News

Kenyan Nobel laureate launches 'Billion Tree Campaign' at UN climate meet (AFP/ForestPress)

NAIROBI – Kenyan Nobel peace laureate Wangari Maathai on Wednesday launched a massive drive aimed at curbing global warming and related environmental damage by planting a billion new trees by the end of next year. On the sidelines of a key UN climate change conference here, Maathai announced the start in January of "The Billion Tree Campaign," to combat rampant deforestation, reverse desertification and reduce soil erosion.

2006. November 9.

UN gave 'incomplete emissions picture' (AAP)

The federal government has accused the UN's climate body of misrepresenting Australia's greenhouse gas emissions situation. Environment Minister Ian Campbell said figures released this week by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) had stated that Australia's emissions between 1990 and 2004 had increased by 25 per cent.

2006. November 8.

Energy and climate-change 'top German priorities' (Euractive.com)

In a special cabinet meeting on Sunday 5 November, the German government has defined the priorities for its EU Presidency, starting on 1 January 2007. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and her ministers confirmed their support for the EU draft Constitution in a special cabinet meeting on the upcoming EU Presidency. The German leader promised to try and revive the stalled ratification process and announced that on 25 March 2007 a "Berlin Declaration" will redefine the broad goals and values of the EU.

2006. November 7.

An American Chestnut Comeback

Castanea dentata From Steve Nix, A New Breed! Advances in genetics have shown us where those early researchers went wrong in working with the chestnut. The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is confident that "we now know we can have this precious tree back." However, it still is a very complex process and will take years of work.Advances in genetics have shown us where those early researchers went wrong in working with the chestnut.

2006. November 6.

News

British Columbia foresters (Vancouver Sun)

Gordon Hamilton British Columbia foresters are not exactly what you would consider American Idol-style celebrity material but, borrowing on the popularity of the vote-in show, their professional association wants the public to choose this province's all-time most influential forester. Between now and the last week of October, the Association of BC Forest Professionals is holding an e-mail voting contest to identify who, in British Columbia, has had the most influence on forestry.

2006. November 6.

A California car mechanic will be charged (Reuters)

Raymond Lee Oyler By Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES - A California car mechanic will be charged with setting a wildfire that killed five firefighters, destroyed 34 homes and charred an area nearly three times the size of Manhattan, authorities said on Thursday.

2006. November 5.

News

Extensive snow damage to forests in Northern Sweden (Nordic Forestry)

The abundant precipitation of heavy wet snow these last days has caused extensive forest damage, in particular in the Jämtland province in Northern Sweden. Individual forest owners have suffered damage to as much as 15 % of their forests.

2006. November 4.

News

JOHANNS HONORS USDA EMPLOYEES IN ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY (ForestPress)

WASHINGTON, - Agriculture Secretary Michael Johanns today will honor U.S. Department of Agriculture employees from across the nation for exemplary service and achievements in the 59th annual USDA Honor Awards Ceremony.

2006. November 3.

Mr Eskil Erlandsson new Swedish Forestry Minister (Nordic Forestry)

It took a couple of weeks for the new Swedish Government to decide who shall take care of forestry matters. Mr Eskil Erlandsson, Minister for Agriculture, was appointed to this post. He is 49 years old and has been a member of the Swedish Parliament since 1994, representing the Centre Party as expert of defence matters.

2006. November 2.

Cork, oak trees dying for unknown reasons: conservation group (AFP)

LISBON – Cork and oak trees are losing their leaves and drying up for unknown reasons at an alarming rate, a World Wildlife Fund official warned in a two-day conference held in Portugal. The problem is killing trees in Portugal, the world's biggest producer of cork, as well as in Mediterranean countries in southern Europe, said Luis Silva, the global conservation group's forest officer for Portugal.

2006. November 2.

News

Wild bird trade ban should stay (BBC)

A temporary ban on importing wild birds into the UK to prevent the spread of bird flu should remain in place, conservationists have said. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) claims the ban has saved hundreds of thousands of exotic birds from death or a life in captivity.

2006. November 2.

About F-BI (ForestPress)

The forest-based and related industries are among the most important sectors in the European Union, representing some 8% of the EU's manufacturing industries. Forest-based industries (F-BI) are present in all EU Member States, offering direct employment to some 3 million people from Scandinavia to the Iberian Peninsula.

2006. October 31.

Carbon market might help rainforests - World Bank (Reuters)

By Deborah Zabarenko WASHINGTON - Cutting down tropical forests often makes people poorer, hurts endangered species and emits greenhouse gases, so perhaps rich countries could pay to help keep trees standing, the World Bank said on Monday. The global carbon markets, set up in response to the Kyoto Protocol and other carbon-limiting arrangements, could offer the way.

2006. October 30.

News

Green Burials Growing in Popularity (Associated Press)

By William Kates NEWFIELD, N.Y. — It sits on the eastern fringe of New York's Finger Lakes region and is bounded on three sides by 8,000 acres of protected forests: the perfectly natural place to spend an eternity. The 93-acre Greensprings Natural Cemetery is the first of its kind in New York and one of just a handful in the United States, where interest in "green" burial is just taking root.

2006. October 30.

Pellets 2006 – Industry Platform of Growing Importance (ForestPress)

Stuttgart – When Pellets 2006 came to a close last Friday in Stuttgart, around 5,000 industry experts had the opportunity to find out about the latest trends and developments in the industry at Germany’s largest pellet technology trade fair from 11th to 13th October. This is a slight increase of 7.7 percent compared with the previous year.

2006. October 28.

Farmers urged to 'plant trees' (AAP)

Farmers should consider tree plantations as an alternative crop in drought prone areas of the country, a forestry conference has been told. Australian Forest Growers (AFG) urged governments and farmers to seriously consider the role that forestry could play in alleviating climate change.

2006. October 27.

Ex-ceps-ional weather sees mushroom harvest boom (news.scotsman)

FRANK URQUHART MUSHROOM lovers are having a field day. Scotland's leading restaurants and fungi foragers are enjoying the rewards of the biggest wild mushroom harvest in years. Commercial gatherers and thousands of amateur enthusiasts are now enjoying the easy pickings of a bumper harvest valued at at least ?1.5 million.

2006. October 27.

Climate talks underline science and policy gap (BBC)

The world's top 20 polluting nations ended climate talks in Monterrey, Mexico, this week in unusual accord over the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

2006. October 26.