415 - EU-Africa-Mid-East Tree News

[Guest guest]

--Today for you 28 news articles about earth's trees! (415th edition)

--Periodic tree news thoughts texted to your phone via:

http://twitter.com/ForestPolicy

--Audio and Video version of Earth's Tree News: http://forestpolicyresearch.org

--To Subscribe / to the world-wide email format send a

blank email to:

earthtreenews- OR

earthtreenews-

 

In this issue:

 

Europe-Africa-Mid-East

 

Index:

 

--EU: 1) Thanks for writing EU president for stricter timber laws

--UK: 2) Woods are result of thousands of years of management by

humans? 3) Police step in to stop oak trees from being chopped, 4)

Deer control for forests, 5) Nine years of Arboreal occupation ends in

victory, 6) Britain's newest forest is an 860-acre site,

--Scotland: 7) The Crofting system, 8) Forestry Commission withdraws

plans to build green community,

--Portugal: 9) Save the Cork oaks!

--Sweden: 10) Timber stock is continually increasing despite

unprecedented logging rates?

--Finland: 11) 2.9 million hectares of protected forests?

--Czechoslovakia: 12) Damaged forests make up one third of territory

--Spain: 13) Protected land near San Miguel de Salinas has been

cleared, roads opened

--Cyprus: 14) Green Party denounces deforestation near Livera village

--Congo: 15) Only 46 of the 156 logging contracts are legal

concessions, 16) Students travel across ocean to ask banks to stop

forest destruction,

--Kenya: 17) Green Belt conversion to native species draws concern,

18) Bringing degraded ecosystems back from the brink, 19) Giant Baobab

tree in Arabuko-Sokoke forest,

--Ghana: 20) Inefficient processing responsible for loss of prime

timber species? 21) Private teak plantation harvests

--Uganda: 22) Countries seldom get any greener?

--South Africa: 23) They used to be an exporter of timber

--Madagascar: 24) 500,000 hectares of moist and spiny forests to be

protected, 25) Most endangered primate on the planet,

--Lebanon: 26) Wildfire: In one day we lost three times what we

planted in 17 years

--Afghnistan: 27) Green belts and trees fast depleting in Rawalpindi

--Pakistan: 28) Camels on the loose devour urban forest foliage

 

 

Articles:

 

EU:

 

1) Over the last few months more than 125,000 of you wrote to European

Commission President José Manuel Barroso, asking for a strong timber

law to put an end to deforestation and illegal logging. Thank you to

everyone that took action! We asked President Barroso to meet with us

in person to discuss the timber law – but he claimed he was too busy.

So, today Greenpeace delivered your message and a copy of the new

'forest love' video to environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas and

President Barroso's environmental advisor, Ms Clara Martinez-Alberola.

Your letters have helped put pressure on the Commission to finally set

a date to kick-start the legislative process for a new EU timber law.

The Commission is now due to propose a law on 15 October. This

proposal will be Europe's first real attempt to combat illegal

logging, forest destruction and their contribution to climate change.

But in order to be effective, this law must be strong enough to ensure

that, once it becomes binding, all timber sold in the EU comes from

legal sources and well-managed forests. Europe is one of the world's

largest timber markets, so its rules for forest products have an

impact across the globe. Companies that benefit from forest

destruction in places like the Amazon and Indonesia are working hard

to influence decision-makers in Brussels and weaken the new EU timber

law. Greenpeace will continue the fight against deforestation and

illegal logging as our focus shifts to the European Parliament and

European Ministers - who will be amending the Commission proposal. We

will need your help throughout the next steps of the legislative

process to make sure Europe gets a strong timber law! Thanks again for

taking action against illegal logging and forest destruction. Best

wishes,

Jess, Juliette, Eoin, Tom, Dietlind and all the forests team

http://links.mailing.greenpeace.org/servlet/MailView?ms=MzAzNTgyOTAS1 & r=OTgxNjQ4\

NzkyS0 & j=NDIyODAxNTkS1 & mt=1 & rt=0

 

UK:

 

2) Our woodlands are no happy accident, but the result of thousands of

years of management by humans, writes WENDY NECAR, of the Royal

Forestry Society. Autumn is a time of crowning glory for woodlands

across Oxfordshire. Leaves change their colours from fresh greens to

bright yellows, glowing oranges and rich reds. Crab apples,

elderberries, conkers, nuts and pine cones all ripen, providing

bountiful harvests for the wildlife that depends on them. Yet such

flourishing woodlands are not a natural phenomenon. Humankind has been

managing woodlands for thousands of years. We have relied on our woods

for fuel and shelter, for raw materials for tools, and for food. Many

of these early uses have been superseded but the need for sustainable

woodland management is crucial for the health of our environment. The

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust and the

Royal Forestry Society have joined forces to demonstrate how they work

hard to protect and manage our woodlands to benefit people and

wildlife. According to the Forestry Commission National Inventory for

Trees, the amount of woodland in Oxfordshire increased between 1980

and 1997, with coverage rising from around six per cent to seven per

cent of the county. Oak with a coppice understorey has always been the

predominant species in the heavy clay soils of the lower regions of

Oxfordshire, while the chalk and limestone of the Chilterns give rise

to highly alkaline soils where beech is now the predominant species

but the species is expected to be seriously affected by climate

change. Flourishing woodlands, of course, have a part to play in

climate change. Growing trees remove carbon dioxide from the

atmosphere and store it in branches, trunks and leaves. Mature trees

act as a carbon sink, storing it for many years until they die and

decay. Products we make from wood, such as furniture, will continue to

store carbon for many years.

http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/3742579.Go_wild_about_woods__too/

 

 

3) Police have stepped in to stop oak trees from being chopped down.

