Guest guest Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Today for you 37 new articles about earth's trees! (275th edition) Subscribe / send blank email to: earthtreenews- Weblog: http://olyecology.livejournal.com --British Columbia: 1) Passing of two conservation giants, 2) Defending Flathead Bears, --Canada: 3) Story of clickgreener.com, --North America: 4) Warmer Autumns means less carbon absorption --Sweden: 5) FSC ignores complaints of biodiversity loss, 6) More FSC ignorance, --Swaziland: 7) FSC gives thumbs up to stealing water, running people off their land --Ghana: 9) Wood exports continue to rise --Tanzania 10) Teaching how to build better stoves saves forest --Uganda: 11) Mabira's medicinal plants, 12) Rural poverty solutions through planting, --Guyana: 13) Implementing a Remote Sensing and Bar-Coding system --Ecuador: 14) Industry wants plantations for the region of Cajamarca --Madagascar: 15) Famous Pet frog threatened with extinction --Nepal: 16) Kailali forest region has lost its identity, 17) Maoists exploiting resources, --India: 18) 700,000 soldiers and police can't stop timber smuggles, 19) Forest fire protection plans, 20) Biopiracy: the Plunder of Nature and Knowledge, 21) Conservation of Eastern Ghats, 22) Forest conservation is the need of the hour, 23) Government has denotified 4,400 hectares, 24) Rani Bagh park botany replaced with concrete, --Malaysia: 25) Slowing efforts to stop illegal logging, 26) Ignorant of log origins, 27) Save mangroves from ag and petro, --Papua New Guinea: 28) Increasing the royalty for log exports --Indonesia: 29) Lanslide victims take over government offices, 30) Teak's revenge, 31) Leader urges forest care, 32) What about illegal logging? --Philippines: 33) Non-timber forest products in an upland household, 34) Water crisis, --Borneo: 35) Searching for the last White Rhinos, --Australia: 36) A plea for a comprehensive carbon accounting examination --World-wide: 37) Inventing the most important financial market on the planet British Columbia: 1) 2007 - Passing of two conservation giants: Bert Brink and Colleen McCrory -- In 1975 McCrory founded the Valhalla Wilderness Society and eight years later, after intensive lobbying and campaigning, the Society succeeded in the establishment of the 49,600 hectare Valhalla Provincial Park. Despite being deeply in debt and exhausted by this effort, McCrory nonetheless continued her passionate fight to save British Columbia's imperiled forests by co-founding the National Save South Moresby Committee. She spent the next several years lobbying even though a local pro-logging newspaper led a smear campaign against her and the South Moresby supporters. Her life was threatened repeatedly, and a two year boycott of her store finally forced her to sell it. She never gave up her vision and in 1987 the South Moresby National Park Reserve in the Queen Charlotte Islands was established. After these victories, McCrory expanded her work across Canada. In 1990 she travelled across the country documenting the pulp and paper industry's plans to double logging in Canada. McCrory founded Canada's Future Forest Alliance, an umbrella organization she headed that represents one million Canadians concerned about the future of country's boreal forests. The alliance spans a broad cross-section of groups, including native communities and labor unions. Beginning in 1992, McCrory took her " Brazil of the North " campaign to Brazil, Japan and other countries. In the process, she became involved with the formation of the Taiga Rescue Network, a coordinated international effort to protect the boreal forests of the world. -- Bert Brink impressed me with his graciousness, quiet sense of passion, and deep knowledge of British Columbia history. Tom Perry, former provincial cabinet minister, describes Brink as " the greatest and most consistent environmentalist and naturalist of British Columbia, and perhaps in Canadian history, " adding his longevity made him the " human equivalent of a Jeffrey pine or giant sequoia, Douglas fir, or Sitka spruce. " Brink served as chair of the University of British Columbia department of plant science, had an accomplished research career, and assisted in the creation of numerous provincial and regional parks while serving with groups such as the Federation of B.C. Naturalists and the Nature Trust of B.C. http://www.beautifulbc.ca/blogs/2007/12/25/the-passing-of-a-conservation-giant/ 2) A 2001 Wildlife Conservation Society report on the Flathead Valley, which stretches across the Canada-U.S. border, states that it " may be the single most important basin for carnivores in the Rocky Mountains, " because of its unmatched carnivore species diversity and its " strategic position as a linkage between national parks in both countries " -- Waterton Lakes and Glacier to the south, Banff, Yoho and Kootenay to the north. The Flathead River flows just 50 kilometres within B.C., from its origin about 20 kilometres southeast of Fernie, to the international border. In Montana, where it is called the North Fork of the Flathead, it continues 75 kilometres south, then empties into Flathead Lake. Marking the western boundary of Glacier National Park, the North Fork is federally designated as a Wild and Scenic River. New roads continue to be built, most recently across a forested ridge above Foisey Creek, a headwater tributary of the Flathead. This is where Sudbury-based Cline Mining Corporation intends to develop an open-pit coal mine, hoping to extract two million tonnes of coal annually for 20 years. The proposal is currently being evaluated by B.C.'s environmental assessment office -- and fought by environmentalists. " Right now, the most immediate threat to the Flathead is coal development, " says John Bergenske, executive director of Wildsight, an East Kootenays-based conservation organization. " We don't want to see any coal mining in the Flathead, full stop. " In May 2005, three conservation groups -- Wildsight, ForestEthics and the World Wildlife Fund -- signed an agreement with Tembec Inc. as part of the company's successful bid for Forest Stewardship Council certification in B.C. " The essence of the agreement is that we will manage identified HCVFs [High Conservation Value Forests] and maintain their attributes, " explains Troy Hromadnik, Tembec's vice president for western Canada. " It's the rules of engagement for how we will do this. " Under the agreement, Tembec, the main forestry company operating in the Flathead, has suspended logging and road building in almost half of the valley, to give conservation organizations time to pursue long-term protection strategies. The deferral won't last forever, though; according to Tembec, the company " will very likely require operational access to this area within the next four years. " http://thetyee.ca/News/2008/01/02/Flathead/ Canada: 3) Business student Owen Ward says he returned from post-graduate travels around the world determined to make it a better place. " I saw an enormous amount of poverty and environmental degradation and it really changed something in me, " says the now 29-year-old entrepreneur. Three years and hundreds of ideas later, he has launched an online shopping mall that contributes a portion of every sale to environmental causes. Called clickgreener.com, the site has burst on to the retail scene just in time to cash in on the busiest shopping season of the year and growing consumer concern about global warming. More than half of Ontario consumers say they'd prefer to shop at businesses that have shown good environmental stewardship, a recent poll for alternate energy supplier Bullfrog Power found. And more than a third are likely to give an environmentally friendly gift this holiday season, the survey also found. If even 1 per cent of all online purchases in Canada were made through clickgreener.com, Ward says the site could raise $1 million for environmental causes. " Realistically, though, we probably won't get that much. " In its first three days after going live, the site attracted 1,800 visitors, with some