Brazil approves latest Forest Code

May 1, 2012,  www.scidev.net | “After two years of negotiations, the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies has approved the country’s controversial ‘Forest Code’. The legislationregulates land use and allows for the creation of boundaries within which native vegetation should be preserved.”

Mariette Low shared a link.
“Could have been better, but at least allows for the creation of some boundaries within which native vegetarion should be preserved. http://www.scidev.net/en/agriculture-and-environment/forestry/news/brazil-approves-latest-forest-code.html
Brazil approves latest Forest Code – SciDev.Net
www.scidev.net
The Brazilian Congress has approved a scaled-back version of its proposed ‘Forest Code’, disappointing scientists and environmentalists.”
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Unilever aims to build sustainable palm oil processing plant in Indonesia

April 25, 2012, www.news.mongabay.com | “Unilever is in talks to build a $130 million palm oil processing mill in Indonesia as part of its commitment to use more environmentally-friendly palm oil in its products, reports The Wall Street Journal.”

Lindy Rose shared a link.
“Environmentally aware company, Unilever, disclosed it will reach its target of 100 percent certified sustainable palm oil covered by GreenPalm certificates by the end of 2012, three years ahead of schedule.
In sustainability push, Unilever aims to build palm oil processing plant in Indonesia
news.mongabay.com
Unilever is in talks to build a $130 million palm oil processing mill in Indonesia as part of its commitment to use more environmentally-friendly palm oil in its products, reports . The mill, which would be located in Sumatra, would produce about 10 percent of Unilever’s annual consumption of palm o…”
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Brazil can eliminate deforestation by 2020, says governor of giant Amazon state

April 5, 2012, www.news.mongabay.com | “Governor Simao Jatene is hopeful that a revolution in land management and governance can turn the tide in Para, a state three times the size of California and has lost more Amazon forest — 90,000 sq km of Amazon forest since 1996 — over the past decade and a half than any other in Brazil.”

 

“~ Decline in Amazon Deforestation shown in this graph, from 1988 to 2011
Brazil can eliminate deforestation by 2020, says governor of giant Amazon state
Brazil can reduce Amazon deforestation to zero by 2020 while boosting rural livelihoods and maintaining healthy economic growth, the governor of Pará told mongabay.com on the sidelines of the Skoll World Forum, a major conference on social entrepreneurship, last week. Governor Simao Jatene is hopefu…”
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3 Year Moratorium on Logging in the Boreal Forest

www.DavidSuzuki.org| The David Suzuki Foundation has joined an unprecedented coalition of forestry companies and environmental groups to unveil the landmark Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, one of the largest forest conservation agreements in history.  The Agreement covers an area of more than 70 million hectares of public lands — an area larger than the entire Province of Alberta — and when fully implemented will permanently protect vast areas of Canada’s treasured Boreal Forest, stretching from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador.

The forestry companies have committed to immediately stopping all logging on 30 million hectares of caribou habitat in the Boreal forest for the next three years, and to adopt sustainable forestry practices in the remaining forests.

In return, the environmental groups will support the industry’s exciting transition to sustainability and will cease campaigns urging consumers not to buy products from the companies.

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Reforesting Afghanistan Top Priority with 420,000 Trees

Image

March 16, 2011, www.isaf.nato.int | “Nearly 420,000 trees are scheduled to be planted throughout Afghanistan during the two weeks of the Afghanistan Nowruz [New Year].  “These trees are representative of the future, of the new year, and in many ways of our partnership as we work together toward a common and prosperous future,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm.”

Leila Bee shared a link
“Reforesting Afghanistan Top Priority with 420,000 Trees
www.isaf.nato.int
ISAF – International Security Assistance Force, The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is a key component of the international community’s engagement in Afghanistan, assisting the Afghan authorities in providing security and stability while creating the conditions for reconstruction and …”
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In Africa’s Vanishing Forests, the Benefits of Bamboo

March 13, 2012, www.opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com | In the district of Asosa, the land is thick with bamboo.   People plant it and manage the forests. They rely on its soil-grabbing roots to stabilize steep slopes and riverbanks, cutting erosion. They harvest it to burn for fuel, to make into charcoal sticks to sell to city dwellers and to build furniture.