Residents watched in horror as contractors started pulling down the

100-year-old trees at historic Padnell Grange, Cowplain. Dental

charity Borrow Foundation, which is selling the land to make way for a

126-home estate, said it was thinning the trees. But the police were

called and put a stop to the work. Havant Borough Council then issued

a Tree Preservation Order on the area to stop any more trees being

chopped down. Jonathan Mercer, 42, who lives in Cherry Tree Avenue,

close to Padnell Grange, said: 'This is an abuse of the environment

and a tragic loss of these trees. 'Part of the ecosystem of that area

has now gone. 'These trees are so old that we will never see their

like again in our lifetime. 'Our concern is the wildlife and how it

will be affected. 'This is a valuable community amenity and, although

the trees were on private land, people were able to enjoy them from

the footpath and we have seen lots of bats there.' Under the Wildlife

and Countryside Act 1981 it is a crime to destroy a bat's roost.

Police have confirmed no bats were harmed but have contacted Natural

England which will carry out a survey of wildlife in the area. The

Borrow Foundation has not broken any laws as at the time there was no

TPO. Cowplain councillor David Keast said he was sad to see the trees

go. 'They were mature oak trees, more than 100 years old and it is a

real shame they have been chopped down,' he said. 'But I feel

reassured that the council acted so quickly to protect the remaining

trees.' Padnell Grange dates from the 1840s and, although it is an

attractive manor house, it is not a listed building. Nigel Borrow, a

director of the Borrow Foundation, is out of the country. But Rob

McKay, from developer Berkeley Street Properties, which is set to buy

the site, said one of the problems was that the empty house had been

vandalised recently. Cutting down the trees, he believed, was meant to

make the site more open and improve security.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/Police-called-in-to-bring.4564560.jp

 

4) The feeding of deer in winter on a Highlands estate is likely to be

phased out and more of the animals culled to help the regeneration of

woodland. Trees for Life want to reconnect forested areas from the

River Moriston floodplain up into the hills on Dundreggan Estate in

Glen Moriston. The charity will consult with deer management groups on

its plans to control the large mammals. The estate includes some of

the last stands of ancient Caledonian Forest. Trees for Life, which is

based in Findhorn, Forres, took over the 10,000 acres in a £1.6m deal.

Executive director Alan Featherstone said a five-year plan had been

drawn up for the estate, but the programme was still in the early days

of implementation. Controlling sheep and deer grazing are among the

key objectives. Mr Featherstone said: " Obviously there is a cull of

deer at the moment and we are planning to increase that a bit. " The

previous owner was feeding the deer in winter in woodland and we would

look at, over time, phasing that out. " Fences would be used to protect

seedlings in areas where new planting was required. The charity wants

to revive what is known as riparian forest - trees next to water - to

tackle erosion around the River Moriston but also to provide leaf

litter which creates food and habitat for invertebrates. Mr

Featherstone said an aim was to achieve a natural regeneration.

However, as many as 500,000 native trees may also be planted.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7656601.stm

 

5) A man in a harness is dangling from a tree house 60 feet above the

ground. Just visible between the tall beech trees, he rips off the

roof and pulls down the slatted walls, letting them crash to the

forest floor. He is dismantling the makeshift houses where he and

fellow campaigners have lived for nearly a decade in the woods at

Stanton Moor in the Peak District National Park. The wood is home to

Britain's longest-running protest which, after nine years of

occupation, is finally coming to an end. Ruth Franklin 47, is one of

many who left behind the trappings of conventional life to campaign

against quarrying in the park. " I love this place and it's been my

home for years, " she says. " I'll be so sad to leave. " Her reasons for

leaving are really a cause for celebration. The protesters first moved

in after Stancliffe Stone, a stone supplier, attempted to reopen two

mines in the park which would have devastated the landscape and

threatened the Nine Ladies stone circle, a Bronze Age pagan site.

Years of campaigning and court battles have paid off. Any day now they

expect to receive a letter from the Local Government Secretary, Hazel

Blears, confirming that permission to quarry has been revoked.The epic

protest has come to be known as the Battle of Stanton Moor. More than

500 eco-warriors have come, joined the fight and gone since it

started. Now there are just 15 left. They invited me to join them for

some of their last days of occupation. Their campaign headquarters,

despite its ramshackle appearance, is surprisingly cosy. It is made

from huge pieces of wood, tarpaulin and canvas, and over the years

people have added a bar, bookcases, sofas, a sound system, a

wood-burning stove and even a candelabra. To describe it as a camp no

longer does it justice. It even has its own postcode. There has been

no shortage of locals keen to dismiss the Nine Ladies protesters as

New Age hippies who should " go out and get a real job " , but their

achievement in saving this idyllic corner of Derbyshire has not gone

unnoticed by their nearest neighbours. Geoffrey Henson, a pensioner

whose home lies just outside the protest camp, admits that the onset

of the dreadlocked army was a shock. But he says he has been

pleasantly surprised. " We were a bit taken aback when we saw what

looked like these scruffy long-haired layabouts arrive, " he explained.

" But they stuck it through all winds and weathers for nine years,

which is more than we could have done. "

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/the-ecowarriors-who-became\

-local-heroes-951823.html

 

6) The symbolic cutting of a barbed wire fence last week marked the

first step in the creation of Britain's newest forest: an 860-acre

site in Hertfordshire to be planted with 600,000 native woodland

trees. The Woodland Trust charity has now completed the purchase of

the land for the forest at Sandridge, near St Albans. Part of it will

be named The Sunday Times Wood, and readers have already donated money

for more than 1,800 trees - enough to cover three acres. Five hundred

years ago, another oak on the site played its own role in English

history. It was here, during the second battle of St Albans in 1461,

that King Henry VI is reputed to have been held prisoner under a tree

by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, the legendary " kingmaker " of the

wars of the roses. Archeologists will be watching the planting of the

wood for any relics that are turned up. Warwick the Kingmaker, after a

rare defeat, led his Yorkist troops in a retreat across the site of

the Sunday Times wood. Simon West, district archeologist with the

Verulamium Museum in St Albans, said: " Much of the weaponry, such as

swords and arrows, would have been collected up as spoils of war by

the victors and what was left would have been scavenged by local

peasants who recycled or sold them. " But there is every chance of

finding things such as daggers, buttons and smaller items like garter

hooks. " Work on the forest can now start in earnest. A new stile was

erected last week where the wire was cut to open a footpath along the

edge of the land, giving open access for the first time in many years.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4882696.ece