making purchases, he said. The site also targets U.S. consumers and could soon have an affiliate in the U.K., he added. Among the 140 Canadian and American retailers who have agreed to appear on clickgreener.com are such well known names as Hudson's Bay, Canadian Tire, Indigo and Amazon. Ward says the site supports four environmental organizations, including the World Wildlife Fund-Canada, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Tree Canada and Carbonfund.org. He doesn't immediately plan to add more because he says consumers find too much choice confusing. http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/286165 North America: 4) Global Carbon Project (GCP) Press Information: Net carbon dioxide losses of northern ecosystems in response to autumn warming Nature, to be published 3 January 2008. Shilong Piao, Philippe Ciais, Pierre Friedlingstein, Philippe Peylin, Markus Reichstein, Sebastiaan Luyssaert, Hank Margolis, Jingyun Fang, Alan Barr, Anping Chen, Achim Grelle, David Hollinger, Tuomas Laurila, Anders Lindroth, Andrew D. Richardson & Timo Vesala. This study finds that the duration of the net carbon uptake period (CUP) in northern ecosystems has on average decreased due to warmer autumn temperatures. Simulations and observations indicate that northern terrestrial ecosystems may currently lose carbon dioxide in response to autumn warming, with a sensitivity of about 0.2 PgC °C-1, offsetting 90% of the increased carbon dioxide uptake during spring. If future autumn warming occurs at a faster rate than in spring, the ability of northern ecosystems to sequester carbon may be diminished earlier than previously suggested. http://www.globalcarbonproject.org/news/AutumnWarming.htm Sweden: 5) Jonas Rudberg, SSNC's forest campaigner says, " The situation in Sweden regarding the forest biodiversity is severe. Cutting levels are higher than ever and the FSC certification is apparently not enough. After ten years of FSC standard in place major infractions still happens and many conservationist seem about to lose their temper with the system. " The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) has filed a formal complaint against SCA regarding a clear-felling in northern Sweden, stating that it violates no less than eight FSC indicators. 2007-11-22 The site complained about by SSNC is called Mellanbergsmyrorna, located near Sollefteå in northern Sweden. Among the violations are felling in key habitats, destroyed bird nest's trees, devastated habitats for red listed species and cutting of trees with high biodiversity value. All the infractions are cautiously documented by SSNC local members with photographs and GPS coordinates. For the credibility of the FSC system and for the sake of nature conservation it is highly important that major infractions such as these result in consequences for the company. This felling is outrageous and punctuates the company's high profile in FSC marketing, Mikael Karlsson, President of SSNC says. Here are some of SSNC's photographs of the destruction caused by SCA's clearcuts. http://www.fsc-watch.org/archives/2007/11/22/SSNC_files_formal_co 7) A few weeks ago, FSC-Watch reported that the Swedish Society for Nature conservation (SSNC) had made a formal complaint to FSC about SCA's logging operations in Northern Sweden. We've also raised concerns about WWF's close relationships with logging companies. WWF, it seems, is getting very cosy with SCA. In September 2007, WWF and SCA Hygiene signed a £10 million marketing deal allowing SCA to put WWF's panda logo on its packs of Velvet toilet tissue. Last week, SCA announced that WWF had ranked the company " top in this year's assessment of the sustainability reports of European paper companies " . WWF and SCA both use FSC as the standard to judge whether or not forests are " well managed " . In its Sustainability Report from 2006, SCA writes: " Responsible use of wood: SCA's forests are certified according to FSC, a strict international standard. " Meanwhile, in its Paper Scorecard, WWF addresses " Responsible use of natural resources by promoting use of post-consumer recycled fibre and virgin fibre from well-managed FSC-certified forests as preferred fibre sources. " The similarities between SCA's claims and WWF's Scorecard are obvious. SCA uses recycled fibre for some of its products, but where it uses virgin fibre FSC doesn't appear to be able to guarantee anything very much. Last year, WWF announced that " SCA Tissue, the producer of such brands as Danke, Edet, Zewa, Cosy and Velvet, is the only surveyed company that is able to ensure that wood fibres used in its products don't come from poorly-managed forests. This manufacturer also promotes the highest environmental and social standards in forest management. " Here's one of SSNC's photographs of SCA's operations in northern Sweden. An example of what SCA, FSC and WWF describe as well managed. http://www.fsc-watch.org/archives/2007/12/10/SCA_gets_top_ranking Swaziland: 8) Swaziland is a beautiful country. Unfortunately, it is afflicted by one of the most perverse " aid " projects anywhere in the world. In the 1950s, planting of industrial tree plantations started with funding from the UK's Colonial Development Corporation (now a private equity company). 50 years later it's clear that establishing large scale industrial tree plantations and a pulp mill has failed to lift Swaziland's rural population out of poverty. More than two-thirds of the people in Swaziland live on an income of less than US$1 a day. About one third of the people in Swaziland rely on food aid to survive. Nearly 40 per cent of the population is infected with HIV - one of the highest rates in the world. Life expectancy has fallen to 33 years for men and 35 for women. A few weeks ago, I visited Swaziland, as part of a trip with World Rainforest Movement colleagues. We visited Sappi's stinking, polluting Usutu pulp mill and drove through Sappi's pine monocultures - FSC certified by Woodmark. Peter George has written a short history of his farm and how he had to stop farming because no water was available. It's revealing to compare his version with what FSC-Woodmark wrote in the Public Summary of their assessment of Sappi: " There are six streams that originate on Usutu land which flow through his farm. For the period 1975 to 1991 farming activities included the cultivation of vegetables, poultry, rain fed crops and trout. It was stated during the interview that the water flow in the streams is now back to normal. It was also stated that there has been a history of co-operation with Ustutu Forest as well, with regards to the fighting of fires. The issue regarding the reduction of water flow caused by the planting of trees and the subsequent claim is " subjudice " and is therefore under judicial consideration. " The Situation Now 2007: No support has been offered by either the Swaziland Ministry of Agriculture or the Swaziland Environmental Authority, thought both were approached. F.S.C. was given full details on 03.05.06 at a meeting in Swaziland. Response forms were promised, and arrived five months later. These were returned in Nov. 06, but no reply has been made. A letter of 16.08.07 to Mr. Hellier in UK is unanswered, as is a fax. I understand SAPPI now has FSC certification. The fact that they do not appear to hold a planting permit for block X, the area in question, seems to be of no concern to Woodmark. http://www.fsc-watch.org/archives/2007/12/11/How_Woodmark_certifi Ghana: 9) During January to September 2007, Ghana exported 399,361 m³ of timber and wood products, earning EUR138.5 million of revenue. This represents a 10.1% increase over the EUR125.8 million earned during the same period last year. Export volume also rose by 21.5% during January-September 2007. Exports to Europe amounted to EUR 58.75 million, representing 42.4% of the earnings. The EU markets, especially Italy, France, Germany and the UK were the key destinations for Ghana's wood products. Wood exports to India were 93,935 m³ worth EUR21.46 million, the single highest export