Asosa is not in China, not even in Asia.    It is a district in the west of Ethiopia, on the Sudanese border.   To many people, bamboo means China.   But it’s not just panda food — mountain gorillas in Rwanda also live on bamboo.   About 4 percent of Africa’s forest cover is bamboo.

Soon it may be much more.  Bamboo may provide a solution to a very serious problem:  deforestation.  In sub-Saharan Africa, 70 percent of the people cook their meals over wood fires.  The very poorest cut down trees for cooking fuel; those slightly less poor buy charcoal  made from wood in those same forests.  Every year Africa loses forest cover equal to the size of Switzerland.  Terence Sunderland, a senior scientist at the Indonesia-based Center for International Forestry Research, said that in southern Africa, even trees that can be used for fine carving, such as ebony and rosewood, are being cut down and made into charcoal.

Robert Brothers shared a link.

“300 micro small enterprises with over 2,000 out growers propagating 11,733 seedlings. 7,000 low income local households are expected to use bamboo charcoal as fuel wood by the close of the project year in 2014.” — Additional info from this article in Ghana Business News, http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2011/12/30/new-bamboo-charcoal-technology-promises-to-jump-start-africas-bio-energy-sector/
via Polly Howells
In Africa’s Vanishing Forests, Charcoal from Bamboo Plantings can substitute for the cutting of wild
In the fight to reverse deforestation and environmental ruin in Africa, some are using a fast-growing, renewable weapon.
Isabel Nortje Lass likes this.

Australian and Tasmanian Governments support the future of Tasmanian forestry

24 July 2011, www.pm.gov.au | “430,000 hectares of Tasmania’s magnificent native forests, including areas such as the Blue Tier, Tarkine, Upper Florentine and Styx were announced for immediate protection by Prime Minister Juila Gillard and Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings.  The agreement will secure jobs, ensure a sustainable forestry industry, and achieve iconic environmental outcomes by protecting High Conservation Value forests and remaining old growth forests for future generations.”

Great outcome for Tasmania’s forests!
info@getup.org.au
“Exciting news: yesterday 430,000 hectares of Tasmania’s magnificent native forests, including spectacular areas such as the Blue Tier, Tarkine, Upper Florentine and Styx were announced for immediate protection by Prime Minister Juila Gillard and Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings.”
  • Comments:
Virginia Bryan ‎”Just weeks ago it looked as though the forests would only be declared ‘informal reserves’ — but now those forests will be protected from logging by a legally binding Conservation Agreement, which can only be removed by both houses of Federal parliament. The Federal Government has also ruled out providing any funds for Gunns’ proposed pulp mill.”

 

  • Sandra Beal “I never feel worried about Tassie, there is a magical shimmer around the forests there, the protection comes from a higher source 🙂 ♥”

Palm Oil Plantations Embrace Biodiversity In Attempt To Change Environmentally Destructive Reputation

Nov 20, 2010, www.huffingtonpost.com | “Palm oil plantations carry a history of controversy. The cash crop is used for fuel and food, but at the same time, it destroys rainforests.  But one plantation’s manager is ready to take action. A nature reserve has been created on the plantation, populated by rare trees. The manager’s goal is to increase the plant diversity to 500 plant variations.”

Judith Green shared a link.
“It’s a start…”
Palm Oil Plantations Embrace Biodiversity In Attempt To Change Environmentally Destructive Reputatio
www.huffingtonpost.com

 

Willie Smits: How we re-grew a rainforest

March 3, 2009, www.youtube.com | “By piecing together a complex ecological puzzle, biologist Willie Smits has found a way to re-grow clearcut rainforest in Borneo, saving local orangutans — and creating a thrilling blueprint for restoring fragile ecosystems.”

Willie Smits: How we re-grew a rainforest
http://www.ted.com By piecing together a complex ecological puzzle, biologist Willie Smits has found a way to re-grow clearcut rainforest in Borneo, saving l…
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