 

 

Scotland

 

 

7) Essentially, If they want people to grow trees on their land then

they must be assured that they can harvest those trees in future. And

if more trees are better than some trees then all forest establishment

methods must be equally encouraged. So forest owners the world over

will recognise a serious outbreak of common sense by the Scottish

Parliament when it recently gave naturally regenerated forests the

same status as plantation forests under their reforms of the crofting

system. It is a simple statement of the bleeding obvious that has

proven to be far beyond the wit of numerous centralised, metropolitan

dominated governments in many parts of the world of late. And it is no

coincidence that this newly devolved legislative power was able to cut

through the smoke, the spin and the mirrors of urban green agendas to

actually focus on the situation on the ground and implement measures

designed to expand the area of woodland habitat and enhance the

ecological, social and economic values of the community they serve.

The Scottish " crofting system " had evolved from the ancient feudal

system with a form of tennant farming by " crofters " who leased a small

plot of land from a landowner at essentially unimproved rates. The

lease bestowed a right to enjoy the improvements and often came with a

right to rent or own outright the cottage that came with it. This

crofting lease could be handed down by way of inheritance but it also

carried an obligation to maintain farming activities like cultivation

of crops etc. If the crofter ceased cultivation (abandoned the use)

the lease was forfeited. Few crofters were full time farmers with most

having some sort of off-farm income or trade. In many cases neither of

these options were viable on their own due to the small size of the

local community but it was the combination of both income sources that

kept local families and their community viable. But as times changed,

more and more crofting communities were seeking broader options for

the management of both their individual plots and the community lands,

beyond traditional farming activities. And foremost amongst those

options was the establishment or expansion woodlands for both timber

production and ecological ammenity. In the past, any trees on the

crofted lands remained the property of the land owner. And much like

leasehold land in Australia, any new trees that grew from the seeds of

existing trees became the property of the land owner (the state). The

crofters were left with no incentive to allow any additional trees to

grow and significant incentives to prevent new tree growth with

dilligent pasture maintenance activities.

http://ianmott.blogspot.com/2008/10/native-regrowth-same-as-plantations.html

 

8) The forestry Commission has withdrawn a plan to build a green

community in an ancient woodland in the wake of fierce opposition from

environmental groups and local residents.Although the proposal was

backed by the Scottish Green Party, it was condemned as the " murder "

of a woodland and its wildlife by conservation groups. An ecological

study found that the wood supported red squirrels, otters, pine

martens, bats and badgers. To make room for the houses, the commission

was planning to cut down up to 70% of the trees in the building zones

and 30-40% in surrounding areas. Kilnhill, which includes native

species such as Scots pine and juniper, is listed on the UK ancient

woodland inventory and dates back at least 400 years. Along with the

32 houses, the plan also included eight holiday chalets and other

associated facilities. But opponents argued that encouraging

holidaymakers to fly up to Aberdeen to stay in the woods was not very

environmentally friendly. In a report to Highland Council's local

planning committee, officials urged rejection of the application

because it was contrary to the local plan. They were not satisfied

that wildlife would be adequately protected, and concerned about the

increase in traffic on single-track roads. The Forestry Commission's

surprise decision to put the plan on hold has been widely welcomed,

though there are still concerns about its future plans. Conservation

groups are promising to keep a close watch on the commission's next

move. " As originally drawn, the commission's plan to build an

eco-village would have resulted in the loss of woodland of high

conservation value, " said Andrew Fairbairn, of forest campaign group

the Woodland Trust Scotland. The woodland is home to many valuable

plants, such as wood sorrel and chickweed wintergreen. The proposed

development could have led to " hundreds of years of evolution going up

in smoke " , Fairbairn warned. The Friends of Kilnhill Wood, a group

formed by local residents to protect the woodland, urged the Forestry

Commission to abandon the plan altogether. " The whole idea has wasted

countless thousands of tax pounds, " said the group's chairman, Stephen

Gray.

http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2457222.0.critics_fell_p\

lans_for_woodland_ecovillage.php

 

Portugal:

 

9) Amorim, world's largest producer of natural cork products,

announced today that it has launched a global awareness campaign to

promote the environmental qualities of cork oak forests and protect

them for future generations. The campaign includes several firsts for

natural cork--the use of global viral marketing tools that includes a

YouTube streaming video featuring Hollywood actor/comedian Rob

Schneider; strategic appearances of Australian FreeHugs' celebrity

Juan Mann; a cork recycling program sponsored by Australian Girl

Scouts; and a special FaceBook social networking site. Carlos de

Jesus, Amorim's head of corporate communications and marketing, is

elated with the campaign results so far. " After launching the campaign

in Australia a few weeks ago, it has spread systemically around the

world to include wine consumers and non wine-drinkers alike. It

appears our program has struck a cord with people concerned with the

environmental issues surrounding forest preservation and

sustainability. " At last count, the 3 videos of the campaign have

logged over 300,000 YouTube views while our " Save Miguel " site (

www.savemiguel.com) has received another 65,000 visitors. " The video

clip we produced is a tongue-in-cheek approach to a serious subject, "

says De Jesus. " Many people believe the myth perpetrated by the

alternative closure lobby that our industry cuts down the down the

cork forests to make corks, and that the supply is nearly exhausted.

