Sweet chestnuts are a key part of Italy's rural and culinary history Alarm is growing in Tuscany, one of Italy's top tourist destinations, after the arrival of a possibly devastating threat to the region's chestnut trees.
WASHINGTON – USDA Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth has tapped a National Review Team to gauge the effectiveness of citizen participation in the Recreation Site Facility Master Planning process. "Our aim is to raise the standard for participation and strengthen our work with the public so we can collectively determine the needs for forest recreation facilities and meet future demands," Bosworth said this week in a letter to Regional Foresters.
BUCHAREST - A cold snap in Romania could harm rare bird populations in the Danube Delta where nesting is beginning early this year due to unusually warm weather, experts warned on Wednesday.
By Andrei Khalip Martin Strel at Budapest Lima - Few would even dare swim the Amazon river bank to bank but Slovenian Martin Strel plans to swim 5 400km down the world's greatest river, defying piranhas, snakes, crocodiles and even sharks.
It is hoped a rare Tasmanian heath could provide a solution for a cinnamon fungus which is attacking the state's plants. Botanists from the Tasmanian Government and Kew Gardens in England have collected seeds from a heath in the Furneaux Islands in Bass Strait.
By Dita Asiedu Foresters around the country are busy clearing the damage of last week's gale force winds. The extent of the devastation is still being assessed but latest estimates say four and a half million cubic metres of wood were affected - the worst damage recorded in the last fifteen years.
About 12 million cubic metres have been estimated to be damaged in the recent storm that swept southern Sweden 14 January. Next to the storm “Gudrun” two years ago this is the most severe storm since 1969. Much of the storm-felled trees are within areas that already have a high risk of large-scale outbreak of the European Spruce bark beetle.
CLIMATE CHANGE; Science, Impacts and Responses 26-30 March 2007 at Imperial College London A 5-day modular programme to help professionals to understand the business impact of climate change from underlying science to business responses. It will provide an in-depth understanding of various aspects of climate change in a concentrated period and gives those attending an opportunity to discuss the issues relevant to them.
Part of the Stanley Park seawall has been closed since the first big windstorm on Dec. 15, 2006. The Vancouver Park Board has approved plans for the restoration of Stanley Park, which has lost thousands of trees to a couple of massive windstorms in the past month.
25th International Agriculture and Agricultural Machinery Exhibiton 31 January - 3 February 2007 HUNGEXPO Budapest Fair Centre Agricultural season kicks-off with great show AGRO+MASHEXPO, the great meeting of agribusiness companies in Hungary, will be organized by HUNGEXPO Company Limited for Fairs and Publicity for the 24th time between 8 and 11 February 2006.
Story by Sakari Suoninen HELSINKI - One of Finland's top paper makers warned on Friday unusually warm weather was threatening production because loggers were waiting for muddy forest tracks to freeze before their trucks could reach stockpiles.
The Forestry Commission UK is advising members of the public not to visit Delamere Forest in Cheshire over the next few days following Thursday’s high winds.
By Piotr Skolimowski WARSAW - Winds of more than 200 kph tore into Poland and the Czech Republic, uprooting trees and knocking down power lines after leaving a trail of damage across northern Europe that has killed at least 27 people.
Eucalyptus The Victorian Government is hoping almost 7 million litres of recycled water will help Melbourne's parched botanic gardens and elm trees. Most of the water from two temporary pools at Rod Laver Arena will be used to top up the lake inside the Royal Botanic Gardens and about 500,000 litres will be used on the city's water-stressed elm trees. The water will come from the pools used at the World Swimming Championships.
The state owned company Sveaskog, which is the biggest forest owner in Sweden, has made an evaluation of its forest sales. The conclusions indicate that the company's forest sales represent 30 - 40 % of all sales in Sweden of forest land at market prices. The opportunities for private individuals to purchase forest land have increased considerably.
WASHINGTON - Named Friday to head the U.S. Forest Service, Montana forester Gail Kimbell quickly came under fire from a Senate Democrat who represents her state. Kimbell, the first woman to hold the job, succeeds retiring chief Dale Bosworth.
The Independent is giving away two free British Bird Song CDs. These collectors' CDs feature more than 100 of Britain’s most common and loved bird songs, helping you to recognise the birds that visit your garden and local area.
IISD RS is pleased to announce that the newest issue of MEA Bulletin is now available. It and all past issues can be accessed by visiting http://www.iisd.ca/email/mea-l.htm.
By Ben Blanchard BEIJING - China could face worse forest fires and be more severely affected by wood-destroying pests this year because of global warning, a senior forestry official said on Wednesday. The government would buy dedicated fire-fighting helicopters for the first time to deal with the increased threat, said State Forestry Administration spokesman Cao Qingyao, adding that some officials still did not take the problem seriously enough.
The red meranti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Malaysia aims to export more timber products to the European countries, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Datuk Peter Chin, said Monday. He said a delegation from the European Union (EU) would be coming here on Jan 16 to commence negotiations on the proposed partnership on the supply and promotion of timber products.
Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth Announces his Retirement WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the selection of Abigail Kimbell as the 16th chief of the Forest Service. Kimbell succeeds Chief Dale Bosworth, who is retiring on Feb. 2 after 41 years with the Forest Service.
Birdmarket in Hong Kong Photo by ForestPress Conservationist' joy at EU-wide ban Move is to protect against bird flu A permanent ban on the import of wild birds into Britain and the rest of the European Union was agreed yesterday in a move that will protect rare species and save millions of animals. Chief veterinary officers from EU member states met in Brussels to ban wild bird imports on the ground of the health risk posed by avian flu and other diseases.