A combination of rising Chinese demand and the biofuel boom is pushing up Christmas tree prices in Germany. Producers say they just can't keep up with demand from Asia's economic giant. The Christmas tree may be a quintessential symbol of Christmas, but it's also a natural resource. And, like other natural resources, it is subject to market forces – forces which are pushing up prices in Germany.
WASHINGTON, – The Senate today passed ground-breaking legislation to stop the import of illegally logged timber and wood products as part of the Farm Bill. Currently, the U.S. government has no authority to take enforcement action against the import of illegally logged wood products. Since early 2007, the U.S. Congress has moved to take action to stop the impact of U.S. demand on illegal logging around the world.
Real or fake? It's a question that most families ponder as we hurtle towards Christmas, but the National Asthma Council Australia is warning the two million plus Aussies with asthma to make a careful choice, as both options could trigger asthma symptoms. According to National Asthma Council Chief Executive Officer, Kristine Whorlow, pollens and dust are two of the most common asthma triggers and both could be lurking amongst the branches of your Chrissie tree, depending on which option you choose.
Finnish forest owners are preparing to meet the forest industry's increased demand for domestic timber. Russian export duties on timber will continue to increase next year. Finland imports 20 - 25 % of its raw timber from Russia.
BUDAPEST – Hungarian and Japanese officials have signed a memorandum of understanding that would see Tokyo buying so-called "carbon credits" for the first time, Hungary's environment ministry said Tuesday. Hungary's Environment Minister Gabor Fodor and Japan's ambassador to Budapest Shinichi Nabekura inked the non-binding framework agreement on Tuesday.
News KAKAMIGAHARA Aqua Toto Gifu, Gifu – An aquarium filled with exotic fish here is using an electric eel to power lights on a Christmas tree. Each time the electric eel at the Aqua Toto Gifu aquarium touches a copper wire in its tank, it sends power that lights up globes decking a Christmas tree.
News New York – 17 December 2007 – Two days after the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali reaffirmed the importance of combating deforestation to fight global warming, and at a time of growing recognition of the role of forests in poverty eradication and protecting biodiversity, the General Assembly today adopted a landmark agreement on international forest policy and cooperation.
News By Charles Clover, Environment Editor, in Bali Measures to save the rainforests will be included in a post-Kyoto climate change treaty, a meeting of 180 countries has agreed. This has achieved what 20 years of campaigning by environmental groups in developed countries has failed to do since the idea of a world forestry convention was first proposed in the 1980s.
RIGA - Latvian authorities have given residents something to cheer about when they invited them to cut their own Christmas trees for free – only to be chased away by forest rangers.
Unasylva No. 228 Vol. 58, 2007/3 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 2007 http://www.fao.org/forestry/en/
The United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat Department of Economic Social Affairs is pleased to invite you to the Special Event of the UN General Assembly to commemorate the adoption of the Non-Legally Binding Instrument on All Types of Forests on Monday, 17 December 2007 from 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm, at the UN General Assembly Hall
News Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has committed his country to spending more than $500 million a year to preserve the world's endangered rainforests. The Norwegian government chief, Jens Stoltenberg, says reducing deforestation in developing countries can quickly and inexpensively reduce global emissions of carbon dioxide - the main component of the greenhouse gases that are blamed for global warming.
The French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has the pleasure to announce: A side-event to be held on 12 December 2007 Time 15:30 – 17:30 In pavilion of the European Union (Brussels Room) Assessment of forest cover changes in French Guiana using satellite imagery: Lessons for a post 2012 REDD regime.
News Budapest - The "Forests for Public Welfare" Section of the Hungarian Association of Forestry celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Man in the Forest, Man and Forest, Society and Forest – these terms show the changing attitude of the people towards the forest in the course of centuries.
The forest has always been an issue close to the heart of all Swedes, both culturally and financially. Nowadays an increasing number of actors in the forestry sector have a positive attitude to some kind of co-ordinated EU forest policy.
Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov has put the spotlight on Russia's timber industry. At a meeting with key players and ministers in the Vologda Region, he's called for a rethink on how the country manages one of its most valuable resources.
By Michael Casey At U.N. meeting, it rejected limits for developing states.
News Raja Gaj KATHMANDU – What is thought to be the world’s largest Asian elephant has been missing from a Nepali wildlife reserve for a year and may well be dead, a reserve official said yesterday. Raja Gaj, or king elephant, was estimated to be 11 feet 3 inches tall at the shoulder, some two feet taller than the average Asian elephant. The bull was one of the main tourist attractions at Bardia National Park in southwest Nepal.
