preserved in the city center. Penza Region has abundant forest, water, land, and mineral resources. The region's soil and vegetation cover varies owing to the fact that three native zones-forest, forest steppe, and steppe-pass through it. The northern part of the region is in the forest zone, characterized by spruce and fir forests with some oak. Further south, the vegetation changes to deciduous forest and then to steppe in the southwest. Penza Region is a member of the Volga economic district. The main industrial sectors are the engineering, forestry and woodworking, and flavoring industries. Other sectors, such as the textile, shoe, building material, food, and wool industries, are also expanding. Against an overall background of economic development, the forest industry has declined due to the uncertainty of forest ownership. A decision has been made to return the forests to government ownership. As a result of inefficient economic management and equipment deterioration, only 38% of deciduous forests and 90% of coniferous forests are being utilized. http://www.kommersant.com/t-61/r_5/n_405/Penza_Region/22) Tatarstan is situated in the center of the Russian Federation on the East European Plain at the confluence of the country's two greatest rivers, the Volga and the Kama. The overall territory of the Republic is 67,836.2 sq. km. The territory of the Republic is a plain that lies in the forest and forest-steppe zones with low hills on the right bank of the Volga and in the southeast of the Republic. Ninety percent of the territory is 200 m above sea level or less. Most of Tatarstan lies in the forest zone with only its southern regions located in the forest-plain zone. However, today only a small part of Tatarstan is covered with forest (16.2 % of the total area). The Pre-Kama region is dominated by coniferous and mixed forests. The banks of the Volga, Kama, Vyatka, and other rivers are covered with coniferous forests. Broad-leaved and birch and aspen forests prevail in the Pre-Volga and Trans-Kama regions. As noted above, deciduous trees generally prevail in the Republic, covering nearly 85 % of total forested area, which includes oak (27 %), lime (14%), birch (11%), and aspen (24%). Pine is the most frequent conifer (nearly 12% of the total forested area). The first settlements in the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan date back to the Paleolithic period (about 100,000 years ago). In the 8th - 9th centuries, the ancient Bulgar tribes, the ancestors of the modern Tatars, began to populate the Volga region. Tatarstan is one of the most economically developed republics of the Russian Federation. It is located in the center of the largest industrial region of the Russian Federation, 800 km east of Moscow. Due to historical, geographical, and natural conditions and other important factors, the Republic of Tatarstan has developed as a major scientific, educational, and industrial center recognized in Russia and worldwide. http://www.kommersant.com/t-108/r_5/n_450/Republic_of_Tatarstan/ 23) Tver Region is located in the central part of the East European Plain and is one of the largest regions in European Russia, with a total area of 84 100 km2. It borders on Smolensk Region in the south, Novgorod Region in the west, Volgograd Region in the north, and Moscow Region in the east. It has a population of 1 651 000. The region is located in the southern taiga and subtaiga zones. Forests consisting mainly of spruce and pine cover nearly 50% of the region's territory. Natural conditions are favorable for the population, but the ecological situation is generally acute, mainly as a result of industrial air, water, and soil pollution and forest degradation. Most of the region is located in the forest zone. Mixed coniferous-deciduous forests cover 4.5 million hectares, the most heavily forested areas being the southwestern and northwestern districts (50-70%). Dryland meadows cover nearly 2 million hectares, and floodplain meadows are found in river valleys. Bogs, including peat bogs, cover more than 6% of the region. Extensive moss bogs are found in the forests and in low-lying areas between hills. They are generally formed as a result of slow, centuries-long overgrowth of shallow lakes and glacial rills, a process that is still going on. The forest industry is represented by nearly 400 logging and timber processing companies, which export most of their production. Companies in this sector are restructuring to manufacture products on the basis of chemical and mechanochemical treatment of timber in the main logging areas in order to eliminate unnecessary transport. This will allow more efficient use of the entire mass of cut timber, including wood waste, and the production of marketable goods, such as cardboard containers, wallboard, and pulp chips. Tver is the heart of Russia in every sense of the word: as a land of forests, lakes, and rivers; as a historical and cultural center; and as the crossroads of domestic and international transportation routes. A varied landscape, beautiful nature, and a geographic location between Russia's two capitals have contributed to the prosperity of Tver Region. http://www.kommersant.com/t-74/r_5/n_418/Tver_Region/24) Vladimir Region was formed on August 14, 1944. It is located in central European Russia