Since 1948 the UN's Food and Agriculture has been clinging to an outmoded definition of 'forests' that includes industrial wood plantations, writes WRM in this Open Letter for delivery to the FAO today, International Forests Day. This mis-definition seriously harms real forests and forest peoples as it justifies the clearance of real forests and their replacement with cash crops of trees.
… FAO: Plantations are not forests! World Rainforest Movement | 21st March 2017 Comment Forests Un Campaigning Indigenous Peoples …
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization's definition of 'forest' includes commercial plantations of fast growing trees - often replacing biodiverse native forests relied on by local communities. FAO must stop using this mis-definition to claim that forests are expanding, when the reverse is the case.
… FAO - a plantation is not a forest! Via Campesina many more | 26th December 2014 Comment Forests Indigenous Peoples Farming Land Grabs … and Agriculture Organization's definition of 'forest' includes commercial plantations of …
Tropical forests are valuable for their biodiversity, carbon and water functions even after logging. But they are also highly vulnerable to fire and conversion to other uses. A new focus is needed on saving tropical forests after the bulldozers have left.
… After the chainsaws - tropical forests are still worth saving Bill Laurance … David Edwards | 11th April 2014 Comment Forests logging-truck-kalimantan.png Tropical forests are valuable for their biodiversity, …
The over-hunting of wildlife in the Amazon has an unexpected knock-on effect: the reduced seed dispersal reduces the forest's capacity to store carbon in its biomass, increasing emissions from apparently 'intact' rainforest areas.
… Hunting in the Amazon threatens rainforest carbon The Ecologist | 27th January 2016 News Climate Change Carbon Forests Amazon Science Hunting Conservation … the reduced seed dispersal reduces the forest's capacity to store carbon in its …
Fire is an essential part of the life-cycle of the forests of the American West, writes George Wuerthner, and the complex, biodiverse habitat that burning creates sustains hundreds of species that cannot survive without it. So please - no more talk of forests 'recovering' after fire - OK?
… In the American West, a burnt forest is a healthy forest George Wuerthner | 6th March 2015 Comment Forests USA Ecology charred-forest-cut.jpg …
Sweden's biodiverse ancient forests will be largely wiped out within two decades, writes Alec Forss - and along with it will go thousands of species that depend on mature forest ecosystems. But with powerful logging companies riding roughshod over the law, regulators, politicians and certifiers, who is to stop the destruction before it's too late?
… threat as loggers clear-cut 'old growth' forests Alec Forss | 11th February 2015 News Forests Sweden Biodiversity Regulation … Forsmark. Sweden's biodiverse ancient forests will be largely wiped out within two …
Large areas of forest remain around the world, writes David Edwards, but many of them are - in biological terms - dying on their feet as their species diversity erodes due to fragmentation. To conserve the full richness of our forests, we must keep them entire and unbroken, and rebuild the continuity of forest islands.
… To forestall a mass extinction, fight forest fragmention David Edwards | 24th March 2015 Comment Forests Conservation Biodiversity …
A new 'carbon grab' is under way as governments and corporations seize valuable rights to the carbon stored in standing forests, with UN and World Bank support. But there's no benefit for forest communities - who even risk expulsion to make way for 'carbon plantations',
… Forest Peoples at risk from 'carbon grab' Oliver Tickell | 20th March 2014 News Forests Indigenous Peoples Climate Change baka-forest.png A new 'carbon grab' is under way as …
Global heating is contributing to forest fires, and those fires are stoking further heating: a deadly cycle. What can we learn from India's forest survey?
… Forest fires in India Abhishek Srivastava | 11th September 2020 | News Conservation Forests Forest Fire Deforestation India International …
Based on current performance tropical forests, the world's most biodiverse ecosystems, are set to be reduced to species-impoverished fragments by the end of the century, writes Simon Lewis. But it's not inevitable. Decisive action by the world's governments in Paris in December could secure desperately needed change.
… Act now, or tropical forests will be a sorry sight in 2100 Simon Lewis | 24th August 2015 Comment Forests Economics COP21 Unfccc Biodiversity … Climate Change Indigenous Peoples rainforest-road-cut.jpg Based on current …
A fresh wave of logging is hitting America's national forests, writes Brett Haverstick. But this time it's all for the sake of 'forest health' and 'fire prevention'. It might look like industrial clear-cutting to you and me, but really, it's in a good cause. And if the forests and precious ecosystems they harbor just happen to perish in the process ... well ain't that just too bad?
… logging threatens US National Forests Brett Haverstick | 10th April 2017 Comment Forests Logging Health USA Commons Ecology … wave of logging is hitting America's national forests, writes Brett Haverstick. But this …
The plans currently under consideration for saving forests might help the trees, but they could ride roughshod over indigenous communities. Here are some ways to change that
… Protecting forests AND the rights of forest peoples Laura Sevier | 8th December … How To Make A Difference Climate Change Forests Redd Forest Peoples Programme Global …
A few hours from Melbourne lies one of Australia's natural wonders - a soaring forest of Mountain Ash trees up to 90 metres tall, with a host of endangered species. David Lindenmayer demands a halt to the logging, and the creation of a new National Park.