destination in terms of volume and value. The products shipped to India included air and kiln dried lumber, sliced and rotary veneers, billets and teak poles. China was also emerging as an important East Asian market for Ghana's wood products. Similarly, the Forestry Commission is collaborating with timber associations locally and overseas to enhance the performance of Ghana's timber trade and industry in terms of species, products and market developments. Ten companies with integrated processing facilities and high installed capacity utilization and recovery out of 310 wood processing mills, which exported during the period under review, contributed about EUR83.26 million (or about 60.2%) to the total earning for the period. The ten included Mssrs. John Bitar and Co., Ayum Forest Products, Samartex Timber and Plywood, Logs and Lumber Co. and Forune Timber (Gh), Ghana Primewood, Mondial Veneer (Gh), AG Timbers, Fabi Timbers and Naja David Veneers and Plywood, which earlier this month was granted the Exporter of the Year Award (for 2006) by the Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC). http://www.ihb.de/wood/news/Ghana_export_volume_16108.html Tanzania: 10) Round shaped cooking stoves introduced to rural communities in several villages in Tabora region have proved efficient enough in terms of wood fuel consumption providing a dramatic relief to villagers and easing the pressure on woodlots and forests. Rural communities depend on wood as a source of fuel but the rising cost of alternative fuels like kerosene or electricity makes them unaffordable by villagers and thus unsuitable for domestic use. This has pushed conservationists to design simple but cost effective cooking stoves that every single family in the rural areas can afford. Total Land Care (TLC), a non-profit making organization based in Tabora has made a breakthrough in terms of energy saving. Through practical undertakings TLC has taught many rural families in Nzega, Uyui, Urambo and Sikonge districts how to make such stoves. David Fonga who is a Field Coordinator for TLC and his assistant, Ezra Kigata based at Ichemba village in Urambo district are among those who have facilitated the wide use of the stoves in the district. They have taught the villagers how to make the stoves so as to spare the remaining scanty forest reserves. At Kisanga village in Sikonge district, the wife of the local school head teacher, Jane Kisaline, also appreciated the use of the mud stove in place of the traditional three-stone-open stove that consumes a lot of firewood. ``Formerly we used to buy an oxen cart full of firewood at 5,000/-. The amount would last for about two weeks. However, after changing over to the mud stove the same amount of firewood lasts for three months. Isn\'t this wonderful?`` she queried. ``I wish the technology is taken to other parts of the country where trees disappear rapidly due to continued charcoal burning. Mud stoves keep the house clean as no smoke comes out while cooking,`` she added.http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2007/12/29/105220.html Uganda: 11) Scientists are combing rain forests around the world for potential cures for cancer and other ailments, but the residents near Uganda's last rain forests are are not waiting around for a multinational drug company to discover their treasures first. They have always believed that there are cures in the plant life of the Mabira Forest Reserve, the green, leafy jungle that sprawls through the middle of the country. And so, locals seeking treatments for sexual impotence, cancer, malaria and other illnesses are simply taking plants from the forest, parts of which are already in danger of being razed to make room for the construction of a sugarcane plant. " We need to think about conservation in a scientific way, " says Dr Mauda Kamatenesi, a lecturer of botany at Uganda's Makarere University and a lead researcher on Mabira's medicinal plants. Kamatenesi is leading a drive to conserve plants such as Citropsis articulata, or the " sex tree. " Also in danger of extinction in Mabira is Pronus africana, which is commonly used to treat malaria and some forms of cancer. Kamatenesi believes that plants like the " sex tree " may have other medicinal properties besides treating sexual impotence and says that Uganda will miss out on drug discovery and manufacturing if the government does not protect the forest. Researchers also say that the plants' extinction would take a toll on local Ugandans who have been using the trees as herbal cures for generations. Says Kamatenesi: " We are losing out if we let these plants go extinct without doing more research. The people say that the medicines work. " http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1698267,00.html 12) Today, the challenge has been cast not only with the biting timber and fuel demands, but rural poverty quickly eating away the scarce land resources that poor families rely on for income. The Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya is implementing a multi-faceted approach to the fight against poverty and is currently promoting the planting of pine trees for commercial purposes. " Fighting poverty is not only fighting poverty of the pockets and the stomach, people need wood for construction and fuel, " Prof. Bukenya said. He said the general public has a misconception that growing trees for commercial purposes must be done on a large scale and only involves rich people with a lot of land. Prof. Bukenya has started demonstration pine farms in Wakiso that range between quarter of an acre. The Uganda journal of Agricultural sciences , June 2006, published by the National Agricultural Research organisation, by December 2005, states that one cubic metre of pine timber costs Shs 430,000. " With the construction industry growing bigger, timber for construction is very marketable, an average pine tree can give you up to eight pieces of varing sizes, " Mr Victor Atira , a local businessman in Kireka, said. Prof. Bukenya has been promoting various enterprises that promote income generation, food security and improved livelihoods in rural communities. Pines are commercially among the most important species used for timber and wood pulp because they are fast growing softwoods. The Sawlog Production Grant Scheme, a European Union funded programme that aims to promote private investment in timber production in Uganda has subsidised almost 5,000 hectares of commercial plantations throughout the country including small community-based, tree planting associations. up to large-scale commercial operations. According to Mr Obed Tugumisirize, a plantation Development expert with the National Forestry Authority, the smallest area for Pine plantion is as little as two and a half acres. http://allafrica.com/stories/200712280824.html Guyana: 13) Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) says it is implementing the Remote Sensing and Bar-Coding system into its existing log tracking programme in its promotion of bsustainable forestry development. The GFC project is funded by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) at a cost of more than $100M, a press release from the Government Information Agency said. It uses modern tracking devices to combat illegal logging activities. The GFC said this monitoring technique is being used in many South American countries including neighbouring Brazil. The project was approved by the ITTO earlier this year and, according to GFC Head of the Planning and Development Division, Pradeepa Bholanauth, it began last September with efforts to recruit the three main consultants necessary for its implementation. Posts were advertised for specialists in areas of Chain of Custody; Networking and Bar Coding; and Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System and applicants are currently being reviewed. It is expected that once these positions are filled, the project will move into the next phase which includes conducting remote sensing imagery and geographic assessments of the current log tracking system to integrate