News

EU wood energy policy pushed by three EU Commissioners (ForestPress)

It is the first time that three EU Commissioners jointly support one issue. “Wood as energy source in the enlarging Europe”, is the name of the exploratory opinion that will now be developed in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) lead-managed by the Finnish Member Seppo Kallio All three EU Commissioners Mariann Fischer Boel, Agriculture and Rural Development, Olli Rehn, Enlargement and Adris Piebalgs, Energy and Transport see the EESC contribution as valuable in the light of further enlargements and of the Lisbon strategy.

2005. July 24.

Nobel Winner: Africa Sacrifices Wildlife for Farms (ForestPress)

JOHANNESBURG - Africa must stop pushing out wildlife to make way for farming or it will lose out on crucial tourism revenue, Kenya's Deputy Environment Minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai said on Wednesday. If used properly, Africa's wildlife could bring in enough cash to massively improve public services, Maathai said in Johannesburg after giving the annual Nelson Mandela lecture in front of the former South African leader, former US President Bill Clinton and other dignitaries.

2005. July 23.

NEW PAPERS FROM CHATHAM HOUSE (ForestPress)

Illegal Logging Update and Stakeholder Consultation Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, 10 St. James’ Square, London SW1. Wednesday27th - Thursday 28th July 2005. Two new papers are now available on the www.illegal-logging.info website: How the ITTO Addresses Illegal Logging (Lauren Flezjor) Description of the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) and analysis of its activities on illegal logging and the debates around the issue during the renegotiation of the International Tropical Timber Agreement.

2005. July 22.

Some want more forest fires! (ForestPress)

The Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature is of the opinion that there are not enough forest fires in Norway. The Society wants more controlled forest fires in both State owned and in private forests in order to study biodiversity. The Norwegian Forest Owners’ Federation finds this a very bad idea.

2005. July 22.

USDA FOREST SERVICE ANNOUCES NEW DIRECTOR FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT POST (ForestPress)

WASHINGTON, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth today selected John Twiss to head the agency's law enforcement and investigations branch.

2005. July 21.

Amazon Waters Project Gets Green Light (ForestPress)

Eight Countries Target Environmental Degradation, River Pollution, Vulnerability to Climate Change By UN Environment Program SALVADOR BAHIA - A new project aimed at helping the Amazon Basin and its 10 million inhabitants conserve and better manage the region's economically important waters, forests and wildlife was announced 27th June.

2005. July 20.

News

Forest based energy needs a market price (ForestPress)

Due to the climate change agreements and trade in emission rights the competitiveness of wood will increase in comparison with non-renewable fuels. This may induce more energy producers to use forest based fuels. Then this energy market must be in good working order. Forest based energy, now being in a strong growth phase, has to have a price.

2005. July 19.

Forest fires rage in drought-hit Spain (Reuters)

MADRID - Emergency services battled to control forest fires in central Spain Sunday and police arrested a man believed to have started one of the blazes in the parched interior of the country, local officials said. Police detained the man thought to be responsible for one of three fires consuming thousands of hectares (acres) of land in the central regions of Castille-La Mancha and Castille-Leon.

2005. July 18.

Eight new World Heritage sites (ForestPress)

Shiretoko – Photo: David Sheppard Johannesburg – JAPAN'S Shiretoko Peninsula, Thailand's Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest, Egypt's Whale Valley and India's Valley of Flowers National Park were among eight new world heritage sites designated 15th July.

2005. July 18.

Germany’s successful certification for small-scale forest owners (ForestPress)

In the 5 years since its establishment PEFC certification in Germany has been a complete success story. Two thirds of all German forests have been certified to the German PEFC standard and it has also proven to be ideally adapted to the needs of small-scale forest owners. Following a comprehensive review, the system has been submitted to the PEFC Council for re-endorsement until 2010 and is now in the public consultation period.

2005. July 18.

News

The next war (ForestPress)

By Al Kags Major conflicts in Africa over the next 25 years could be due to that most precious of commodities — water. Water wars are likely to erupt in areas where rivers and lakes are shared by more than one country, according to a United Nations Development Programme report. Possible flashpoints are the Nile, Niger, Volta and Zambezi basins. The report predicts population growth and economic development will lead to nearly one in two people in Africa living in countries facing water scarcity or ‘water stress’ within 25 years.

2005. July 18.

News

Biotechnology in forestry gaining ground (ForestPress)

FAO calls for systematic assessment of genetically modified trees Rome - Research and applications of biotechnology in forestry are advancing rapidly, FAO said today. A significant majority of forest biotechnology activities, around 70 percent, is taking place in developed countries, according to a new global study of biotechnology in forestry conducted by FAO, with the United States, France and Canada being the most active players. India and China are the most active of the developing countries and countries in transition.

2005. July 17.

News

Norwegian forests to be mapped from outer space (Nordic/ForestPress)

For more than 30 years attempts have been made to map forest by means of satellite pictures. Now this work has resulted in practical tools for making forest maps in Norway. The new method has been created by “Norsk institutt for jord- og skogkartlegging” (NIJOS), (the Norwegian Land and Forest Survey Institute) in co-operation with the Finnish national forest survey.

2005. July 14.

World-wide forest initiative launched (AAP/ForestPress)

The World Bank and the World Wildlife Fund has announced a five-year program to combat the alarming disappearance of the world's trees. The two organisations announced the five-year extension of the Forest Alliance on the sideline of the UN Forum on Forests, a two-week meeting of more than 300 government officials which is reviewing the effectiveness of work to save and protect forests.

2005. July 14.

The bald eagle - the emblem of the United States of America (ForestPress)

What does it say about a nation when its national bird is threatened? Luckily, the bald eagle's story is one of recovery. With the banning of chemicals such as DDT, this majestic bird has made a comeback. While there are still many threats, its future looks good. Family: Accipitriidae (Eagles and Hawks)

2005. July 13.

Implementation of the EU Forestry Strategy – 2. (ForestPress)

European Parliament, Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Exchange of views with experts Presentation by Mr Mikko Ohela, Vice President, Public Affairs, Metsäliitto Group Metsäliitto Group. Fourth biggest forest industry group in Europe - annual turnover EUR 8.5 billion (2004)

2005. July 12.

Four Threats (ForestPress)

Four Threats to the Health of the Nation's Forests and Grasslands Healthy forests make for a healthy nation. In the 21st century, the nation’s forests and grasslands face four threats. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth names them as: (a) fire and fuels, (b) invasive species, (c) loss of open space, and (d) unmanaged recreation.

2005. July 12.

News

New Forests – Volume 30 (ForestPress)

Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers Volume 30, Issue 1, July 2005

2005. July 11.