News center

Recycled pool water to help botanic gardens (ForestPress)

Eucalyptus The Victorian Government is hoping almost 7 million litres of recycled water will help Melbourne's parched botanic gardens and elm trees. Most of the water from two temporary pools at Rod Laver Arena will be used to top up the lake inside the Royal Botanic Gardens and about 500,000 litres will be used on the city's water-stressed elm trees. The water will come from the pools used at the World Swimming Championships.

2007. January 20.

Booming forest sales in Sweden (Nordic Forestry)

The state owned company Sveaskog, which is the biggest forest owner in Sweden, has made an evaluation of its forest sales. The conclusions indicate that the company's forest sales represent 30 - 40 % of all sales in Sweden of forest land at market prices. The opportunities for private individuals to purchase forest land have increased considerably.

2007. January 19.

Critisism to new chief (AP)

WASHINGTON - Named Friday to head the U.S. Forest Service, Montana forester Gail Kimbell quickly came under fire from a Senate Democrat who represents her state. Kimbell, the first woman to hold the job, succeeds retiring chief Dale Bosworth.

2007. January 18.

Free bird song CDs this weekend

The Independent is giving away two free British Bird Song CDs. These collectors' CDs feature more than 100 of Britain’s most common and loved bird songs, helping you to recognise the birds that visit your garden and local area.

2007. January 18.

Press review

MEA Bulletin - Issue No. 19

IISD RS is pleased to announce that the newest issue of MEA Bulletin is now available. It and all past issues can be accessed by visiting http://www.iisd.ca/email/mea-l.htm.

2007. January 18.

Climate change could fuel China's forest fires (Reuters)

By Ben Blanchard BEIJING - China could face worse forest fires and be more severely affected by wood-destroying pests this year because of global warning, a senior forestry official said on Wednesday. The government would buy dedicated fire-fighting helicopters for the first time to deal with the increased threat, said State Forestry Administration spokesman Cao Qingyao, adding that some officials still did not take the problem seriously enough.

2007. January 17.

M'sia Aims To Boost Timber Product Exports To Europe (Bernama.com)

The red meranti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Malaysia aims to export more timber products to the European countries, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Datuk Peter Chin, said Monday. He said a delegation from the European Union (EU) would be coming here on Jan 16 to commence negotiations on the proposed partnership on the supply and promotion of timber products.

2007. January 16.

USDA ANNOUNCES ABIGAIL KIMBELL AS THE 16TH CHIEF OF THE FOREST SERVICE (ForestPress)

Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth Announces his Retirement WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the selection of Abigail Kimbell as the 16th chief of the Forest Service. Kimbell succeeds Chief Dale Bosworth, who is retiring on Feb. 2 after 41 years with the Forest Service.

2007. January 15.

Trade in wild birds stopped at a stroke (forests.org)

Birdmarket in Hong Kong Photo by ForestPress Conservationist' joy at EU-wide ban Move is to protect against bird flu A permanent ban on the import of wild birds into Britain and the rest of the European Union was agreed yesterday in a move that will protect rare species and save millions of animals. Chief veterinary officers from EU member states met in Brussels to ban wild bird imports on the ground of the health risk posed by avian flu and other diseases.

2007. January 15.

Tiger kills tiger in safari park: Second incident in three months (dawn.com)

By Shoaib Ahmed LAHORE – A tiger tore another tiger apart at the Lahore Wildlife Park, it was learnt on Thursday. This was the second such incident at the safari park in less than three months. Earlier, a tigress had killed another tigress in Ramazan. The park built in the city outskirt along Raiwind Road is yet to be opened to public.

2007. January 15.

News

More African nations use DDT to cut malaria death toll (SciDev.Net)

[LILONGWE] The once-banned insecticide DDT is being reconsidered by many countries in Africa as a means to combat malaria. But concerns remain that use of the chemical will damage agricultural trade with Europe. Scientists, researchers and environmentalists meet in Malawi today (12 January) to discuss the risks and benefits of DDT, according to Storn Kabuluzi, manager of the National Malaria Control Programme in Malawi. DDT is one of the most affordable ways to fight malaria.

2007. January 14.

Archives

The EU Action plan for FLEGT

To build on a commitment taken at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, in May 2003 the Commission published an EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). Council Conclusions were adopted in October 2003, and the European Parliament motion on the FLEGT action plan was adopted in February 2004.

2007. January 13.

B.C. FIRE SPECIALISTS TO TACKLE AUSTRALIA’S BUSHFIRES (gov.bc.ca)

VICTORIA – British Columbia is sending 52 forest fire specialists to Australia to help respond to bushfires that have burned over 30 homes and a ski lodge in the State of Victoria, announced Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman today.

2007. January 13.

Forestry and malaria control in Italy (Unasylva)

January 11, 2007 The Feniglia dune on the Tuscan coast In the early twentieth century, reforestation was among the weapons used in the battle to eliminate malaria from Italy. Malaria was already diffuse in the Mediterranean region by the fifth century BC. In ancient Rome, the severity of the problem worsened towards the end of the Republican era with the arrival of Plasmodium falciparum (which causes the most severe form of the disease), probably from Africa.

2007. January 11.

Forests and human health

Unasylva No. 224 (Vol. 57/2). Cover photo: Women gathering medicinal plants (Combretum micranthum) from the forest, Guinea FAO/CFU000304/R. Faidutti Unasylva is published in English, French and Spanish. Starting in 2006, payment is no longer required. Free subscriptions can be obtained by sending an e-mail to unasylva@fao.org. Subscription requests from institutions (e.g. libraries, companies, organizations, universities) rather than individuals are preferred to make the journal accessible to more readers.

2007. January 11.

Germany, Japan to help China, India reduce CO2 emissions (Tokyo Shimbun)

TOKYO – Germany plans to propose strengthening cooperation with Japan in technological and research fields to help fast growing economies such as China and India reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a Japanese daily reported Wednesday.

2007. January 10.

Draw attention to the refuse (Nordic Forestry)

A reckless minority of Danes throw more and more refuse away in the woods. It comprises all kinds of objects from beer cans and ice cream paper to construction waste, refrigerators and caravans. The quantity of refuse has increased to insupportable proportions for forest visitors and the situation is still worse for forest owners who also have to cope with the problem and bear the costs for removing the refuse.

2007. January 9.

WWF Survey 2006 (ForestPress)

The Government Barometer presented on this website is a WWF rating of the EU governments’ commitments and actions against illegal logging.

2007. January 8.