the Bar-Coding technology. http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_general_news?id=56536061 Ecuador: 14) Ecuadorian businessmen have great interest in investing in Peru's forestry sector due to the country's huge potential in timber-yielding species, mainly pine trees which are in great demand in the United States, announced Peru's Minister of Agriculture, Ismael Benavides. He stated Ecuador's Wood Industry Association (AIMA) had expressed their interest in developing a timber project in the region of Cajamarca. AIMA's chief, Diego Ponce, stated that Ecuadorian interest is based on the stability of Peruvian laws and the possible adjustment to the reforestation law promoted by the government. If Ecuadorians start this project in Cajamarca, they will make an investment as high as three or four million dollars, which would be invested in the construction of a sawmill in the area and some improvements in the transformation process, said Ponce. He also stated that AIMA had a long client list in the international market, which would facilitate product trading. He assured that the association had a special interest in the reforestation of the areas in which it worked. One of the valuable timber-yielding species is pine, since this is the main raw material for boards; it is in great demand in the United States, where fences and furniture are made of it. http://www.livinginperu.com/news-5386-business-ecuadors-wood-industry-interested\ -investing-peru s-forests Madagascar: 15) With its bold orange or red skin and big black eyes, the tiny golden mantella frog, below, is a natural for a starring role in a Disney cartoon. But instead of recruiting the critically endangered amphibian, the movie giant is spending £9,000 to protect its rainforest home. Researchers – including an Aberdeen University scientist – have discovered two new populations of the golden mantella in its native Madagascar. Now Dr Richard Jenkins and his team are working to raise the " enigmatic and colourful " frog's profile, secure its habitat and figure out a way it can help generate funds for the area's impoverished locals. And they have managed to get the movie giant to help, in the guise of the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund. The amphibian's habitat is depleting at a worrying rate, mainly because of forest fires and clearing. There was once a thriving pet trade, with 30,000 being exported annually, but a ban has now been imposed. The species is categorised as " critically endangered " on the World Conservation Union's " red list " of threatened creatures. There are thought to be fewer than 20 populations, but inconclusive research means that figure could be even lower. And although efforts are being made to declare sections of Madagascar conservation areas, the species' home territory has so far missed out. " I think it's because, in the grand scheme of things, frogs are still quite far down the charts, " Dr Jenkins said. " Inevitably, if people plan to protect a forest, they make sure they have a set of threatened animals and birds and plants. You want to maximise your protected species for your investment. But if you do that, there are always a few animals that slip through the net. " What we are finding with the frog is some areas where it still occurs are very degraded. Alternatively, it exists in small fractions of the rainforest and they would never attract the attention of an organisation which wanted to conserve a big park. " One of our aims is to get the most important sites for the frog into the national process for protected-area conservation, to help secure the sites in the long term. " To do this, the team need to " increase the profile " of the golden mantella and educate locals about its rarity and importance. " There's no way anyone can hope to protect the habitat unless it's done with the co-operation of the local communities, " Dr Jenkins said. http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/How-Mickey-Mouse-could-save.3631594.jp Nepal: 16) Kailali, which used to be known as the district having the biggest area covered with forests, has lost its identity with nearly half of the forest area denuded during the last five decades. According to statistics made available by the Kailali District Forest Office (DFO), forests covered 88 per cent (2,894 sq km) of the total land (3,262 sq km) in the district 49 years ago. But by 2007, the area covered with forests went down to 1,400 sq km. " Forests covered 1,724 sq km land 11 years ago, " acting district forest officer Khada Nanda Sharma said. " We are mapping the forest areas by using global positioning system (GPS). Based on the maps prepared so far, the forest cover in the district is no more than 1,400 sq km, " he said. The dense forest existing in the Basanta area is also at risk due to rapid encroachment. Thousands of landless people, squatters and freed Kamaiyas have been encroaching upon the forest for the last few years. The attempts of DFO to oust the encroachers have failed so far, the office states. Statistics at the DFO show that over 15,000 persons have been living in forest areas in the district. The issue of encroachment in Kailali has been gaining national spotlight time and again. The government had even changed the entire team of forest officials in the district a few months ago. " The Ministry of Forest has given special rights to three assistant forest officers, including me, to stop encroachment and deforestation, " district forest officer Man Bahadur Khadka said. But the new team too has not been able to control the encroachment. Khadka sought local political leaders' help to check encroachment. http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sa2qzpba7Ua9ua.a\ xamal & folder=aH aoamW & Name=Home & dtSiteDate=20071230 17) The article reveals that whereas universities were previously the heartlands of recruitment for the Indian maoists – leftist guerilla movements traditionally recruited their functionaries from over-qualified students with few career prospects due to stagnent economic conditions – now the booming IT-driven economy and accompanying growth of the skilled middle class has destroyed this cadre recruitment for the the Maoist movement. The article also reports that in those remoter forest areas with great potential for mining and other resource extractions the Maoist threat is being used by vested government and business interests as an excuse to use terror to clear forest villages and herd villagers into less remote camps near main roads. This separates them from their traditional means of subsistence in preparation for a new life as wage labour in the mines or other extractive industries. The new enclosures… or in the sanitised jargon of modern security specialists – " strategic hamleting " . Any hope that the former guerillas' integration into Parliament would lead to a more normal democratic process has been dented further by recent events. The Maoists still retain their ace card – the threat of a return to guerilla war is laid on the table whenever negotiations are not going in their favour. http://www.himalmag.com/2007/december/cover_feature_chhattisg http://www.himalmag.com/2007/december/cover_feature_india_naxatile.html http://dd0s.gnn.tv/blogs/26480/Maoism_in_South_Asia_Republican_Nepal_Indian_Naxa\ lites India: 18) Smugglers find it easy to smuggle timber across the Wullar Lake, probably the only lake in the world guarded by a unit of one of the largest navies in the world! In a Valley teeming with nearly 700000 soldiers and policemen, the smugglers have cleared forests in all the directions of the state. Last week I was staying with a friend in the residential quarters of state government's J & K House at Chanakyapuri. In the neighbouring Karnataka House, the noise of an excavator digging the trench for foundation of a new building was unbearable. But from that noise came an interesting piece of information. My friend informed me that in the premises of J & K House a tree was leaning too much into the Karnataka House premises, close to the spot