Peter Bunyard on the battle against malaria, a fallen hero of the Colombian medical establishment and the mysterious fate of thousands of unique primates.
… Living Health MonkeyBig.jpg Peter Bunyard on the battle against malaria, a fallen hero of the Colombian medical establishment and the mysterious fate of thousands of unique …
Longer than England, almost as deep as the Grand Canyon, Russia's Lake Baikal is one of the world's greatest aquatic wonders, writes Bryce Stewart. But it's a fragile paradise: the limpid waters are warming much faster than the global average, with as yet unknown effects on its ecology. And it faces the danger of a huge dam on its principal tributary, Mongolia's Selenga River.
… Longer than England, almost as deep as the Grand Canyon, Russia's Lake Baikal is one of the world's greatest aquatic wonders, writes … Bryce Stewart. But it's a fragile paradise: the limpid waters are warming much faster than …
The Cork Oak forests in southern Europe play a huge role in maintaining biodiversity, regulating water cycles, as well as preventing the spread of desertification.
… News Forests Thought Leaders Cork Oak Harvest The Cork Oak forests in southern Europe play a huge role in maintaining … water cycles, as well as preventing the spread of desertification. With the sun …
The UK imports millions of tons of American wood pellets every year to be burned in power stations for 'climate friendly' electricity, writes Matt Williams. But his recent visit to the southern US showed him that this practice is devastating beautiful, natural forests rich in wildlife - while the UK government's own research shows that it's worse for the climate than the coal it replaces.
… Emissions US UK EU Biofuels stumps-cut.jpg The UK imports millions of tons of American … writes Matt Williams. But his recent visit to the southern US showed him that this practice is …
The rights of nature and of indigenous communities are enshrined in Ecuador's constitution, writes Kevin Koenig. But down in the Amazon the government is going full speed ahead with oil extraction on indigenous territories whose owners are committed to keeping their forests and waters pollution-free. A mighty battle is brewing that looks certain to come to a head this year.
… next Amazon oil battle: Indigenous Peoples on the front line Kevin Koenig Amazon Watch | 4th … Politics Amazon Forests lago-agrio-cut.jpg The rights of nature and of indigenous … writes Kevin Koenig. But down in the Amazon the government is going full speed …
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! Monica L. Bond Chad … destructive environmental calamities. But for the native forests of the American West, large …
Peru's government is actively undermining indigenous peoples' efforts to protect their forests - by refusing to title 20 million hectares of their lands and turning a blind eye to illegal logging. At the same time it's handing out vast concessions for oil, gas, mining and timber exploitation, expanding palm oil production and planning 50 major forest-flooding dams.
… indigenous peoples' efforts to protect their forests - by refusing to title 20 million hectares of their lands and turning a blind eye to illegal logging. At the same time it's handing out vast …
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.
… only beautiful but profitable, as he nurtured the 'natural capital' of the forest ecosystem, and only harvested the dividend of high value timber. "The …
As indigenous activists opposing hydropower dams on their territories gather this weekend in the rainforests of Sarawak, Malaysia, they have good news to celebrate, writes Rod Harbinson: a giant dam on the Baram river has been put on hold. But the forests are still being logged, local people have been stripped of land rights, and a programme of 12 giant dams is still official policy.
… Water Indigenous People Malaysia Forests The Land Finance Energy swk002 edit-cut.jpg As … activists opposing hydropower dams on their territories gather this weekend in the rainforests of …
The presence of the tigers is the world's greatest mangrove forest vital to its survival, writes Joydip Kundu. It's the fear of the tiger that deters people from entering the forest to cut its trees and hunt its wildlife - and so these majestic predators protect its fisheries, and guard millions of people in south Bengal from the rising seas.
… In praise of tigers, conservation heroes of the Sundarbans Joydip Kundu | 29th April 2015 … Oceans Climate Change tiger-games-cut.jpg The presence of the tigers is the world's greatest mangrove …
Disregarding revelations of systemic political corruption in Brazil's hydropower sector, President Dilma Rousseff is ploughing ahead with a cascade of giant dams on the mighty Tapajos river. Among the companies touting to win huge construction contracts are France's EDF and Engie, and Germany's Voith and Siemens - in a consortium led by Brazil's Electrobras, which stands accused of high-level corruption over four other dam projects.
… ahead with a cascade of giant dams on the mighty Tapajos river. Among the companies touting to win huge construction … accused of high-level corruption over four other dam projects. Major European energy …
Forest fires raging near the abandoned Chernobyl nuclear disaster site in north Ukraine are releasing a surge of airborne plutonium particles as radioactive twigs, branches and leaf litter burn.
… particles' of plutonium go up in smoke RT The Ecologist | 30th April 2015 News Nuclear … Forest fires raging near the abandoned Chernobyl nuclear disaster site … twigs, branches and leaf litter burn. The Ukrainian National Guard has been put on …
The key to reducing the risk of more floods like those in Carlisle is to realise that conventional 'flood defence' can never provide security against the ever more extreme weather events that global warming will bring. We must embrace natural solutions to holding back flood waters: more trees; and bring back the beavers!
