News

NASA Research To Aid Federal Invasive Species Council Efforts (Terradaily/Spacedaily/ForestPress)

Needham Heights (Massachusetts) – Salt Cedar (pictured), an invasive plant widespread in the western United States, has replaced some native species, and may have significant negative effects on water resources. NASA recently accepted an invitation to join the National Invasive Species Council (NISC). NASA, in a research capacity, will assist 12 other federal agencies' efforts to combat invasive species across the country.

2005. February 13.

Rainforest Plant Yields Breast Cancer Fighter (HealthDay News)

A compound derived from a rare South American plant shows promise as a treatment for breast cancer, according to a University of Virginia Health System study. The compound, called SL0101, comes from the plant Forsteronia refracta, a member of the dogbane family that grows in the Amazonian rainforest. The Virginia researchers say SL0101 stopped the growth of human breast cancer cells in laboratory cultures. The compound inhibits the action of a protein called RSK, which is important for controlling the growth of breast cancer cells but does not alter the growth of normal breast cells.

2005. February 12.

Long Drought May Ignite Cuban Forests (Prensa Latina/ForestPress)

Havana Cuba is concerned about possible forest fires because of a serious drought which has extended for months. Forest Rangers said the critical period of possible forest fires will be extended to June 30 due to the long dry spell. Under normal conditions this period concludes on April 30, but poor rainfall over the last three years has caused experts to extend the season and maximize measures to prevent disasters. "Cuban forests are facing a serious situation, since dry leaves and grass can combust anytime. This condition can whip a small flame into a fierce fire," said Manuel Lama Gómez, chief of the Forest Warden Department.

2005. February 11.

Canadian Trees – The First National Magazine about Canadian Trees and Forests (ForestPress)

The Tree Canada Foundation and Pegasus Publications are proud to announce the arrival of Canadian Trees magazine, a vital and truly one-of-a-kind publication. This beautifully designed, full-colour magazine is the first and only national publication wholly dedicated to celebrating an integral part of Canada’s prosperity and heritage - our trees and forests. Canada is blessed with 10% of the world’s forests, 180 distinct tree species and over $43 billion generated from forest-related eco-tourism and wood products. But with 80% of Canadians living in cities and towns, the remarkable health and financial benefits of such an abundance of trees are not fully appreciated. Canadian Trees provides informative, engaging content that reminds citizens of our status as a leading "forest nation" by highlighting the places, people and issues that affect our greatest natural asset.

2005. February 11.

Mallee plant work to begin (Narrogin Observer/ForestPress)

A pilot plan will be producing electricity, activated carbon and eucalyptus oil from mallee trees grown Work on the integrated wood processing plant designed to convert mallee trees into oil will begin this week. The pilot plant will achieve "proof of concept" and be producing electricity, activated carbon and eucalyptus oil from mallee trees grown in the region by the end of the year, Western Power sustainable energy manger Adrian Chegwidden said.

2005. February 10.

European Wood Initiative (ForestPress)

China and Japan European Wood Initiative (EWI) is a joint promotion program for wood promotion organisations in Europe, representing the wood and wood products industries of Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Norway and Sweden. EWI has agreed to promote wood in China and Japan. EWI has been mandated to represent CEI-Bois in standardization matters in China and Japan.

2005. February 9.

Annual State Meeting - Minnesota Society of American Foresters (ForestPress)

The Minnesota Society of American Foresters is proud to present our annual state meeting to be held in Mankato, MN. This years theme is “What’s Bugging You? Insect & Disease Threats of Minnesota”, Feb. 15-16th, 2005, Holiday Inn. A Joint Gathering with the MN Association of Conservation Districts. Presentation topics at this meeting will include hybrid poplar diseases, root diseases in red pine, hardwood declines, bark beetles, spruce and jack pine budworm, oak wilt, emerald ash borer, gypsy moth, stem girdling roots, and diagnosing insect and disease problems. Our national line-up of speakers includes Steve Seybold, Therese Poland, Glen Stanosz, and Don Riemenschneider, as well as local experts Mike Albers, Sue Burks, Mike Carroll, Ed Hayes, Dan Gullickson, Mark Stennes, Jennifer Juzwik, Steve Katovich, Mike Ostry, Gary Johnson, and Andy Holdsworth.

2005. February 8.

9th North American Agroforestry Conference of the Association for Temperate Agroforestry (ForestPres

The ninth North American Agroforestry Conference of the Association for Temperate Agroforestry (AFTA) will be held June 12 – June 15, 2005 at the Kahler Grand Hotel, Rochester, Minnesota. The theme for this conference, “Moving Agroforestry into the Mainstream,” is intended to attract those people interested in the production and environmental benefits of agroforestry.