where the new building was being constructed. So it had to be felled. According to the rules, any plant with a thickness of 5 cm is a tree in Delhi and cutting it legally is really a very difficult thing to do. First, a very valid reason is needed for felling it, meaning you should be building a house or a building and the tree is an obstruction. You don't have to cut a tree for widening a road if an alternative is available. Second, three government departments- Environment, Forest, and Horticulture- must concurrently agree on the cutting of the tree. The officials of these departments visit the spot and verify the applicant's claim for cutting the tree. Government departments are not exempted from the rules. The post-cutting process is nearly punitive. The cutter has to plant ten trees anywhere in India for every tree that has been felled even after abiding by a legal procedure. At least one of these ten trees has to be necessarily planted in New Delhi. To cap it all, the new plants must be insured. An insurance company would pay in case the plant fails to. A proof that ten trees have been planted must be enclosed with the claim. Just when I was listening to these interesting details, on the tiny screen of my mobile phone, I was reading a report in Greater Kashmir that more than 50000 trees have been axed in a south Kashmir forest. Last month Greater Kashmir showed pictures of the stumps of hundreds of trees cut by smugglers in Rafiabad area of Varmul district. Government didn't even react to these reports. Even in Srinagar hundreds of Chinars have been cut in the past few decades. http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=2_1_2008 & ItemID=43 & cat=1 19) THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest Minister Benoy Viswom has directed the Principal Secretary (Forests) and the Chief Conservator of Forests (Development) that fire protection of forests during the coming summer should be ensured with full participation of the Vana Samrakshana Samithis (VSS) and Eco-development Committees (EDCs). " All measures for fire protection should be carried out through the VSS and EDCs. The fire protection and forest protection funds should be allocated to them in time for this. The Range Officers and Divisional Forest Officers will be responsible for carrying out the works though the VSS and EDC, " Mr. Viswom said. The Minister noted that usual fire prevention measures such as clearing of fire lines and appointment of watchers had not been fully effective. " The forests could be protected only with the cooperation of the local people, " he said. Mr. Viswom said if VSS and EDCs come forward to provide low-cost fire protection without clearing fire lines, they should be encouraged and empowered to do so. Necessary financial assistance should also be provided. http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/02/stories/2008010253580400.htm 20) The promotion of biofuels based on corn and soy, palm oil and jatropha is a false solution to climate change. So says Vandana Shiva, one of India's leading physicists, who is also widely considered to be one of the world's leading authorities on the environment and women's rights. The author of Biopiracy: the Plunder of Nature and Knowledge, Shiva directs the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Natural Resource Policy in New Delhi. Her current work centers on biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. She is a Slow Food international vice president. Excerpts from her essay, " Food, Forests, and Fuel, " in Share the World's Resources, appear below. Following articles that China Confidential has published by scientists, environmentalists, energy experts, and other analysts, her piece again illustrates that opposition to biofuels cuts across social, economic, and ideological lines. Except for the heads of the agribusiness industry, a relative handful of wannabe biofuels barons, and the politicians pushing mandates and subsidies for biofuels in the name of clean energy and energy independence, there is an emerging global consensus that biofuels are at best a boondoggle or a scam; at worst, a genocidal menace--masked in green. http://chinaconfidential.blogspot.com/2007/12/vandana-shiva-gets-years-last-word\ -on.html 21) Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, addressing the valedictory of a national seminar on 'Conservation of Eastern Ghats -2007'. He said the United Nations Environmental Programme considered forests as an ecosystem that provided a range of economic, industrial, environmental, cultural and social benefits and services. The Government was also aware of tribal heritage and the tribal people's rich knowledge in medicinal plants. Investigations had revealed that the indigenous knowledge of ecological zones, natural resources, agriculture, aquaculture, forest management were more sophisticated, Mr Barnalasaid. The Governor released 'Chennai Statement on Charter for Conservation of Eastern Ghats'. R. Rajagopal, Secretary, Environment and Forests, Tamil Nadu, said the 1,000-km stretch of Eastern Ghats was home to the endangered Asian elephants and tree species such as sandalwood and red sanders. The time was ripe to take up a focussed development programme for the area. http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/30/stories/2007123054150600.htm 22) In his key note address on `Fungi and Forests', Prof.V B Hosagouder, Scientist and Head, Microbial Taxonomy Unit of Trophical Botanical Garden Research Institute of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala said; " India has been considered as one of the mega hot spots of the 16 sensitive hot spots of bio-diversity in the world. Due to over exploitation on earth and wet lands in the name of development, the bio-diversity centers are highly vulnerable over the years. " The of Instruction, College of Forestry, Ponnampet, Dr.N A Prakash presided over the programme while college principal Dr.Pushpa Kuttanna was present. Speaking on the occasion, ZP chairperson, Deerghakeshi Shivanna said; " forest conservation is the need of the hour and these types of seminars will be an eye opener to understand the importance of preserving forests. The forests are playing a crucial role in keeping the balance of bio-diversity. Kodagu is blessed enough to be considered as 'Green House', because of its rich bio-diversity. " She called upon people to strive hard to protect the rich bio-diversity for future generation. http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20071230023529 & Page=K & Headline=Fo\ rest+conservati on+need+of+%91Forest+conservation+need+of+the+hour%92 & Title=Southern+News+-+Karn\ ataka & Topic=0 23) The Haryana government has denotified 4,400 hectares of Saraswati sanctuary to make way for Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda's pet project - the Hansi Butana Canal, a CNN-IBN investigation has revealed. A stretch of sanctuary been wiped off all government records and given way to the Rs 250 crore flagship project. Five acres of the sanctuary had been denotified earlier. Soon, land-roving machines, labour camps, sand piles came up on the site, trees were cut and finally, in October 2007, Haryana denotified the entire sanctuary. CNN-IBN Investigation found top officers in the Haryana government were party to the sanctuary's destruction. Chief Wildlife Warden Jakati allegedly gave written permission for sand trucks to ply through the sanctuary, in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act. Hooda's right hand man, Tayal, allegedly conducted a series of meetings to ensure work on the canal was not stalled. In a letter available exclusively to CNN-IBN, PCCF Haryana JL Srivastava - now promoted to DG (Forests) - reprimands a Divisional Forest Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi for stopping trucks purportedly carrying construction material from entering the sanctuary. Chaturvedi has been suspended. http://www.wildlifewatch.in/news/947 24) The zoo-cum-botanical park of India's economical capital, Mumbai, known as Jijamata Udyan or Rani Bagh, has been chalk-marked for revamping at a phenomenal cost of Rs 433.57 crore by the city's municipality. This 53-acre park, Rani Bagh, was established as a botanical park in 1861 and is today a home to 3,177 trees of great diversity, many of which have stood proud for over a century. The project has been assigned to a foreign company, the Thai-based Malaysian company HKS Designers and the Portico group (US). The modernisation plan, as per media reports, involves the construction of several concrete structures such as a 3-D theatre, a children's park, staff quarters, expansion of the animal hospital, car park, etc, which will convert this botanist's paradise into an amusement park, in no way benefiting the animals. It is feared that since that this green lung in the heart of one of the most congested areas of the city has no vacant space for construction, many of the grand old trees would be sacrificed. The Save Rani Bagh Botanical Garden Committee's fears stem from the following current trends: 1) Conversion of public open green spaces into concretised amusement centres. 