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Still no political solution to the financial problems of Danish forestry (ForestPress)

Denmark’s private forestry – representing 70 per cent of Denmark’s total afforested area –is in a very bad financial situation. In 2004 the financial result was an average deficit of 500 DKK (70 euro) per hectare of forest. At the end of August the Danish Government will present its long awaited programme for improving the forestry’s financial framework and its long term sustainability. The Government’s report on the financial situation of private forestry constitutes a first step.

2005. June 27.

News

Sewage could solve Australia's drought (Reuters/The Guardian)

Michael Byrnes in Goulburn The biggest dam, Pejar A severe drought is drying up drinking water across Australia, threatening to shut down big population centres but also creating the conditions for a revolution in water use. Worst hit is the farming town of Goulburn, south-west of Sydney. Its biggest dam, Pejar, currently holds less than 10% of its 1,000 megalitre (220m gallon) capacity. The town will become the first in Australia to run out of water in six months, if it gets no substantial rain and if emergency plans for new water supplies fail to work.

2005. June 25.

Trees Attacked by Two Moth Species (Associated Press)

Byline: Juliette Wallack Winter moths BOSTON — The destruction is obvious through much of southeastern Massachusetts: Trees stripped of their leaves dot the landscape, leaving mostly brown and gray where green once was. Many of the leaves that have managed to withstand the attack bear evidence of the assault -- tiny bite marks and nibbles. Faced with outbreaks of two moth species known for their steady diet of leaves, experts are working to control the pesky critters and discover what is causing their spiraling numbers and widespread defoliation they leave in their paths.

2005. June 24.

THE IBERIAN PENINSULA IN A EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE (ForestPress)

Spain boasts a surface area of some 13.695.000 has of forests. With a further 12.265.000 has suitable for plantation, which would bring the total to 51% of Spanish soil. If we consider the Iberian Peninsula as one unit within the E.U., and add Portugal's 2,755,000 has of forest we arrive at a grand total of 28.715.000. Some 48% of the surface area of the two countries and the forth major producer behind Sweden, Finland and France, but in front of some important producers such as Germany.

2005. June 23.

Asturforesta 2005 (ForestPress)

Asturforesta 2005, the Fifth Edition of the forest fair, begins a new walking with its best guarantees, the maturity after the success of earlier editions. The assistance of 86 exhibitors and more than 12.000 professional visitors from over 15 countries consolidate Asturforesta as the lead forestry fair in the Iberian Peninsula. The press describes it as "the most important forestry fair in the Iberian Peninsula".

2005. June 23.

Britain's vanishing red squirrels face deadly virus threat (Independent)

By Matthew Beard The dwindling population of red squirrels is being threatened by a virus that can kill them within 15 days. Squirrel pox is being spread by grey squirrels, which are immune to the virus, and it is infecting red squirrels living in Scotland. Conservationists say the estimated 160,000 population of red squirrels in the UK will almost certainly decline, since it has been noticed the virus was being spread by grey squirrels spreading north from Cumbria. The Moredun Research Institute near Edinburgh discovered the virus after taking blood samples from grey squirrels.

2005. June 23.

France's Bardot Demands EU Action on Wolf Cull (Reuters/ForestPress)

BRUSSELS - French actress turned animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has urged the European Union to take legal action against France for authorising the killing of six wolves. Bardot, a star of the cinema in the 1950s and 1960s, wrote to EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas on Monday, saying France had broken EU conservation rules.

2005. June 23.

New ideas concerning wood growing (ForestPress)

Effective wood growing requires a more broad-based view. Instead of concentrating on saw timber we should think of more variety in wood growing, says Mr Esa Härmälä, Chairman of the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK)

2005. June 22.

Music in the Forest 2005 (ForestPress)

The Forestry Commission has musical events throughout the year in stunning forest settings. Following the hugely successful Forest Tours 03 and 04, the following acts have been confirmed for the Forest Tour 2005.

2005. June 21.

Australia Government Steps in to End Grazing Row (Reuters/ForestPress)

CANBERRA - The Australian government responded on Friday to protests by mountain cattlemen and issued emergency laws to protect their 170-year tradition of allowing their herds to graze on plains in the country's alpine region.

2005. June 21.

The 22nd IUFRO World Congress (ForestPress)

The 22nd International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) World Congress will be held 8-13 August 2005 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. The theme for the 2005 Congress is Forests in the Balance: Linking Tradition and Technology. The congress will interest government agencies, non-government organisations, scientists, researchers, managers and scientific societies.

2005. June 20.

News

EIB loan for “Fier-Tepelene road project” in Albania (ForestPress)

The European Investment Bank is lending EUR 35 million for the rehabilitation and upgrading of a 70-km section of road from Fier to Tepelene, a key element of Albania’s north-south axis. The project is co-financed by the EBRD with a similar loan of EUR 35 million and is supported by technical assistance grants from the EU.

2005. June 20.

Last chance for the forests of Armenia (OneWorld UKNews/ForestPress)

Onnik Krikorian, Mtnadzor Reserve, Armenia Government-connected businessmen and state officials engaged in the illegal export of timber from Armenia are mostly to blame for the former Soviet republic’s dwindling number of forests. Whereas 11 per cent of the republic was covered by forests in 1991, the figure stands at below 8 per cent today. Environmentalists warn that unless current trends are reversed, Armenia will be forestless by 2024.

2005. June 20.

News

Native Trees of North America (Forestabout/ForestPress)

By Guy Sternberg és Jim Wilson This beautiful tree book begins by preparing a native tree landscape in a great "Getting Started" section. A brief but meaty review on landscape management segues to a "Menu" of 96 common native American trees.

2005. June 19.

The biggest forest fair in the world (ForestPress)

The Swedish forest fair Elmia Wood 2005 exceeded Elmia’s own expectations. Exhibitors put in more resources than ever before, the right visitors arrived and over 200 reporters from all over the world attended the fair. Torbjörn Johnsen, the project manager, says that this year’s international forest fair will have record impact.

2005. June 18.

USDA Quarantine Facility to Help Control Invasive Pests (ForestPress)

By Erin Peabody SIDNEY, Mont., May 4--U.S. Department of Agriculture officials broke ground here today for a quarantine-greenhouse complex. The new facility will allow government scientists to develop pesticide-free ways to control invasive plants currently threatening millions of acres of native rangelands across the western United States.

2005. June 17.

Schweighofer Innovation Prize spurs further cooperation (ForestPress)

At the picture from the left: Gerald Schweighofer, founder of the prize, Jan Söderlind, Nordic Timber Council, Bo Borgström, member of the jury of the Schweighofer prize. A unique collaboration was awarded in Vienna in Austria yesterday evening. For innovations in the world of wood, the joint initiative European Wood was given the Schweighofer Prize for its special initiatives in the field of marketing and education. And for the first time, the Schweighofer Prize goes to a collaborative project instead of a person.

2005. June 17.

News

Federal firefighting agency (ForestPress)

WASHINGTON, Federal firefighting agency leaders today said they have a sufficient mix of aerial resources to meet this fire season. This announcement follows preliminary results of a study on P2V. airtankers, which showed that they could be used in the upcoming fire season.

2005. June 17.