… Carlisle floods: bring back the trees, and the beavers! Oliver Tickell | 7th December … Mammals England Scotland Natural World The Land Climate Change img_0861-cut.jpg The …
Russia’s zapovedniks are some of the world’s most pristine wildernesses. For 70 years they were protected ruthlessly by the Soviet system, but recently they have fallen prey to Putin, the World Bank and ecotourists. Paul Webster reports on their plight
… The Wild Wild East: Russia's Zapovedniks Paul … Russia’s zapovedniks are some of the world’s most pristine wildernesses. For 70 years they were protected ruthlessly by the Soviet …
Monarch butterfly numbers are dwindling despite protection of their wintering forests in Mexico, and voluntary schemes to restore their food plant, milkweed, in US field margins, writes Eva Sirinathsinghji. These measures alone are insufficient: no less than an end to the mass spraying of glyphosate on crops, predicated by 'Roundup-ready' GM corn and soy, will do.
… Monarch butterfly decline: the overwhelming case for banning glyphosate … numbers are dwindling despite protection of their wintering forests in Mexico, and voluntary schemes to restore their food plant, milkweed, in US field …
A growing protest movement is demanding strong controls on international investors and logging companies buying up Romania's forests, writes Raluca Besliu. In its sights is Austria-based Schweighofer, which stands accused of criminal malpractice and accepting illegal timber shipments. The popular outrage stirred up by corporate misdeeds is now stimulating a wider democratic revival.
… and accepting illegal timber shipments. The popular outrage stirred up by corporate … stimulating a wider democratic revival. Since the fall of communism, Romania's ancestral, … and economic interests. This familial bond to the forest can partly be explained as stemming …
First the Government failed to include a Forests Bill in its legislative programme, writes Owen Adams. Next, campaigners spotted that the Infrastructure Bill enables a wholesale selloff of public lands. Just how safe are Britain's public lands and forests?
… Hands Off Our Forest protest in the Forest of Dean, 2011. Photograph by John F French. First the Government failed to include a Forests … Owen Adams. Next, campaigners spotted that the Infrastructure Bill enables a wholesale …
Russia is rich in nature reserves and national parks, writes Mikhail Kreindlin. But the government body meant to be protecting them is in fact promoting logging, building and mining projects. Conservationists are fighting back, but the odds are stacked against them.
… national parks, writes Mikhail Kreindlin. But the government body meant to be protecting them is in fact promoting logging, building … Conservationists are fighting back, but the odds are stacked against them. In Russia, …
Greece's economic woes will never be solved by merely moving money around the banking system, writes Oliver Tickell. The lasting solution is to restore native forests to her barren hills and mountains, invest in large-scale solar power to energise Europe, and create an examplar of sustainable development for our global future.
… The Greening of Greece - the ecologic opportunity for Europe to embrace … never be solved by merely moving money around the banking system, writes Oliver Tickell. The …
A second canal joining the Pacific and Atlantic oceans is planned for Nicaragua, writes Nathan Wood. But the gigantic project is raising growing fears due to a grossly unfair contract, glaring failures of process, close links to the Chinese government, and its enormous - but uncosted - ecological impacts.
… The Nicaragua Canal - a disaster in waiting? … lake-nicaragua-cut.jpg A second canal joining the Pacific and Atlantic oceans is planned for Nicaragua, writes Nathan Wood. But the gigantic project is raising growing fears …
The repeated burning of England's upland moors - carried out so more grouse can be reared for lucrative shooting parties - is seriously damaging a unique and valuable ecosystem, writes Paul Brown - destroying ages-old peat, reducing its capacity to retain water, and releasing megatonnes of carbon to the atmosphere.
… Forests Natural World Hunting Fire Water heather-burnt-cut.jpg The repeated burning of England's upland moors … water, and releasing megatonnes of carbon to the atmosphere. Burning large tracts of …
The World Bank's 'Tropical Forest Action Plan' was an abject failure, writes Chris Lang. Now the same mistakes are being repeated under a new acronym. TFAP is out, REDD is in - but it's still all about corporate control of forests, and blaming deforestation on its victims.
… REDD - destroy the forests, seize the profits, blame the victims Chris Lang | 7th August 2014 …
UNESCO has refused to 'de-list' 74,000 hectares of the Tasmania Wilderness World Heritage Area as requested by the Tasmanian and Australian governments, following a 'feeble' presentation.
… has refused to 'de-list' 74,000 hectares of the Tasmania Wilderness World Heritage Area as requested by the Tasmanian and Australian governments, … following a 'feeble' presentation. The 74,000 hectares of Tasmania's …
It's the logo we all look for when buying furniture and wood products. But the Forest Stewardship Council has come in for some serious criticism. Matilda Lee looks at both sides of the argument
… Can we trust the FSC? Matilda Lee | 22nd September 2009 … Labelling Ran Greenpeace Friends Of The Earth Forestry Certification Plantations fscchainsaw.jpg It's the logo we all look for when buying furniture …