2005. February 8.

African Leaders Sign Rain-Forest Treaty (Associated Press/ForestPress)

By BRYAN MEALER BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo - Leaders of seven Central African countries signed a landmark treaty on Saturday to work together to help save the world's second-largest rain forest. French President Jacques Chirac attended the ceremony, which concluded a two-day summit focusing on threats to the great forests of the Congo Basin. The forests make up very heart of Africa, encompassing 500 million acres stretching though 10 countries. They are also home to more than half Africa's animal species, including the world's entire population of lowland gorillas. Nearly 20 million people depend on the forests for food and shelter.

2005. February 7.

Switzerland names mountain wetlands for World Wetlands Day (ForestPress)

The Government of the Secretariat's host country, Switzerland, has designated three valuable as well as very scenic Wetlands of International Importance as part of its celebration of World Wetlands Day, 2 February. Switzerland now has eleven Ramsar sites totaling 8,676 hectares. Laubersmad-Salwidili (1,376 ha) is a subalpine area of transitional and raised bogs on the northern slopes of the Alps, in the north-central canton of Lucerne, and is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve "Entlebuch".

2005. February 7.

Court Rules in Favor of the Saemangeum Wetland, (Forest Conservation News/ForestPress)

South Korea – OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY by Dr. Glen Barry, Forests.org Victory: Court Rules in Favor of the Saemangeum Wetland, South Korea Saemangeum is one of the world's most valuable natural areas, and is generally accepted to be the most important site for shorebirds in the Yellow Sea. It is a wildlife habitat that supports 158 species of fish, or 76.9 percent of all fish species in the Yellow Sea, with over 300 aquatic and plant species. In addition, it is a major stopover point for 20,000 birds that annually migrate from Australia to East Asia. During any given year, however, more than 500,000 birds may be found there, including 105-110 annually; 70-75 are present in smaller numbers, and 30 of those are present in internationally important numbers.- more than any other site in Korea. Instead of continuing the largest tidal flat reclamation project in the world, and worsening the irreversible destruction of such an ecosystem, I urge you to preserve the remaining land by joining it to the already existing Pyonsan-Bando National Park.

2005. February 6.

Builders urged to support Aussie timber (Australian Association of Forest/ForestPress)

Aussie builders are urged to use Australian timber in construction Australian builders and home handymen are being urged to show their patriotism and insist on only Australian grown and harvested timber. Australian Forestry and Conservation Minister, Senator lan Macdonald, said recently that Australia Day was the ideal time to reflect on ways we could make our nation stronger, and one was for all those planning construction work to use only Australian timber.

2005. February 6.

Gypsy moth in Minnesota (ForestPress)

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service are developing plans to eradicate an infestation of gypsy moths in an area near the city of Tower in northeastern Minnesota. Photo by György Csóka Gypsy moth is considered one of America 's most destructive tree pests. The insect is not native to North America and has no effective natural controls. Since the early 1900s, it has slowly spread out from New England. It is now common in central Wisconsin, and is threatening to establish itself in Minnesota's northern forests. Once present in sufficient numbers, gypsy moth caterpillars can defoliate large sections of forest.

2005. February 4.

Conservationists Name Nine New

By John Roach Today conservationists named nine new "biodiversity hotspots"—areas of mind-boggling species richness that are under constant assault from human activity. The label highlights the regions as priorities for the world's conservation efforts.

2005. February 3.

Road taxes threaten to stop forestry in Sweden (NordicFamilyForestry/ForestPress)

The new road and energy taxes proposed in the Swedish Government's study "Skatt p? väg" (Road traffic taxes) will increase annual costs for forestry by 1.8 billion SEK. The proposal will result in considerably reduced access to domestic raw materials for the Swedish forest industry. As much as 30 per cent of available timber will be unprofitable to cut. This will be a hard blow, in particular for forest owners in inland areas where haulage distances are long. The new taxes may reduce their net income by as much as 50 per cent.

2005. February 2.

African Poor to Bear Brunt of Global Warming Crisis (Reuters)

EXETER - Africa's poor millions, already suffering grinding poverty and rampant disease, risk bearing the brunt of the global warming crisis unless urgent action is taken now, a leading Nigerian scientist said Wednesday. Anthony Nyong from Jos University said if current trends continued temperatures in sub-Saharan Africa could rise by two degrees centigrade by 2050 and rainfall could drop 10 percent leading to major shortages in already water-stressed countries.

2005. February 2.

Exeter hosts climate change conference (BBC/ForestPress)

An international conference on climate change is taking place at the Met Office in Exeter. Scientists from around the world will be attending the three day event. Devon is to host an international conference on climate change. It aims to encourage an international scientific debate on the long-term implications of climate change.

2005. February 2.

Catastrophic Events, Tree Damage and the IRS (forestry.about.com)

Timber and tree owners were hit especially hard by several hurricanes and other U.S. disasters during 2004. The good news is, trees damaged last year by fire or storm may entitle the owner to a federal tax deduction in the form of a "casualty loss". This includes losses to both timber and shade trees.

2005. February 1.