News from the world of forests

Press room

Taiga Rescue Network 8th Biennial Conference

The Global Importance of the Boreal Forest: Migratory Birds and the Paper Industry 10 - 13 September 2006 Clare College, Cambridge, UK The conference will feature: Industry – NGO – government – science discussions to promote cross-sectoral collaboration and/or communication, build relationships and increase mutual understanding In-depth discussions of the world’s impacts on boreal ecosystems, especially in relation to migratory birds.

2006. June 18.

News

Ethiopia: Illicit Animal Trade Costs Country $100 Million Per Year (Business in Africa-Johannesburg)

Addis Ababa - Ethiopia loses over $100mn every year through the illicit trading of live animals, according to the ministry of agriculture and rural development. An expert with the ministry said that illicit trade with neighbouring countries had lost the country over $100mn.

2006. June 18.

Data&Facts

Environmental and nature protection

Facts About Hungary Hungary lies in the centre of Europe, midway between East and West, North and South, ringed by the Alps and the Carpathians. Its undulating lowlands, low hills, fine rivers and grass plains extend over an area of 93,000 km2. Our ancestors, migrating from the east, were drawn to settle in this land rich in natural resources 1100 years ago. On arrival in the Carpathian Basin they came across fertile plains, rivers abounding in fish, and hills full of game.

2006. June 17.

Second Reading of new Forest Code Project again postponed (forest.ru/ForestPress)

The second reading of the new Forest Code Project is again postponed at least until July 2006. However, the schedule of State Duma debates for July 2006 does not include the reading of the new Forest Code, but this schedule is usually not strictly followed.

2006. June 17.

The EU Forest Action Plan (ForestPress)

The EU Forest Action Plan was adopted on 15 June 2006. It builds on the report on implementation of the EU Forestry Strategy and consequent conclusions by the Council.

2006. June 16.

Forest Tourism - Business Development (VisitScotland/ForstPress)

The Forest Tourism Initiative is a collaboration between Scottish Enterprise, Forestry Commission Scotland, VisitScotland and Highlands & Islands Enterprise. Its goal is to enhance the visitor experience of Scotland's forests by working with Forestry Commision Scotland’s (FCS) districts and with Scotland's tourism businesses to improve and develop the forest tourism product.

2006. June 16.

News

Wood exporter dumps bid for global softwood market (ABC-news)

After two years of planning, Australia's oldest woodchip exporter has abandoned its bid to enter the global softwood market. A glut of softwoods is looming after an infestation of the North American timber beetle in Canada.

2006. June 15.

Fuel consumption can be cut by half in Swedish forestry (Nordic/ForestPress)

Fuel consumption in felling and in transportation has been reduced by 30 % since 1985. The reason for this favourable development is more efficient machines and systems. This is the conclusion of studies made by Skogforsk, the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden.

2006. June 14.

Landowners Receive $6.9 Million for Endangered Species Conservation (ForestPress)

The blackfooted ferret South Carolina’s Milliken Forestry Resources to receive single largest grant in program’s history ST. GEORGE, S.C. - Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Matt Hogan announced today grants totaling more than $6.9 million are being awarded to private landowners and groups in 35 states through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Private Stewardship Grants program to undertake conservation projects on their land for endangered, threatened and other at-risk species.

2006. June 13.

Overexploitation depleting forest resources in Near East (ForestPress)

Forest plantations making up for the loss Rome /Larnaka, Cyprus - While many countries in the region have increased their forest area during the period 2000-2005, heavy grazing, wood, clearing of forests for agriculture, and urban development are depleting forest resources in the already forest-scarce Near East, according to FAO.

2006. June 12.

Proposal launched for a cleaner 2025 (UPI/ForstPress)

WASHINGTON – A diverse group of activists, politicians and businesses is proposing the United States get 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025. The Christian Science Monitor reported that the coalition, which includes governors, industry leaders, farm groups, county officials and environmentalists, has dubbed the proposal "25x'25."

2006. June 10.

Spanish Copper Project Arouses Environmental Anger (Reuters/ForestPress)

Story by Julia Hayley MADRID - A plan to start the biggest open pit copper mine in Europe in southern Spain has run into opposition from environmentalists who fear it will pollute a river with poisonous heavy metals. Canadian company Inmet Mining Corporation is preparing a site in the province of Seville to extract 72,000 tonnes of copper cathodes a year from the high-grade Las Cruces mine starting in January 2008.

2006. June 10.

Conservation of natural forest values is surprisingly popular in Finland(Nordic/ForestPress)

Forest owners in the area of western Uusimaa in the southwest of Finland are very interested in voluntary conservation of natural values in their forests. More than 40 sites were offered for temporary or permanent conservation already during the two first years of the three year project, which is a part of the METSO programme.

2006. June 9.

New regulations to protect wildlife come into force (defra.gov.uk/ForestPress)

Whitetailedeagle Certain wild birds will be afforded increased protection under the law as of tomorrow (Wednesday, 31 May) when new provisions under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act come into force. The Act creates a new offence of taking, damaging or destroying the nests of certain wild birds at any time during the year.

2006. June 9.

Private Forestry to ensure biodiversity of forests (Nordic/ForestPress)

European Family Forest Owners at the Green Week in Brussels. Brussels – Biodiversity conservation is an integral part of sustainable forest management. Forests contain the greatest diversity in terms of species, genetic material and ecological processes. Year by year family forest owners - owning more than 60% of European forests - invest in the conservation of flora and fauna habitats to ensure the ecological balance in their forests. “When Private Forest Owners can decide on a self-responsible basis they are much more motivated to invest in biodiversity conservation, as integral part of their livelihood”, said Antti Otsamo from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Finland.

2006. June 7.

News

European community funds forest preservation in four provinces (malaya.com.ph/ForestPress)

FOUR remote provinces in the Philippines harbor biologically diverse, yet highly endangered forests. Through the GOLDEN Forests, a five-year project grant awarded by the European Community to the Haribon Foundation, there is hope to breathe life back to these forests. On December 21, 2005, the European Community (EC) awarded a five-year project grant of P 1,439,269 to the Haribon Foundation. The project, Governance and Local Development for Endangered Forests or GOLDEN Forests.

2006. June 7.

News

Swedish forest owners get most of their revenue from sawmills (Nordic/ForestPress)

In Southern Sweden 80 % of forest owners' net revenue from felling comes from sawmills and 20 % from the pulp industry. A conventional but unproved allegation is that 70 % of forest owners' net revenue from timber sales come from sawmills and 30 % from the pulp industry.

2006. June 6.

News

Burmese teak found on sale at Chelsea Flower Show (ForestPress)

Wood exported from one of the world's most repressive regimes is available to buy at the UK's premier horticultural show. The gentile surroundings of the Chelsea Flower Show are a world away from the timber yards of Burma but the two were inextricably linked in an undercover sting that exposed the dirt lurking under the fragrant blooms of west London.

2006. June 6.