on the Moscow Uplands, the Vladimir Opolye [an area of fertile open fields], and the Meshchera Lowlands. The region covers an area of 29 000 km2 and extends 170 km from north to south and 280 km from west to east. It borders on Yaroslavl and Ivanovo regions in the north, Moscow Region in the west and southwest, Nizhny Novgorod Region in the east, and Ryazan Region in the south. Vladimir Region does not have abundant resources; nevertheless, it is one of Russia's most economically developed regions. There are sand and clay deposits that can be used to produce building materials, as well as deciduous and coniferous forests. Vladimir Region is one of the oldest historical and artistic centers of Russia. Its lands have always been considered the core of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, which became Vladimir Province in the second half of the 18th century. Forests cover half of Vladimir Region (1 520 900 hectares) and are its principal natural resource. The forests are divided into three main types: hardwood deciduous, softwood deciduous, and mixed coniferous and deciduous. The hardwood forests consist mainly of oak, although sycamore maples are sometimes encountered in river valleys and on terraces. Softwood forests consist primarily of birch. The Patakinskaya grove is famous for its century-old white birches. Aspen forests are much less common. Black alder is occasionally encountered on stream banks and river floodplains. Mixed forests are made up mainly of fir and pine groves with small stands of oak.The region also has rich plant life in addition to forests. Forest species predominate over less varied meadow, marsh, woodland border, aquatic, and streamside species. Water covers only 9% of Vladimir Region. The region's 746 rivers and streams are an extension of the great Volga basin. Meshchera National Park and the Gusevskoi No. 1 game preserve have been established in order to preserve and partially restore plant life and animal habitats in Vladimir Region.http://www.kommersant.com/t-77/r_5/n_421/Vladimir_Region/25) Bryansk land is a unique territory. From time immemorial, it has been an impregnable shield of the Russian people in defense of their vast homeland. The region's location on the watershed of the Dnieper and Volga river systems has had an enormous influence on settlement there. Forests are Bryansk Region's main resource. They cover about 40% of its territory and have a rich flora and fauna. Peat deposits cover an area of approximately 82 000 hectares, which includes 43 000 hectares in forest deposits. http://www.kommersant.com/t-38/r_5/n_381/Bryansk_Region/26) Ivanovo Region is located in the central part of European Russia 300 km northeast of Moscow. It is situated in the center of the Russian Plain in marshy woodlands with lakes and peat bogs (altitudes up to 170 m). Most of the region lies between the Volga and Klyazma rivers. It is part of the Central economic district and the Central Federal District. The region is located at the meeting place of the European taiga and mixed forest zones. Forests cover about 40% of its area, especially on the left bank of the Volga (Zavolzhye) and Yuzhny and Teikovsky districts (birch, pine, aspen, and spruce). The wildlife is typical of the mixed forest zone; large predators such as wolves and bears have disappeared as a result of industrialization. Hares, foxes, squirrels, polecats, woodcock, capercaillie (wood grouse), partridge, and hazel grouse are commercially important. Ivanovo is one of Russia's greenest cities. Green areas cover a total area of 636 hectares, or 14.0 m2 per resident. The pride of Rodnikovsky District and the entire region is the botanical garden of the TB prophylactic center, which Doctor of Medicine and distinguished botany enthusiast, Aleksei Aleksandrovich Saleev, established more than 30 years ago and heads on a public basis. Forests are of vital socioecomic importance in a region with a high concentration of industry and high population density, since they are not only a timber storehouse, the habitat of various wild animals and plants, and a source of esthetic pleasure, but also the main form of land-based ecosystem maintaining biosphere integrity, including air and water purification, and stabilizing the organic element cycle. http://www.kommersant.com/t-42/r_5/n_385/Ivanovo_Region/27) Kirov Region is located in the eastern part of the East European Plain in central European Russia. The main topographical features are the Vyatskie Ridges in the central part of the region, the Verkhnekamskaya Upland (elevations to 337 m) in the northeast, and the Northern (Severnye) Ridges in the north. The region has an area of 120 800 km2 and extends 570 km from north to south and 440 km from west to east. The population of Kirov Region is 1 589 000 people; 70% of the population is urban. The main industrial sectors are engineering and metalworking, nonferrous and ferrous metallurgy, and the chemical, microbiological, forest, woodworking, pulp and paper, light (including leather shoes and furs), and food industries. Forests have always been Kirov Region's main resource. They cover 65% of the region and are an important source of medicinal plants, mushrooms, berries, and wild game. Coniferous species predominate; total useful timber reserves amount to 345.5 million