This is as far from the truth as possible. Billions and billions of

wine corks are produced each year without a single tree being cut

down. This enables us to provide an unlimited supply of product at

competitive prices. " The impetus for Amorim's global awareness

campaign is quite clear. Approximately 70% of the value associated

with the world's cork forests depends on wine stoppers, not shoes or

bulletin boards or flooring tiles. The inroads plastic and aluminum

closures are making in some markets threaten the cash value of this

important natural crop. The ultimate result could be a steady decline

in jobs and economic stability throughout the Western Mediterranean

basin, and the loss of critical biodiversity with a likely increase in

C02 emissions. " We take our commitment to sustainability very

seriously, " says De Jesus. " It's been a way of life for us for over

100 years. It is estimated that the cork oak forests of the

Mediterranean basin help offset a massive 10 million metric tons of

CO2 every year. And when you consider the amount of energy it takes to

manufacture alternative closures versus natural cork, the advantages

of natural become more obvious. "

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/save-miguel---hollywood-joins/story.aspx?g\

uid={E49D73E3-49D0-4519-9CB4-F0A1CE87543D} & dist=hppr

 

 

Sweden:

 

10) Swedish forests grow like never before. The timber stock is

continually increasing despite unprecedented felling. The last nation

wide forest inventory shows that at present annual growth is 120

million cubic metres. The present timber stock outside nature reserves

and national parks is 3,250 million cubic metres, i.e. an increase of

85 % since the first forest inventory made in 1926. During the last

years deciduous trees have grown the most. In the 1970s and the 1980's

deciduous trees were cleaned out. Now a re-evaluation has been made

concerning these species, mainly for environmental reasons. Mixed

forests promote natural biodiversity and a multitude of species, both

in respect of animals and plants. Spruce, pine and birch are still the

predominant species and they represent 91 % of the aggregate timber

stock. http://timber.fordaq.com/fordaq/news/timber_Swedishforests_17977.html

 

Finland:

 

11) 13 % of Finland's forest area is either protected or subject to

restricted commercial use. The strictly protected forest area has

increased and is already 9 % of Finland's forest area, Nordic Forest

Owners Association reported. In Finland there is 2,9 million hectares

of protected forests and forests subject to restricted commercial use.

That is 13 % of the country's total forest area. The great majority of

such forests, 2,5 million hectares, are situated in Northern Finland

where they cover 22 % of the forest area. The corresponding figure in

Southern Finland is 0,5 million hectares, i.e. 4 % of the forest area

in Southern Finland. Almost 70 %, i.e. 2 million hectares of protected

forest and forest subject to restricted commercial use are strictly

protected, which means that all fellings are prohibited. That is 9 %

of the total forest area. The most important areas in this category

are wilderness areas and national parks. Almost 90 % of strictly

protected forests are located in Northern Finland. In comparison with

the year 2005 the total area of strictly protected forests has

increased by almost 8 %, i.e. 63 thousand hectares. In Southern

Finland the area has increased by 25 % (51 thousand hectares) and in

Northern Finland by 5,6 % (94 thousand hectares). According to MCPFE -

Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe - almost

half of the Europe's strictly protected forests are located in

Finland. http://wood.lesprom.com/news/35856/

Czechoslovakia:

 

 

12) Forests make up approximately one third of Czech territory. They

were severely damaged by industrial growth and insensitive management

during the 40 years of communist rule, and ever since the fall of

communism in 1989, there have been consistent efforts to remedy the

damage. On Wednesday, the government adopted a new National Forest

Programme, which sets down measures to make Czech forests healthier.

Petr VorlíÄek is the spokesman for the Czech Agriculture Ministry. " It

is a concept for forest management which will be followed until 2013.

It contains individual measures, methods, legal provisions and other

steps which determine what should be done with forests and how they

should change. " Similar concepts have been compiled in the past but

now, for the first time, the government invited various

non-governmental organizations to participate. Jaromír Bláha, who

heads the forest programme of Friends of the Earth Czech Republic,

says there are two major problems concerning Czech forests which the

new programme will address. " The first is the emissions of toxic

acids, while the other has to do with forest management which used

clear-cuts. Under the current forest act, clear-cuts are limited to an

area of one hectare which results in the degradation of forest soil.

Furthermore, Czech forests are mostly composed of spruce and pine

monocultures, and we urgently need to improve the diversity of trees,

to incorporate more broad-leafs and firs. " Another issue which needs

to be solved is the high numbers of game that damage newly planted

trees. The Agriculture Ministry spokesman says the National Forests

Programme is a result of a balanced consensus but Jaromír Bláha, of

the Friends of the Earth says the talks were tough. " The negotiations

were hard and difficult because the stakeholders have different aims

and different attitudes to the forest. I am therefore quite satisfied

with the result because we managed to include many good points into

the National Forest Programme. " The National Forest Programme outlines

measures to be applied until 2013. While some of the changes, for

example a more sensitive approach to timber production, can be applied

almost immediately, experts agree that it will take several decades

before spruce monocultures are replaced with more resistant,

broad-leafed trees. http://www.radio.cz/en/article/108921

 

Spain:

 

 

13) Protected land near the town of San Miguel de Salinas has been

cleared and roads opened in a wooded area, according to a statement

issued by the 'Association of Friends of the Sierra Escalona' (ASE)

and the 'Neighbourhood Association of San Miguel de Salinas'. They say

that the land, which comes under the protection of the Ministry of the

Environment, lies to the east of the road running between the town and

the district of Campoamor, which is part of the Valle de Lobo. Manuel

Gomez, president of the Neighbourhood Association, said that although

the land is private, the ecological value of the area requires its

preservation and that the Forestry Law regulates its use. He also said

that " the movement of trucks has been constant " and that the Guardia

Civil have already received complaints about the damage caused to the

soil and pine trees by " certain individuals " . Not only has the

vegetation been cleared and small hills flattened, but river beds that

feed the arroyo have also been covered and the debris dumped near

existing fruit farms. This land, says Gomez, is of vital importance

because it creates an ecological corridor between the Natural Park of

the Sierra de Escalona and the Natural Park of the Lagunas of La Mata

and Torrevieja and also connects Torrevieja with the main channel that

brings water to the Laguna de Torrevieja.

http://www.euroweeklynews.com/news/11669.html

 

Cyprus:

 