2) Concretisation of open areas which act as soak basins for rainfall leading to increasingly disastrous flooding in Mumbai 3) Indiscriminate granting of permission by the BMC's Tree Authority (located within the Rani Bagh complex itself) to fell trees in Mumbai and its suburbs for any type of construction activity be it roads, buildings, etc. 4) The colossal waste of public moneys (Rs 433 crore in this instance) to set up glamorous concretised projects accessible to only a few when the same money could be utilised for the public good, for instance tree planting and maintenance, preservation of forest cover, environment education etc. http://www.wildlifewatch.in/campaigns/would-you-save-rani-bagh Malaysia: 25) The government said that the cooperation of illegal logging eradication with Malaysia has not yet progressed. So far the police and Indonesia's Forestry Police have played an active role in preventing the entrance of illegal logging to Malaysia. In the meantime, Malaysia tends to remain quiet. Forestry Minister, Malem Sambat Kaban said that so far the government is still facing difficulties cooperating with Malaysia. " They appear to be ignorant of the origin of the logs from Indonesia that entered Malaysia, " said Kaban in Jakarta yesterday (27/12). Now, said Kaban, Japan; China and England—forest product importing countries—have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesia that they will not receive any illegal logs. The proof is that the logs that entered Malaysia obtained an official stamp from the customs officers in Malaysia. After being stamped, the illegal logs from Indonesia were automatically considered legal. http://indosnesos.blogspot.com/2007/12/illegal-logging-malaysia-tends-to.html 26) Forestry Minister, Malem Sambat Kaban said that so far the government is still facing difficulties cooperating with Malaysia. " They appear to be ignorant of the origin of the logs from Indonesia that entered Malaysia, " said Kaban in Jakarta yesterday (27/12). The proof is that the logs that entered Malaysia obtained an official stamp from the customs officers in Malaysia. After being stamped, the illegal logs from Indonesia were automatically considered legal. This condition, he said, is contrary to Indonesia's cooperation with other countries in eradicating illegal logging trade. Europe, for instance, acknowledged that the log legality is based on the law in Indonesia. Now, said Kaban, Japan; China and England—forest product importing countries—have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesia that they will not receive any illegal logs. The government does not have the estimated amount of illegal logs taken to Malaysia. Forestry Department's Director of Forestry Products, Bambang Edi, acknowledged not knowing the number. " If we do, we would have reported it, " he said. http://margahayuland.blogspot.com/2007/12/illegal-logging-malaysia-tends-to.html 27) PENANG: Environment-conscious groups are calling on the Government to review the implementation of aquaculture industrial zone and petrochemical projects. They claim that such projects would have an adverse impact on mangrove forests. Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association, Consumers' Association of Penang and the Malaysian Inshore Fisherman Action Network said such high-impact projects that threatened the mangrove were not in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's wishes. " The Government has announced the high-impact projects covering 36,905ha. The Government is also proceeding with a petrochemical project in Sungai Pulau in Johor. " The project posed a threat to the 913ha of mangrove forest in that particular area, " the non-government organisations (NGOs) said in a joint statement. They claimed the destruction of the mangrove forest would have far-reaching implications on the livelihood of people living along the coastline. The NGOs also urged the authorities to gazette coastal mangrove areas as forest reserves to stop the alarming rate of depletion. " We only have 566,856ha of swamp forests left in Malaysia, and about 130,142ha of the forest is yet to be gazetted as forest reserves. " We have learnt an important lesson from the tsunami tragedy, which taught us the importance of mangroves (in protecting properties and lives in coastal areas), " they said. " We sometimes encourage farmers to inter-crop with short term maturing legumes like beans but not crops like maize as these can compete with the pine, " Mr Tugumisirize said. Mr Tugumisirize says the highland pine trees, Pinus patula, grows very well in Kapchorwa, Mbale and Kabale. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/27/nation/20071227133647 & sec=\ nation Papua New Guinea: 28) The Somare government has increased the royalty for log exports to enable landowners to receive more benefits from Papua New Guinea's lucrative timber industry. Timber companies from January 2008 will pay landowners K30 (US$10.17) per cubic meter when exporting round logs, which is a K20 (US$6.78) increase from the old rate of K10 (US$3.39) per cubic meter. Government sources say the new rates were recently announced by Forest Minister Belden Namah. Landowners will welcome the increase as the timber industry, which generated K491 million (US$166,449,000) in revenue last year, has often come under scrutiny for underpaying resource owners. Namah has reportedly said the increases were part of a policy that complimented section 46 of the Forestry Act, which stated that landowners should get maximum benefits from their resources. The timber industry's lobby group, the Forest Industries Association (FIA), remained tightlipped about the increase. But it is bound to worry a number of its members as it will be imposed when fuel prices are set to jump after the government approved a fuel price hike sought by Canadian fuel supplier InterOil Ltd. The increase is the first major policy shift announced by Namah since he took over the forest ministry from predecessor and current Treasury and Finance Minister Patrick Pruaitch. According to FIA records, the export of PNG round logs has increased from 1.4 million cubic meters in 2001 to 2.5 million cubic meters in 2006, the latter valued at K489 million (US$165,771,000). Based on data from the first quarter of 2007 and progress on the government's 10 major forestry projects, this upward trend is set to continue further. Documents released during the budget's tabling in Parliament in November indicate that the government acknowledges that to maximize returns from the forestry sector it must improve governance, enforce sustainable practices including diversification of forest-related investments, eradicate illegal logging, eliminate corruption and effectively administer landownership issues.http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2007/12/30/govt-increases-royalties-f\ or-timber-export s Indonesia: 29) Hundreds of Indonesians camped in government offices on Sunday after their homes were destroyed in landslides on Java island, as rescuers struggled to dig through thick mud in their search for dozens of missing people. Nearly 100 people were dead or missing after landslides triggered by torrential rains buried houses across the Central Java province this week, but rescue operations have moved at a slow pace because of the blanket of mud that has cut off roads. Officials said two excavators and four water sprays were used to unearth the 6-7 meters of mud that covered the land in Tawangmangu area, worst hit by the landslides, while thousands of villagers pitched in with basic tools such as spades and hoes. " This is a difficult place. We can't easily have excavators dropped in here, " Colonel Ngakan Gede Sugiartha, who monitors the rescue operations, told Reuters. Landslides and floods are frequent in Indonesia, where tropical downpours can quickly soak hillsides and years of deforestation often mean there is little vegetation to hold the soil. Indonesia's leading environmental group, Walhi, has said ecological destruction caused by deforestation, land conversions and chaotic planning contributed to the disasters. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/2007/12/31/137046/Indonesian-landslide.htm 30) Can Mother Nature take revenge for the way humans have been treating her? Obviously not directly. The torrential rains of the last two weeks have claimed 65 lives in the regency of Karanganyar, on the slopes of Central Java's Mount Lawu. The resulting floods and landslides have caused property damage and disrupted transportation in at least 35 regencies and municipalities in Central and East Java, as well as the Yogyakarta regencies of Bantul and Sleman. Historically, what we see here is the result of four hundred years of careless exploitation of Java's forests, especially its teak forests, as described eloquently by University of California professor Nancy Lee Peluso in her 1992 book Rich Forests, Poor People: Resource Control and Resistance in Java (University of California Press). When the Dutch sailors and traders arrived here in the 17th century, they were amazed to see Java's teak forests stretching from the northern to the southern coast and from Central to East Java, especially along the central mountain spine of the island. The Dutch traders immediately saw rich resources to build wooden ships for the Dutch East Indies Company. Without these teak forests, wrote Dutch historian, E.H.B. Brascamp, " our colonial history would have been quite different. " Yes, and Indonesia's post-colonial history would also be " quite different " , today as well. When teak became the main Dutch interest here, the exploitation of Java's forests created fortunes for the colonial masters and their indigenous proxies, while impoverishing the indigenous population living along the forest fringes. The Dutch turned the indigenous teak forests into teak plantations. The Indonesian state has continued this exploitative system, further impoverishing villagers living on state land. To reduce so-called " illegal logging " of teak, various schemes have been developed to allow the forest villagers to eke out a meager living on the land, as well as to earn low wages in producing " non-wood " items, such as certain resins. More than 60 years of Indonesian independence has not liberated Java's forest dwellers from this exploitative system. In fact, since the land redistribution program of the 1960s was abruptly halted by the New Order, more and more villagers have been pushed into farming more and more forest land, thereby further reducing the forest cover of this densely populated island. http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20071231.E02 & irec=1 31) President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has urged all layers of Indonesian society to take good care of the country's forests in order to prevent floods and landslides such as had happened in a number of regions lately. " Thereby, we will be taking care of the Earth in a smart way, " the President said in a dialog with local community members and officials here Saturday. Wonogiri District Head Teguh Purnomosidi earlier reported to the President that recent flooding in the area had killed several people, swept away nine who were still missing until Saturday, and injured four others. Some 1,750 houses, four school buildings and 30 bridges were damaged in the flooding, he said. During his working visit to Wonogiri, the President was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakri, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari and Minister/State Secretary Hatta Radjasa. President Yudhoyono said in the dialog that floods were also reported happening in other countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Malaysia. The floods were a consequence of hundreds of years of mismanagement and exploitation of forests, the president who therefore urged people to take care of forests and arid areas. " We don't need to blame the past. We now must take care and improve the conditions of our forests, " he said. The Wonogiri district head reported that the flooding was worsened by the fact that Gajah Mungkur Dam was not functioning. Responding to the district head's report, the President said that he would hold a special meeting to discuss the Gajah Mungkur dam and the role of the local authorities in managing the dam. " I want a special meeting as soon as possible, " President Yudhoyono said when giving an instruction to Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi, who was also present in the dialog. http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=2058 32) The landslides in Indonesia are a sample of the discourse ahead when it comes to global warming. Political leaders say, " Plant trees " -- two words that are supposed to make it better for the survivors of the landslides that killed at least 67 people and left tens of thousands homeless. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, quoted in The Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald, called for a mass planting of trees to prevent disasters such as flash floods and landslides and to " save the Earth from global warming. " However, scientists say the problem is more than a need for landscaping. They wonder why the country hasn't been preventing illegal logging. The independent Environmental Investigation Agency says Indonesia's forests are disappearing and illegal logging is out of control. Environmentalists say Indonesia ought to impose a total moratorium on logging -- the best way to start restoring trees on mountain slopes and other dangerous slide areas. Those are ideas that Indonesia's leaders say aren't necessary and are too costly. But this conversation is moving forward -- and not just in Indonesia. More countries, including our own, must re-examine logging polices in the context of global warming. Sustainability is no longer optional. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/345159_logginged.html Philippines: 33) Angelson and Wudsen present three categories that define the role of non-timber forest products (NTFP) in an upland household. Specialized category refers to a high contribution of the forest products into the household income and a high level of product integration to cash economy. Diversified category refers to the low contribution of forest products in income but has a high level of market integration. In this case, people are engaged in a variety of forest products, thus, having a high market integration or they are engaged in wage labor thus making forest products' share in the household income low. Forest products are seen to have an important " gap filling " or " safety net " function. As a safety net, forest products are used since the alternative may either be permanently or temporarily absent. As gap fillings, they provide a " periodical, reasonable predicta¬ble contribution to food security and sometimes cash income, serving as a seasonal buffer. " They seldom provide the " staple, bulk items that people eat " (Byron and Arnold, 1999 in Angelson & Wudsen, 2003) but are widely used " to overcome seasonal shortfalls (e.g. before the main harvest) or serve as substitute during an emergency. " That forest and poverty are closely linked is considered only partly true in the case of the present state or condition of forests. The present state is largely a result of large-scale commercial logging which exploited the natural forests from the 50's to 90's. Before its advent, there were already the indigenous peoples (IP) living harmoniously with the forests and they were not considered poor. However, they were considered squatters in their own land and were forcibly evicted from the logging concession areas. But at the same time, there were no upland migrants to speak of, only a lot of workers for the logging companies. When the timber license agreements (TLAs) expired or were terminated, logging companies left behind highly degraded forests that could hardly sustain the IPs' continued survival. Logging workers were also left behind and survived by tilling the logged-over areas. http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/dec/29/yehey/opinion/20071229opi5.html 34) KORONADAL CITY — A multi-sectoral body here has pressed the alarm button over a looming water crisis in South Cotabato due to forest destruction and improper water usage. Sister Pia Rabiera, chairperson of the Multi -Sectoral Forest Protection Committee of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said the situation is alarming, projecting that water supply in the province may not reach until 2070. If the wanton illegal cutting of trees in the mountains will remain unabated and improper use of water will continue, the province may dry-up by that time, she said. " With the quantity of water getting low, we really have to be alarmed by the fact that water is getting scarce, " Rabiera was quoted in a statement recently released by the provincial information office. Currently, the province has only 11 percent primary forest and 23 percent secondary forest, data from the local environment department showed. Primary forest is considered the major source of water and home to many wildlife and endemic species. Rabiera said the multi-sectoral committee has initiated measures on protecting the watershed areas, investigating illegal cutting of trees, illegal logging in protected areas and restoration zones and riverbank rehabilitation. Abdula Bansuan, executive director of the Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance (AVLDA), echoed the claims of Sister Rabiera that forest destruction was a major factor in the dwindling water supply in the province. http://mindanao.wowphilippines.com/generalsantos/2008/01/02/water-crisis-looms-i\ n-south-cotabat o/ Borneo: 35) A team from SOS Rhino fords a river in their quest for signs of the Sumatran rhino. Best guesses put the numbers of the creature, the smallest of the five rhino species, as low as 30 – so any glimpse, however fleeting, would be a moment to savoir. This is proved by the fact that one of the RPU's proudest achievements of recent years is the capture of some grainy footage of a rhino, now proudly displayed on its website. In Borneo, SOS Rhino is a joint WWF/Sabah Wildlife Department project based in Tabin Wildlife Reserve, a government-created protected zone that has existed since 1984. It has two major roles – research in the field and an education campaign aimed at local schools and villages. Its ultimate goal is rhino protection. Seventeen trackers and guides, mostly local men and boys, form the Rhino Protection Unit patrols to prevent illegal poaching. Then there are the surveys, ongoing and in-depth studies of the remaining habitat of the rhino, documentation of any sightings, evidence of dung and footprints. Once, this part of Malaysia offered kilometre after kilometre of virgin forest. But logging and the planting of palm oil plantations have taken their toll and today, despite seemingly strict government action, illegal logging still threatens not only the Sumatran rhino but also other endangered species such as the pygmy elephant and orang utan. The WWF believes that, in the past 30 years, over 40 per cent of Borneo has been logged or converted to plantations. Much of the remaining forest is in isolated pockets, reducing the territories of individual animals. All is not lost, however, a set of baby rhino prints was found last year and it was to this wallow that we set off the next morning. 'Rhinos are creatures of habit,' says Fadzilawati Hamdan, the project coordinator, 'they tend to stay in an area for a month and then move on. We have to keep checking all the wallows, though, searching for footprints and signs of the animals rubbing against trees. This wallow is special. We know the baby and its mother have used it in the past.' Reaching the wallow we are confronted by a perfectly formed adult rhino print, the shape of each toe clearly visible. It is photographed and recorded and, despite the fact it may be several weeks old, studied intently. http://cnntraveller.com/2007/12/27/the-last-hiding-place/ Australia: 36) As A retired forester, I support Senator Christine Milne's plea (BusinessDay, 21/12) for a comprehensive carbon accounting examination, covering the total forest management exercise that Mark Poynter staunchly defended (18/12). But she must agree to include in the carbon examination her preferred hobbyhorse, that is banishing timber harvesting from the forest and allowing forests to become senescent with the inevitable ecological and carbon consequences. A couple of Ms Milne's pontifications need correcting: 1) " Australia's native native forest logging industry is not about wood production, it is focused on woodchipping. " This is basically false. See Mark Poynter's blog on the above website. 2) " Regularly logged forests will have typically 40-60% less carbon than similar undisturbed forest. " If she wishes to compare one forest situation with another, she must make clear the management histories, and that the ages and time spans are being treated honestly. http://business.theage.com.au/more-to-the-wood-than-trees/20080101-1jru.html World-wide: 37) Ecosystem Marketplace: A last-minute decision to put Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) on the roadmap for future climate change talks opens the door to innovative financing schemes to reduce deforestation. Such schemes have long been advocated by investment banks and traders – who are expected to play an ever larger role in framing future climate change mitigation mechanisms. The Ecosystem Marketplace takes a closer look. (First of two parts) When trader David Pearse says that buying emission reduction certificates should be more like buying bags of beans, environmentalist Richard Worthington cringes and forestry expert Anna Lehmann rolls her eyes. But his amoral market talk may be on the ascendant after this week's climate change talks in Bali. " Practically no one here today has any understanding of financial markets or instruments, and yet they've taken it on their hands to create the most important financial market on the planet, " says Pearse, a geologist by training who, as a commodity trader, set up Deutsche Bank's carbon trading desk in 2000. Today he runs an ecosystem investment group called Osmia Partners and says the mechanisms designed to promote Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) are riddled with bad finance, perverse incentives, and market distortions. It is a problem nearly everyone in Bali was increasingly willing to acknowledge as the weeks wore on, with scores of debates focusing on how to set national baselines to determine the extent to which different parties are rewarded for reducing deforestation. Until Friday, the only mechanisms officially on the table were those basing future targets on recent rates of deforestation and other socioeconomic factors rather than on carbon already in trees. http://www.earthportal.org/news/?p=764 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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