m3. Kirov Region is Russia's fourth-largest producer of commercial timber and lumber. http://www.kommersant.com/t-47/r_5/n_390/Kirov_Region/28) Kurgan Region is often called the gateway to Siberia. It is located southeast of the Urals on the southern part (Ishimskaya Steppe) of the West Siberian Plain (elevations up to 193 m) in the middle reaches of the Tobol River. Kurgan Region is one of the smallest regions in the Urals, extending 430 km from west to east and 290 km from north to south. It is larger than the Udmurt Republic, but has the smallest population of the regions in the Ural economic district (5.4% of the total population). Kurgan Region is located in the forest, forest steppe, and steppe zones. It has a severe continental climate with long cold winters and warm summers with regular droughts. The average January temperature is -18 °C, and the average temperature in the warmest month (July) is +19 °C. Annual precipitation is about 400 mm. If you look at the map, it appears as though there are more lakes than dry land in Kurgan Region. This is almost the case. There are saline and freshwater lakes, medicinal lakes, and lakes poisoned by industrial effluents. There are also old stream channels and the Tobol River itself. Forests cover 1.7 million hectares, or about one-fifth of the region. Wildlife is varied, with sizable populations of moose, roe deer, and wild boar; wolves, badgers, foxes, hares, and muskrats are widespread. Common birds include ducks, geese, gray partridge, and black grouse. http://www.kommersant.com/t-49/r_5/n_392/Kurgan_Region/Uganda:29) I am new here. I have joined this list to look for international voice in saving Mabira Forest. This is one of the biggest natural forests in Uganda, acting as a water catchment area for the lake Victoria basin. Lake Victoria is the largest fresh water lake in the whole world and the source of river Nile one of the longest river in the whole world. About 7000 acres of this forest have been given out to Sugar Corporation of Uganda Ltd to plant Sugar cane. Amidst protest by local environmental activists, parliamentarians, Ngos, Uganda forest Authourity etc. The President of the Republic of Uganda has turned a deaf ear to all these appeals. This forest is a source of many rivers, livelyhood of the surrounding Communities, a home to many bird specis and animals, a boost tpo eco-tourism etc. Sugar Corporation of Uganda (Scoul) is a group of Indian Investors. Can you post this message the prominent peace activists you know, can you write a letter of protest to your senator or member of parliament to reverse this. You can check the artcle in our local papers here today from http://www.monitor.co.ug/news/news10033.php or See the photos at http://www.monitor.co.ug to read many articles written to this effect Insert Mabira Forest in search option of the above website or http://www.newvision.co.ugChile:The Chilean government is planning to blast a highway directly through one of the country's most pristine wilderness areas, a move that environmentalists say threatens a unique experiment in international forest protection. On Wednesday, government officials announced that they will build a 62-mile highway through Pumalin Park, a nature refuge created by San Francisco multimillionaire Douglas Tompkins that ranges from glaciated peaks to steep-walled fjords and includes some of Chile's last remaining groves of giant alerce trees, a relative of California's redwoods. The government of President Michelle Bachelet also signaled that it will push ahead with another controversial project, a proposed $4 billion hydroelectric complex south of Pumalin that would dam the Baker and Pasqua rivers, world-famous for fishing and whitewater kayaking. The double-barreled decision shocked environmentalists in Chile and abroad who had hoped that Bachelet, a socialist who took office in February, would continue the nation's gradual swing toward protection of its wilderness areas, which include almost one-third of the world's remaining virgin temperate rain forest. Construction of the highway will fill in the last gap between Chile's densely populated center and the thinly settled far south. Until now, this gap has been occupied by Pumalin, a 762,000-acre, Yosemite-size area that Tompkins purchased from various landholders in the early 1990s and assembled into a private park, open to the public. The park stretches from the Pacific to the Argentine border, and conservative politicians representing the far south have long complained bitterly that a foreigner was blocking their access to the rest of the country http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/10/08/MNG3VLL7E81.DTLMalaysia:31) We've had enough! That just about sums up the feelings of Malaysians when once again they have to bear with the blanket of haze that has left those suffering from respiratory problems gasping for breath. Non-governmental organisations, greenies and government officials have slammed the Indonesian authorities for the haze that is originating from forest fires in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Riau province and other parts of Indonesia. Readers have sent e-mails and SMSes expressing their anger and frustration.Even Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid is hot under the collar. "Frustration is an understatement," he said as he showed reporters the "view" from his 13th floor Putrajaya office on Thursday. How many more years will it take for the Indonesians to solve the problem of forest fires and open burning? How much longer do we have to suffer? These are the most commonly asked questions. Sarawak, one of the worst hit states, is already preparing for the worst and has activated operations rooms in all the Resident's Offices. Schools in Sarawak will close when the air pollutant index (API) reaches the hazardous level of 300 and above. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/10/7/nation/15661601 & sec=nationIndonesia:32) He said the Forestry Ministry had asked the police to soon arrest those who were on the list of persons wanted for involvement in illegal logging activity. He cited as an example Adelin Lis (an illegal logger) who was arrested in Beijing, China, recently. " All the wanted persons including those in Jambi and Kalimantan must be arrested this year, " he said, adding there were about four or five wanted persons (Malaysians) in Jambi and one Korean in Medan, North Sumatra. The minister said the number of illegal logging activities in the country had drastically decreased. " The operations to stamp out illegal logging have been about 80 percent successful. Now we only continue to arrest the persons (illegal loggers), " he said. Kaban disclosed that there were about 49 or 50 bigtime illegal loggers and thousands who were categorized as small-scale operators. The minister said the wanted persons were hiding somewhere in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China where they had links of illegal logging businesses. " All (illegal logging suspects) have been put on the list of persons who are banned from traveling abroad. The problem now is that one person may have three names and three passports, " he said. He also said that besides Adelin Lis, the police had also arrested several other culprits like Aipeng and Mulyadi in Riau province. The central government has also called on the provincial/district administrations where illegal logging was rampant to take measures against persons or institutions involved in illegal logging in their respective regions. Illegal logging activities in Rumah Kai village, Kai Ratu subdistrict, Western Seram district in Maluku province have become a hot issue in a number of local print media in Ambon (capital of Maluku). The felling activities were reported to have expanded to the protected forest area in the village causing environmental damage in surrounding areas. The Maluku provincial administration has set up a special team dealing with illegal logging activities allegedly involving among others PT Berdiche Glow (BG) in the protected forest area in Rumah Kai village. http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=2074433) Deep in the pristine rainforests of Borneo are places that have never heard the sound of a chainsaw. There are such Edens inside Betung Kerihun, an ancient wilderness in a still-huge, central belt of land in Kalimantan, the Indonesian side of the island of Borneo. The region is one of three remaining great rainforests, along with the Amazon and Congo. But the forests are facing destruction by illegal loggers, settlers planting crops and, most seriously, the relentless spread of oil palm, a lucrative crop that produces a cheap vegetable oil used in margarine, ice cream, biscuits and, ironically, biodiesel fuel -- the cleaner-burning choice for motorists. It takes four hours by motorized canoe to get to Betung Kerihun from the nearest settlement. Deep in the trees, giant butterflies sail over crystal-clear water. Orangutans and gibbons live in the tree canopy and clouded leopards and 26-foot pythons stalk the forest floor, hunting wild boar and deer and, in turn, being hunted by one of the last truly nomadic forest peoples, the Penan. http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woborn1001,0,4368173.story?coll=ny-leadworldnews-he adlines34) Muslim hardliners chopped up a 100-year-old banyan tree in Jakarta to halt a rumour about its special powers from spreading, officials in the Indonesian city said Tuesday. " Surely, no one can believe that a tree is more powerful than a human, " Zainal Arifin, the leader of the Muslim group that admits to attacking the tree, was quoted as saying by Detik.com news website. " We did this to propagate Islam. " Islam is a strongly monotheistic religion, and believing in any power other than God is considered a grave sin. Hardliners in Indonesia often criticize other Muslims for still practising Hindu, Buddhist and animist rituals that predate Islam's arrival in the archipelago. The sprawling tree's branches were hacked away Sunday, leaving just its trunk, said Sarwo Handayani, head of the city's park agency. She said it was too early to say if the tree will survive. Earlier, rumours had spread that cutting down the tree would bring bad luck because it was spared during a tree-felling drive to make way for a new bus lane in central Jakarta, Handayani said. She said the rumours gained strength after unidentified people left offerings at the tree's base. Handayani dismissed the rumours of supernatural involvement as nonsense, saying officials did not fell the tree because the bus lane