14) The Cyprus Green Party denounces the deforestation of entire

forest in the area of Livera village at Keryneia district in the

northern part of Cyprus which is occupied since 1974 by the Turkish

Army. The ecological destruction that happened these last days at the

occupied Livera village in a protected nature area is irreparable. We

are reminding you that the specific area has been proposed in order to

be included in the Natura 2000 nature protection network of the

European Union. A forest to be created needs tens of years offering

big benefits to the ecosystem and the citizen's health and its

destruction is a criminal energy. At the area growths the Cyprus tulip

(tulipa cypria) which is considered to be a protected specie. The

information's reports that some regime officers are involved at the

built-up growth of the specific area. The Turkish occupation regime

shows not only disrespect to the environment but also its true

behavior of showing good will regarding the achievement of the Cyprus

problem solution that respects all Cypriots human rights.

http://www.famagusta-gazette.com/default.asp?sourceid= & smenu=81 & twindow=Default & \

mad=No & sdetail=5729 & wpage= & skeyword= & sidate= & ccat= & ccatm= & restate= & restatus= & reo\

ption= & retype= & repmin= & repmax= & rebed= & rebath= & subname= & pform= & sc=2350 & hn=famagus\

ta-gazette & he=.com

 

Congo:

 

15) After a two-year delay, the initial results of a World

Bank-financed legal review of logging contracts in the Democratic

Republic of Congo (DRC) have been made public. During a press

conference on Monday Environment Minister Jose Endundo announced that

46 of the 156 logging contracts submitted for review are to be

converted into legal concessions. No less than 33 of these titles were

allocated after a moratorium on new logging titles introduced in May

2002. " The fact that titles that violated the Forest Code are now

being legalised sets a very dangerous precedent, giving little

incentive to companies to improve their track record in complying with

legal and regulatory obligations, " said Michelle Medeiros, Africa

Forest Coordinator at Greenpeace International. In a briefing paper

published today, Greenpeace reveals fundamental flaws in the legal

review process and warns that it could result in more destructive

logging. It shows how a lack of rigid criteria, the absence of

reliable information and a lack of transparency have created a process

that results in the probable laundering of illegally obtained or held

titles. The Swiss-German SIFORCO (owned by Danzer Group) and

subsidiaries of the Portuguese NST Group stand out as the big winners

of the review. They have seen the majority of their titles approved,

including those titles obtained in breach of the 2002 moratorium and

the forest code. Greenpeace has documented the social conflicts,

omnipresent in these companies' concession areas. Violations of the

rights of local communities and indigenous peoples are the rule rather

than the exception. While promoting themselves as ready for

" sustainability certification " in order to secure their predominantly

European export markets, the companies are in fact logging in intact

forests and near biodiversity hotspots, exporting high volumes of

internationally protected tree species.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200810090264.html

 

16) As the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and

World Bank Group (Bank) gather in Washington for their annual meeting,

a group of African students are traveling across the ocean to call

upon the bank ministers to stop forest destruction in the Democratic

Republic of Congo (DRC). The students are arriving with 40,000

signatures asking the World Bank to not repeat the mistakes of their

" Forest Reform " in Central Africa, which allowed the large scale

expansion of industrial logging into intact rainforests. The student

activists are available to the media to discuss their work and how

World Bank policies affect their lives. (See student bios below) The

Congo Basin Forest is the second largest rainforest on the planet. In

the DR Congo alone, 40 million people depend on the forests for their

livelihoods. Forests are vital for our global climate: An estimated 20

percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by deforestation

and land use change. The World Bank has for many years been the

driving force behind failed " Forest Reform " in Central Africa,

allowing the large scale expansion of industrial logging into intact

rainforests and causing massive releases of greenhouse gases. As a

result, in 2002, the DRC issued a moratorium on new logging

concessions, with the help of the World Bank, a law that Greenpeace

applauded. However, the moratorium was breached and the Congo

government is now considering lifting it entirely, which would open up

vast areas of intact rainforests to international logging companies.

Cameroonian activists are acting in solidarity with Congolese groups

and communities, and calling on the World Bank and governments not to

repeat the same mistakes they made in Cameroon. The moratorium on new

logging concessions must stay in place until meaningful control is

established in the Congo forest and until a land use plan is in place,

based on the needs of the Congolese poor.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200810061555.html

 

Kenya:

 

17) Environmentalists have raised the red flag over a project in

Karura Forest. The Green Belt Movement coordinator Lilian Muchungi

called for close scrutiny of activities in the forest to prevent

logging. The Kenya Forestry Service project seeks to rid Karura of the

eucalyptus and blue gum trees and replace them with indigenous

species. The forestry services says the aim is to clear the area --a

15-hectare chunk -- to create space for the new species. The effort

seems to echo Green Belt's agenda that tends to favour indigenous tree

species, but the organisation remains cautious. The forests' public

relations officer Raphael Mworia told the Nation that the project was

sponsored by the Unep and the Kenya Red Cross. Unep's country

coordinator Henry Ndede confirmed that the programme was on. Mr Mworia

said the project had led to the employment of 80 internally displaced

people from Mathare slums. When the Nation visited the site along

River Ruaka, logs and poles were on the ground as the youths continued

splitting and felling more trees using power saws. Ms Muchungi said

the project needed to be closely monitored to prevent private

developers from taking over the land. " We've written to the Forestry

Department to ensure that this is not an avenue to make the land

available to private developers, " she said. She also demanded that the

contractor be made known to the public. " The trees are public

property. We have to know who is reaping from the sweat of Kenyans, "

Ms Muchungi said. But the forestry service maintained that everything

was being done under the procurement laws and the process was above

board. Calls to the head of conservancy at the forestry service went

unanswered as her phone was off. She was said to be in a meeting.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200810080193.html

 

18) Barcelona/Nairobi - A 'lost' lake in Mali and a Kenyan forest that

is the water tower for key rivers and lakes in East Africa are among

two country projects aimed at bringing significant degraded and

denuded ecosystems back from the brink. The projects are among several

being drawn up and spearheaded by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP),

in cooperation with governments, to demonstrate that re-investing in

damaged ecosystems can generate significant economic, environmental

and social returns. In total UNEP wants to launch pilot large-scale

and nationally significant rehabilitation of nature-based assets in

five countries during the run up to the next meeting of the Convention

on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan in 2010. Achim Steiner, UN

Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, said the projects

would also serve as key adaptation measures for communities and

countries facing ever more severe impacts from climate change. " In a

climate constrained world, these nature-based assets and the services

they provide will become ever more central to an economy's ability to

thrive and to survive. Investments are urgently needed in hard

infrastructure, from cleaner and greener energy to more intelligent

and sustainable transport networks and urban planning, " he said. " But

we also need to invest and re-invest in the 'soft' infrastructure too

- from forests and fisheries to wetlands and soils - if we are to

ensure water and food supplies in a world with climate change and in a

world with nine billion mouths to feed in just four decades, " said Mr

Steiner, who spotlighted the initiative's at the 5th IUCN Congress

taking place in Barcelona, Spain. Earlier this year the UN High

Commissioner for Refugees said that conflicts, climate change and

rising food prices were among the factors that had led to over 11

million people being classed as refugees in 2008. The United Nations

University estimates that there are now about 19.2 million people

officially recognized as " persons of concern " - that is, people likely

to be displaced because of environmental disasters. This figure is

predicted to grow to about 50 million by the end of the year 2010. The

new projects aims to counter these trends by demonstrating that

large-scale interventions in lost and fading ecosystems are cost

effective ways of boosting livelihoods, economic prospects and social

stability for communities, countries and even regions.

http://media-newswire.com/release_1075575.html

 

19) Ever seen a 10M wide tree? …well look no farther than at

Arabuko-Sokoke forest. The baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) was really

amazing, it stood at an approximate height of 14 meters and was 10

meters wide. We found it along Ngaranya area in Arabuko-Sokoke forest,

beside it was an active trail that is believed to be used by poachers,

The baobab tree is a special tree in the coast region, it is believed

to be a sacred tree and most Giriama people are known to used it as a

scared grove and make sacrifices to gods at the foot of the tree, if

you are short of rain, just slaughter a white chicken and pray at the

foot of the tree and wala! … rain you will get……. (so they believe)

The trunk of the baobab tree can store water, and in dry seasons

elephants like this tree as they can get some water from it. The wood

is mostly used for making canoes and the bark fibers makes ropes and

baskets. The leaves and fruit pulp on the other hand are used as

medicine against fever and the seeds and leaves are edible. It amazing

what creatures you can get in the forest!

http://davidngala.wildlifedirect.org/2008/10/13/ever-seen-a-10-m-wide-tree-look-\

no-farther-than-arabuko-sokoke-forest/

 

Ghana:

 

20) Ms Esther Obeng-Dapaah, Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines on

Thursday observed that inefficient processing technologies, methods

and equipment by wood users in Ghana accounted for the depletion of

Ghana's prime timber species, other forest resources and wood wastage.

She said it was time to make those whose livelihoods depended on wood

to appreciate its value in terms of the commercial business it

generated as well as its importance in sustaining biodiversity and

ecosystem. The workshop to be held nationwide was organized by

Forestry Services Commission in collaboration with some development

partners. Over 200 master carpenters from the southern sector of the

Volta Region attended the workshop which focused on furniture

designing, proper methods of finishing, use of potable hand tools and

costing. Ms Obeng-Dapaah said it was the policy of the Ministry to

train users of wood to use lesser volumes of wood to generate high

value-added products. She said the Ministry through the Natural

Resources and Environmental Governance Programme (NREG) would provide

all the necessary support to ensure the training programme was

sustained. Ms Obeng-Dapaah urged the participants to take advantage of

the training programme to become more business oriented and turn out

products that would be competitive in both local and internationally

markets. Mr Mawutor Goh, Ho Municipal Chief Executive, expressed

concern about the activities of chain saw operators in the country and

appealed for public co-operation in checking the practice. He noted

that excessive exploitation of timber and their inefficient and

uneconomic use were serious challenges in the timber sector. Mr Alex

Offei, Director of Wood Industries Centre at Akyawkrom in the Ashanti

Region was optimistic the workshop would help upgrade the professional

skills of the master carpenters. Certificates were presented to the

participants.

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=151369

 

21) Harvesting from private teak plantations accounted for about 70%

of the teak contracts approved during the second quarter. While buyers

adjusted prices of lumber upward to compensate for the fall in the

value of the US dollar vis-àvis the euro, it was difficult to achieve

the minimum Guiding Selling Prices (GSP) for plywood and rotary

veneer, which form the bulk of exports to the American markets. Prices

of ceiba rotary veneer were down an average of USD27/m³ when compared

to the GSP of USD382/m³. TIDD Pricing Committee removed the 5% price

rebate on wood products to the US market, which had an impact on

prices of plywood and rotary veneer. It is anticipated that buyers

would gradually respond by adjusting prices upward to achieve the GSP

during the third quarter. A new rotary veneer processing line has been

installed by John Bitar and Company Limited to manufacture rotary

veneer with a thickness of 1mm and below. The first contract for the

product was submitted to TIDD for approval during the second quarter,

with prices of EUR1000/m³ for sapele/mahogany/edinam and EUR650/m³ for

koto. Prices of air-dried dahoma lumber to the Middle East, the main

destination for this product, showed signs of improvement from the

current asking price of USD350/m³. Prices of some contracts submitted

for approval during the second quarter were between USD370/m³ and

USD400/m³.

http://lemn.fordaq.com/fordaq/news/Ghana%25E2%2580%2599s_market_performance_impr\

oves_in_18024.html

 

Uganda:

 

22) If Uganda is indeed gifted by nature, then one of the greatest

gifts that our 'Pearl of Africa' is blessed with is the extraordinary

diversity of its plant and animal population. Countries seldom get any

greener. At least 25 per cent of Uganda is covered by forest and

grassland. Each of the more than 10 forests, big and small, which make

up this intricately-woven carpet of forest and grassland, has its own

unique attribute. In the 312-square kilometer Mabira forest alone,

Uganda boasts one of the most diverse forests on the continent. Mabira

in central Uganda is home to a host of plant and animal species,

including 312 tree and shrub species, 199 species of butterflies, 287

species of birds, which constitute about 30 per cent of the country's

bird population and about 20 per cent of the small animals, according

to statistics from Uganda Safaris Guide. Records at the Uganda

Wildlife Authority also indicate that Uganda boasts of seven of the 18

plant Kingdoms that are on the African continent, the highest

representation by any single country. The country is also inhabited by

343 different species of mammals. Even from such a large crop of

animals, there are those that stand out as unique to Uganda. More than

half of the world's mountain gorilla population is found in Uganda.

