News

Ex-Forest chiefs criticize land sale plan (CNN/ForestPress)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration formalized its plan to sell more than 300,000 acres of national forest to help pay for rural schools in 41 states, submitting legislation to Congress on Thursday to funnel $800 million to the schools over the next five years. The schools would get $320 million next year, but the figure would drop sharply after that, to just $40 million in its final year, officials said. That would be a 90 percent decrease from current spending -- a figure Western lawmakers called unacceptable.

2006. March 26.

20 years of improvement in Australia’s forestry practices (ForestPress)

Introduction Significant improvements to all aspects of Australia’s forest industries have been delivered over the past 20 years. This is highlighted by a range of major achievements that support the sustainable management of forests and plantations to provide wood for the timber and paper industries, jobs for rural communities and improved environmental outcomes.

2006. March 25.

Record for sawn timber in Sweden (Nordic Famile/ForestPress)

Swedish production of sawn timber hit a new record in 2005. Preliminary statistics indicate that production reached 17.8 million m3. That is an increase of about 6 % in comparison with the last record year 2004. In 2005 Swedish production of paper and cardboard reached 11.7 million tons, which is an increase of 1 % in comparison with 2004.

2006. March 24.

President of Turkmenistan orders forest planted in his desert nation (pravda.ru/ForestPress)

Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov ordered a forest planted to change his desert nation's climate the latest of the autocratic leader's elaborate projects that include an artificial lake and an ice palace. Niyazov said that the new "millennial" cypress forest will cover an area of 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles).

2006. March 23.

Tourism – Key to Growth and Employment in Europe (ForestPress)

European Tourism Ministers’ Conference in Vienna, 20–21 March A total of around 250 ministers, experts and representatives from various organisations and the tourism industry will meet at the European Tourism Ministers’ Conference in Vienna, the capital of Austria, with the aim of placing more emphasis on the role of tourism as a source of growth and employment in political discussions and policy-making. The two-day discussion forum will analyse special issues related to growth and employment in the tourism industry and, for the first time, discuss, upon the European Commission’ s proposal, a new tourism policy within the EU. Erkki Virtanen, Permanent Secretary, will represent Finland at the conference.

2006. March 23.

Fire Consuming Guatemala Forest (Prensa Latina/ForestPress)

Guatemala – A wild fire is turning into ashes the emblematic Tikal National Park in northern Guatemala, a historical area UNESCO declared World Heritage. Josué Morales, from the National Forest Fire Control and Prevention System, confirmed Tuesday that the disaster began in a distant zone from the archaeological center and units from that institution are intensively working to put out the fire.

2006. March 22.

Aussies Endure Strongest Storm Since '74 (Associated Press/ForestPress)

By MERAIAH FOLEY CAIRNS, Australia - The most powerful storm to hit Australia in three decades laid waste to its northeastern coast Monday, mowing down sugar and banana plantations with 180 mph winds but causing no deaths or serious injuries. Innisfail, a farming town of 8,500 located about 60 miles south of the tourist city of Cairns, was hardest hit, and Mayor Neil Clarke estimated that thousands of residents were left homeless.

2006. March 22.

Almond farmers seek healthy bees (BBC News/ForestPress)

By Mark Ward The US is in danger of running out of honey bees to pollinate its almond crop - the country's number one horticultural export. February and March are the crucial months for almond growers, as this is when trees blossom and need pollinating. At this time of year, owners of commercial hives take their valuable cargos to California, where almost 80% of the world's almonds are grown, to service the blossom.

2006. March 21.

Slovak forests tormented by timber thieves (CTK)

Kosice, Earth Slovakia This year´s long winter has brought probably the largest number of timber thieves to the forests of eastern and central Slovakia over the past years, forest managers have told journalists, adding that the damage has climbed up to millions of crowns.

2006. March 20.

Market Pulp Conference (ForestPress)

March 19-21, 2006 Dolce Sitges, Barcelona, Spain Join hundreds of executives from around the world at the leading meeting for the market pulp business. The conference will give you an opportunity to meet key buyers, sellers, producers, agents, shippers, traders and analysts from around the globe.

2006. March 20.

How many species inhabit the planet? (Reuters /ForestPress)

By Ed Stoddard JOHANNESBURG - Scientists and policy makers who want to slow the rate at which species are being lost face a conundrum: no one knows how many different plants and animals there are. "Some people who study insects think there may be as many as 100 million species out there," said Jeff McNeely, the chief scientist at the World Conservation Union.

2006. March 20.

Tower of London on climate list (BBC News/ForestPRess)

By Richard Black UN experts are meeting to determine the risks which climate change poses to some of the world's special places. The UN's cultural and scientific wing Unesco says climate change threatens World Heritage Sites such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Tower of London. The two-day meeting aims to develop plans of action to mitigate the threat.

2006. March 20.

UPM cuts thousands of jobs (Nordic Familie)

The forest company UPM has initiated a severe restructuring programme that will eliminate 10 % of the company's jobs. UPM will cut 3 600 jobs of which just under 3 000 in Finland. The production cuts are particularly severe in Finland. Closing down paper making machines means that Finnish production will be reduced by about 5 %.

2006. March 19.

DNV receives Forest Leadership Award (ForestPress)

Global forest products company UPM, global conservation organisation WWF and DNV were today awarded the Forest Leadership 2006 Partnership Award for a joint forest certification project. The Forest Leadership Partnership Award recognises commendable teamwork between different organisations, such as conservation organisations and corporations, to further sustainable forestry. Forest certification is a tool through which consumers can be sure the raw wood material in their paper and wood products comes from well-managed forests.

2006. March 18.

News

Policies Fostering Investment and Innovation (ForestPress)

Policies Fostering Investment and Innovation in Support of Rural Development taking into account forest owners perspective on enhancing economic viability through cooperation and innovation Dates: March, 27-29, 2006 Place and venue: Zvolen, Hotel Kaskády Sielnica, Slovakia

2006. March 17.

Forestry plan to double tree planting rate (Scotsman.com)

By FORDYCE MAXWELL A REVISED forestry strategy for Scotland could see 10,000 hectares of woodland planted each year, double the present rate. Draft proposals by the Executive could also bring woodland areas of more than two hectares within 500 metres of one in four of the population by 2015. The move would develop further the "green gym" and outdoor classroom theme that attracted more than 18 million visitors to Scotland's woods and forests last year.

2006. March 16.

Climate change and forest genetic diversity (ForestPress)

Climate change and forest genetic diversity: Implications to sustainable forest management in Europe Paris, France, 15-16 March 2006 This workshop on climate change and forest genetic diversity is one of the actions of the MCPFE Work Programme to implement Vienna Resolution 5 (Climate change and sustainable forest management in Europe).

2006. March 15.

News

IGES launches Policy Briefs 3 (ForestPress)

Combatting Forest Degradation - Certification as a driving force for amelioration Challenges for small forest enterprises The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) - Hayama, Japan - has launched Policy Brief #3, entitled "Combatting Forest Degradation - Certification as a driving force for amelioration."

2006. March 15.