HELP ME SAVE THE RAINFORESTS
Prince Charles has launched a website to help stop the destruction of the rainforests, one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. The cause of deforestation does not lie with the rainforest nations, he says. Too often it is demand from developed countries for palm oil, beef and soya which is driving the destruction of the rainforests and making them worth far more dead than alive.
Daily Telegraph 5/6/2008
IMAGES REVEAL 'RAPID FOREST LOSS'
High-resolution satellite images have revealed the "rapid deforestation" of Papua New Guinea's biodiversity rich rainforests over the past 30 years. An international team of researchers estimates that the current rate of loss could result in more than half of the nation's tree cover being lost by 2021.
BBC News 2/6/2008
SELLING RAIN FORESTS TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER
Article looking at the 'noble and necessary' efforts of Guyana's President, Bharrat Jagdeo to save his country's rainforests.
International herald tribune 24/4/2008
FORESTRY COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH CENTRE FOR FORESTRY AND CLIMATE CHANGE
The Forestry Commission is to establish a new centre for forestry and climate change to co-ordinate research into, and action on, the forest sector's role in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Tim Rollinson, Director-General of the Commission, announced the move in an address to the Institute of Chartered Foresters' national conference in Edinburgh. He said that one potential means of establishing such a centre that the Commission is investigating is by re-focusing the work of its Forest Research agency with a new remit.
International herald Tribune 26/05/2008
FORESTS' LONG-TERM POTENTIAL FOR CARBON OFFSETTING
As well as cutting our fossil fuel emissions, planting new forests, or managing existing forests or agricultural land more effectively can capitalise on nature's ability to act as a carbon sink. New research shows that although planting trees alone is unlikely to solve our climate problems, large-scale plantations could have a significant effect in the longer term.
Science Daily 14/04/2008
NEW ESTIMATES OF 2007 UK GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Provisional statistics for total UK Greenhouse Gas emissions for 2007 showed a drop of two per cent, with 639.4 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent, down from 652.3 million tonnes in 2006. They also show that in 2007, UK net emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) were provisionally estimated to be 543.7 million tonnes. This was two per cent lower than the 2006 figure of 554.5 million tonnes. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn says that the UK is making progress on cutting Greenhouse Gas emissions, but there is still much work to do.
Defra news release 27/3/2008
TIPPING ELEMENTS AND GLOBAL WARMING
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, includes both boreal and rainforests among 14 earth systems that might have policy-relevant tipping points that would constitute a danger to the global climate. Tipping points and mechanisms differ across systems but share characteristics. While minor perturbations tend to be unimportant, slight increases can lead to major changes in the system.
Forbes 25/3/2008
EUROPEAN STANDARDS FOR BIOMASS PUBLISHED
European technical standards governing the production of solid biomass fuels, including woodfuels such as logs, pellets, chips and sawdust, and straw bales, have been published. The 25 standards, supported by Defra and the Forestry Commission, are officially known as the CEN/TC 335 Biomass Standards and have been adopted in the UK by BSI British Standards. They cover topics including methods for determining moisture content and calorific value, fuel quality assurance, and total content of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen.
FC news release 6/3/2008
SOUTH EAST SAME AS SAHARA FOR DROUGHT RISK
The South East of England will be at risk of serious water shortages which could lead to higher bills and rationing by 2030, according to a report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. The report already classifies a swathe of the South East of the country in the same bracket as the Sahara.
Daily Telegraph 5/3/2008
ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE COULD BE CHANGED FOREVER
The traditional English countryside will be changed forever unless the Government acts swiftly on climate change, a new report warns. In 'Our changing climate, our changing lives - South East' 11 groups including the National Trust, National Federation of Women's Institutes, Woodland Trust and WWF warn that the south-east region will probably remain one of the hottest and driest in the country.
Daily Telegraph 26/2/2008