The gorillas, of which only about 650 are left in the world, is an

endangered species which is only found in two other countries; Rwanda

and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The tree climbing lions in parts

of south western Uganda are also a marvel. Uganda is home to at least

1008 bird species, nearly half of the species known on the African

continent, and more than 10 per cent of species identified across the

world. Few, if any, other countries have such a variety and diversity

of bird species. They include: bulbul, weaver, crow, shrike, heron,

egret, ibis, guinea fowl, mouse bird, lourie, hornbill, pigeon, dove,

bee-eater, hoopoe, darter, lily-trotter, marabou stork, kingfisher,

fish eagle, kite, and the crested crane, which is also the national

emblem. Sitting astride the equator, Uganda enjoys both the savannah

and rainforest zones, which make a conducive environment for the

different animal and plant species. From dense tropical forests to the

long, lazy savannah grasslands, the diversity of Uganda's flora is

only matched by that of our animals; chimpanzees, leopards,

rhinoceros, lions, elephants, crocodiles, hippopotamuses, buffaloes,

giraffes, zebras, antelopes of various types, gazelles and topis. We

even have our own Uganda kob.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200810090600.html

 

South Africa:

 

23) Lance Cooper: South Africa used to be an exporter of timber as we

had a surplus for many decades. We're now going towards becoming a

timber importer for a long period of time to make up the shortfall.

World timber prices are at an all-time low. After several years

they're around 2002 levels. That's mainly as a result of the slowdown

in the US housing market. So it's been very flat for about a year. If

world timber prices pick up it will certainly benefit our operations

further. At this stage we expect our log prices to rise to import

parity levels and then thereafter track world timber prices. David

Williams: What do you actually do? You have your forests growing and

you've got your mills - it sounds like a very passive business - what

is it that you do actively to manage this business? Lance Cooper: It's

a fantastic business. On our current forestry values every month

without doing anything there is growth in timber adds a further

R20million to our biological assets. But we do more than just watch

the timber grow - our real challenge is to improve efficiencies on the

processing side of our operation in order to ensure that our margins

on processing improve notwithstanding raw material cost increases. To

give you an idea raw materials over the last 18 months increased by

69% - and log cost is a big component of production costs for us. The

finished goods costs increase only 24% so we had substantial margin

squeeze that we were able to absorb through increased efficiencies. So

our efficiencies actually grew during this period - especially in the

last 12 months we grew from 10% to 12% margin in processing. David

Williams: The last time we also talked about your empowerment deal - a

very unusual empowerment deal, because you can't sell the land as your

forests are going to be there for 20 to 30 years. The model was to

give equity in that land to local communities. At what stage are you?

Is it sorted out? Is it not something you have to worry about? Lance

Cooper: It's in progress. The government at this stage has indicated a

distinction between vertically integrated corporate timber companies

and small private forest owners. For forest owners they're leaving us

still with the option of buying the forest and land. In the case of

the vertically integrated companies to conclude a lease over the land

for three rotations - or 75 years - and then to involve the

communities with equity in the entire company, in other words the

forest and the processing side which is really for the pulp, paper and

sawmilling industry.

http://transcripts.businessday.co.za/cgi-bin/transcripts/t-showtranscript.pl?122\

1689570

 

 

 

Madagascar:

 

 

24) Up to 500,000 hectares of moist and spiny forests in Madagascar

are to be protected or restored in a pioneering project which will

include testing ways to measure climate impacts. The research could

potentially provide precious information to many other forest-carbon

projects around the world. The three-year project is funded by

GoodPlanet – with Air France as sole sponsor – and implemented by WWF.

GoodPlanet is a French foundation which aims to raise public awareness

on the world's current main issues and promotes sustainable

development. " With deforestation responsible for 20% of global

greenhouse gas emissions, there is a growing interest to use forests

as an instrument to fight against global warming, " said Matthieu

Tiberghien, Programme Officer at GoodPlanet. " However, we must ensure

that we have the proper methodologies to assess the level of

greenhouse gas emissions that can be reduced by reducing

deforestation. " Activities to be carried out include the creation of

new, community managed, protected areas, the transfer of forest

management rights from Government to local communities, the

establishment of fuelwood plantations to reduce pressure on natural

forests and the restoration of forests in some key degraded

landscapes. WWF and GoodPlanet will join efforts and expertise to

acquire as much knowledge as possible on verifiable ways to measure

how much the emission of carbon can potentially be reduced by reducing

the rate of deforestation and degradation, and how much carbon can be

effectively and permanently sequestered by complementary forest

restoration activities.

http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/news/index.cfm?uNewsID=147107

 

 

25) We were about to quit for the afternoon on our tour through the

Antasibe-Mantadia National Park in eastern Madagascar when the guide

caught a flash of brown fur through the trees. He signaled to our

traveling party silently, and we crept off the narrow path and through

the thick tropical forest, hoping for a closer look. Russell

Mittermeier, the president of Conservation International (CI) and a

renowned primatologist, made the call. Tucked inside a hollow tree

trunk were two greater bamboo lemurs, each the length of a forearm,

staring back at us with orange eyes. We grabbed our cameras and began

snapping. It was a rare sight — too rare, with only around 150

individuals estimated to still be alive. " You're looking at the most

endangered primate on the planet, " said Mittermeier. The critically

endangered greater bamboo lemur, however, is far from alone. Thanks to

deforestation, expanding human settlements, hunting and the slow burn

of climate change, more mammals may be endangered today than ever

before. According to a worldwide assessment overseen by the

International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and

published Oct. 6 in Science, an estimated one out of four mammals is

threatened with extinction. The populations of about half the 5,487

known species of mammals in the world, on land and in the water, are

dwindling each year. " Our results paint a bleak picture of the global

status of mammals worldwide, " the study's authors wrote in Science.