could be routed around it. " This was an outrageous act, " she said of the damage to the tree, adding that the city had reported it to police on Monday as an act of vandalism. Arifin said the fact that nothing supernatural happened to the Muslims who attacked the tree proves that it has no mystical powers. http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/10/03/banyan-tree.html35) Goa - The Damocles sword hangs over Panjim's tree cover once again as the City Corporation allegedly proposes to have seven healthy trees axed from various locations in the Capital. While the Corporation of the City of Panaji is being extremely discrete over the issue, the Forest Department has confirmed receipt of a communiqué from the CCP sometime in August this year seeking permission to fell seven trees. While three of the trees are located on DB Road, three more are on Vasudev Dempo Road and one on Teofilo Road. The permission for the tree felling, according to CCP, is being sought on the grounds that they are causing obstacles for vehicular movement and posing a death trap. http://oheraldo.in/node/19507Australia:36) Most recently VCAT approved an application by Moran Logging Limited to log a large area of forest in Hoddles Creek. The decision to allow the logging to proceed was despite the area being in a Rural Conservation Zone and subject to an Environmental Significance Overlay - the two strongest environmental controls available to the council. The council had previously knocked back the application by Moran Logging in January this year to log the 99 hectares site due to its environmental significance and strong opposition to logging by residents. The council's case was supported by the local community and the Environment Defenders Office representing the Friends of Hoddles Creek. Despite developing well-grounded policies based upon scientific research, widespread community consultation and given the highly significant flora and fauna and biodiversity values of the site, the council's and community's arguments were largely discounted. In light of this and numerous other VCAT decisions such as the Mitcham Towers, the Shire of Yarra Ranges is calling on the State Government to reform the Planning and Environment Act and the operation of VCAT, providing far greater weight to local planning policies. http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/2667837) The North-East Forest Alliance is calling for the New South Wales Government and Boral Timber to reveal details of logging deals, saying the public has a right to know. Spokeswoman Susie Russell says Boral received more than $20 million in state funding for job creation projects. However, she says the company has instead closed three mills, leading to 65 job losses recently. Ms Russell says the Government should reveal details of its wood supply agreement with Boral. She says the agreement has seen the timber giant secure more than half the timber in public forests between Sydney and the Queensland border. " The debate over Telstra, which is a debate about public assets, there have been community obligations written into the contract, well what are the community obligations that Boral has? " she said. " I mean do they, in getting all the money and all the wood, do they have any obligation to provide employment, for example, or are they just running away with everything? " http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200610/s1757148.htmWorld-wide:38) As you know, we have been on the road with our campaign partners spreading the word about the threats of genetically engineered (GE) trees and the loss of our native forests as they are rapidly converted to sterile tree plantations.Each stop has been very successful and exciting. From Asheville to Savannah to Chapel Hill and all points between each city has brought a different form of success. We gave presentations to over 100 people last week alone. At each event, you could see the shivers down the spines of the attendees as they envisioned a Southern landscape covered with sterile pine forests and genetically mutated trees.Today, we are inviting you to take action to ask the United Nations to call for a global ban on GE trees by sending a message to Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity at the UN. Take Action The Southern United States leads the world in GE tree research and development. The escape of traits like insect resistance, reduced lignin, faster growth or sterility into our native temperate forests is a major concern. This could threaten the very web of life of our forests. The forest ecosystems and wildlife of the Southern U.S. will be devastated by contamination with mutated tree traits, for once that genie is out of the bottle there is no calling it back. Take Action Don't forget, if you are in the Charleston, SC area, please join Dogwood Alliance staff at the Tree Plantations Are Not Forests-Public Forum on GE Trees and Industrial Tree Plantations, October 8-9; click here for details. This forum will feature experts from across the U.S. and Chile who will lead discussions on the social and environmental threats and dangers of and growing resistance to plantations and GE trees. http://dogwoodalliance.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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