… A Great Forest National Park for SE Australia … David Lindenmayer | 1st April 2014 Comment Forests Australia Natural World ma-logging.png … of Australia's natural wonders - a soaring forest of Mountain Ash trees up to 90 metres …
Coffee may be grown all around the tropics, writes Fiona Hesselden, but it originates in just one place: the 'coffee rainforests' of the Ethiopian highlands. We depend on the wild plants for new genes and varieties, yet the forests are falling fast to the advance of farmers. To preserve the forests and all their biodiversity, the original people of the forest must receive their just rewards.
… Ethiopia's vulnerable tropical forests are key to securing the future of … of Huddersfield | 24th March 2016 Comment Forests Drink Ethiopia Indigenous Peoples Farming Seeds Ecology coffee-forest-cut.jpg Coffee may be grown all around …
Talis Kalnars was a pioneer of 'continuous cover' forestry in Britain, writes Phil Morgan. His woodlands were not only beautiful but profitable, as he nurtured the 'natural capital' of the forest ecosystem, and only harvested the dividend of high value timber.
… An inspirational forester Phil Morgan | 14th May 2014 Comment Forests Ecology Natural World Economics Green … Kalnars was a pioneer of 'continuous cover' forestry in Britain, writes Phil Morgan. His …
Forest fires are invariably portrayed as fiercely destructive environmental calamities. But for the native forests of the American West, large fires are essential to ecological renewal. Contrary to the mantras of logging companies and forest service officials, we suppress them at our peril.
… Let the forests burn - the ecology depends on it! … A. Dellasala | 12th May 2014 Activism Forests USA Ecology forest-fire-2-cut.jpg Forest fires are …
A new paradigm of forest conservation is gaining ground, writes Isaac Rojas: 'financialising' them and the climate and ecological services they provide to global investors. But this is a false solution - and one that excludes the local and indigenous forest communities who can truly be relied upon to sustain their sylvan heritage.
… not global financiers, are the best forest managers Isaac Rojas Friends of the … International | 2nd November 2015 Comment Forests Commons Finance Indigenous Peoples … teak-peanuts-cut.jpg A new paradigm of forest conservation is gaining ground, writes …
Bark beetles are invariably presented as terrible, forest killing pests, writes Chad Hanson. But in truth forest biodiversity depends on them to create the snags for insects to burrow in, woodpeckers to feed off, and countless birds and even pine martens to nest in. So when you hear politicians calling for bark beetle 'salvage' logging, send them off with a flea in the ear!
… Bark Beetle: a keystone species of Western forest ecosystems Chad Hanson | 28th October 2015 Comment Forests USA Ecology Birds Biodiversity … beetles are invariably presented as terrible, forest killing pests, writes Chad Hanson. But …
Poland's environment ministry has a plan for a huge increase in logging in Europe's last great primeval forest, writes Zachary Davies Boren. Officials claim it's to control bark beetles. But ecologists say the insects are regulated naturally within the forest ecosystem, while logging threatens huge damage to irreplaceable biodiversity.
… logging 8-fold in primeval Bialowieza Forest Zachary Boren Greenpeace Energydesk | 18th February 2016 News Forests Biodoversity Ecology UNESCO Poland … in logging in Europe's last great primeval forest, writes Zachary Davies Boren. Officials …
Forests are the traditional refuge of rebels, dissidents and all who seek freedom from the strictures of civilization, writes Ken Worpole. But for all the idea lives on in our hearts and minds, that role has now been usurped by our cities. Now, just as our forests have been enclosed and subdued, so our cities face a similar fate - one we must resist to preserve our liberty.
… The law of the forest and the freedom of the streets Ken Worpole | 19th April 2015 News Society Forests History Politics skateboarder-girl-cut.jpg Forests are the traditional refuge of rebels, …
Global study finds forests provide one-fifth of household income in rural communities and says access for them should be prioritised in REDD-type conservation projects
… over REDD projects excluding rural poor from forests Tom Levitt | 16th June 2011 News Redd Forests Biodiversity Climate Change Natural World Rainforests foresthome.jpg Campaigners say REDD …
What can western countries learn from their less industrialised counterparts about returning woodlands and forests to productive, profitable, local control?
… Putting communities back in charge of their forests Christopher Davey | 29th June 2010 News Society Woodlands Forests Community Natural World … counterparts about returning woodlands and forests to productive, profitable, local …
Repulsing the logging invasion of Tasmania’s wet eucalypt forest by Paul Kingsnorth
… | 1st December 2004 News Logging Tasmania Forest Tasmania Wilderness Soc Forests Natural World Society Archive_77.jpg … logging invasion of Tasmania’s wet eucalypt forest by Paul Kingsnorth It’s raining in the …