" Within our lifetime, hundreds of species could be lost as a result of

our own actions, " said Julie Marton-Lefevre, the IUCN's

director-general, at the organization's annual congress in Barcelona.

" We must now set clear targets for the future to reverse this trend to

ensure that our enduring legacy is not to wipe out many of our closest

relatives. " http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1847644,00.html

 

Lebanon:

 

26) Fakhreddine said on average, about 1,500 hectares of woodland were

affected by fires annually, but in 2007 more than 4,000 hectares of

forests were ravaged in the worst fires to hit Lebanon for decades.

" In one day we lost three times what we planted in 17 years. "

According to AFDC, forests covered 35 percent of the country in 1965 -

against 13 percent in 2007. " If we witness fires like the ones that

erupted last year, Lebanon will lose its forests completely in 15 to

20 years, " Fakhreddine warned. Landslides In the mountainous areas of

the country, forests are important to protect the surface soil and

underground water, environmentalists say. " The most common problem

resulting from the loss of forest cover is landslides. When rain falls

on trees, the soil absorbs the water gradually rather than being lost

in fast torrents that take with it the surface soil as well, " she

said. In addition to the common threats to forests such as urban

sprawl and pollution, the global hike in fuel prices is taking its

toll. " Lebanon has very cold winters and most of its population lives

500m [above mean sea-level]. Some live at heights between 1,800m and

2,000m. " When you climb Mount Lebanon these days, all you hear is the

sound of wood being sawed. People are preparing for the harsh winter.

Although this is prohibited, many poor families cannot afford to buy

diesel, so they cut down trees to secure some warm days for their

children, " Fakhreddine said. National plan Fakhreddine added that

forest fires, like many other environmental problems in Lebanon, were

not considered a priority for the government, especially in light of

the sensitive political and security situation in the past few years.

" Accordingly, we have not had any kind of planning regarding

preventing and fighting forest fires and all concerned institutions

lack the know-how and appropriate gear to control forest fires. " After

the devastating fires in 2007, the government established the National

Committee to Combat Forest Fires and Restoration of Lands, involving

major ministries and AFDC. " In one year, AFDC and the Ministry of

Environment were able to mobilise US$5 million while the actual needs

as evaluated by the committee exceed $25 million, without helicopters.

Therefore, we are planning to organise a donors' meeting for

international organisations to support environment and development

projects in Lebanon, " Fakhreddine said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/da26431b2e20bd7e4528cd4381267371.h\

tm

 

Afghanistan:

 

27) Green belts and trees are fast depleting in Rawalpindi, which once

had a 'green look', though not like Islamabad, and it is solely

happening due rapid urbanisation and haphazard development, thanks to

its proximity with the federal capital. It has become a common sight

to see trees being cut or uprooted to pave the way for development

projects that may change fortunes of many in terms of creation of

jobs, but can certainly bring misfortune for the local environment.

According to statistics, some 1,000 full-size trees were removed for

expansion of the Mall Road, 1,500 for Airport Road and 500 each for

Murree and Saidpur roads, triggering extensive damage to the

environment. Every year thousands of saplings are planted during the

tree plantation campaigns but the survival rate is far less than below

the expectations due to absence of any proper mechanism to ensure

their proper growth. No one has ever thought about forming 'tree

committees' to help preserve these gifts of nature that does not

require huge funds but some consistent efforts on the part of all

stakeholders. A report released by the Ministry of Environment some

years back showed a drastic increase in the level of air pollution in

Rawalpindi which was bracketed among the six cities of Pakistan where

air quality was being rapidly deteriorated. Environmentalists proposed

some measures to help bring back the lost 'green look' of the city

including tree census, proper monitoring of existing trees on monthly

basis and complete ban on cutting or trimming activities without prior

approval from the concerned authorities. There are many cities in the

world including Tehran where the parents have to plant a sapling

anywhere in the city to get the birth certificate of their newly born

baby from the municipal authorities. Thirty-five parks out of total 54

in the city are in poor condition and those that give some pleasant

look are not expected to sustain it in the coming years as traders

have been allowed to set up stalls in the vicinity of various parks.

Nawaz Sharif Park in Shamsabad presents the worst example where not

only commercial stalls are being operated but 'chaat' centres, other

than the designated in the layout plan, have also been allowed to run

their businesses at the expense of the beauty of the park. The written

information provided to 'The New' by the relevant departments showed

that under the Medium Term Development Framework 2005-10, two projects

were initiated to improve urban environment through amenity forestry

and landscaping. http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=139688

 

Pakistan:

 

28) LAHORE: For the past two months, camels roaming the city streets

have caused significant damage to trees planted along various roads.

The green belts on the main roads of Gulberg, Model Town and other

areas have been adorned with the Alstonia and Beripata trees, which

take five years to take root and grow, and were imported from various

countries across the world. There are about 20 camels roaming the

city, which belong to different people from Southern Punjab and Sindh.

The camels were brought to the city with the objective of starting

rides for children, however, they have ended up roaming the city and

damaging roadside trees. bGovernment College University Botany

Department Chairman Dr Zaheerudin Khan told Daily Times that camels

prefer to eat the leaves of the Guava tree, the Acacia tree and the

Beri and other fruit bearing trees. However, they have also been known

to consume leaves from the Beripata tree, he added. Veterinarian Dr

Yousaf told Daily Times that camels could eat about 80 kg of fodder in

24 hours, adding that they preferred tall trees because they could not

bow their heads easily. The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA)

plants trees in the city, and is responsible for regularly checking

them. Sources in the authority claim that the PHA does not care about

the damage caused to the trees because it is not a revenue-generating

department. They said that if a billboard had been damaged in any way,

the PHA would have sprung into action as soon as possible.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\10\13\story_13-10-2008_pg13_7