Guest guest Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 Rainforest Matters - August 2006 New Standards for Pineapple Certification Released The Rainforest Alliance, as Secretariat of the Sustainable Agriculture Network, is proud to announce the publication of Additional Criteria and Indicators for Pineapple Production -- Sustainable Agriculture Network. The result of over two years of research and stakeholder consultation, these criteria and indicators define best management practices for sustainable pineapple production. The standards come at a critical time as rapidly expanding pineapple production in tropical countries prompts concerns about negative environmental and social impacts. Pineapple is produced industrially in large, monoculture fields that lack trees and shelters and rely on intensive, often poorly controlled agrochemical use. These operations hasten deforestation, degrade riparian zones, increase sedimentation due to uncontrolled runoff and strain water supplies with overuse for irrigation. The standards and criteria set forth by the Rainforest Alliance and the Sustainable Agriculture Network address these and other environmental and social problems, providing a sustainable model for pineapple production. Forestry Training in China China’s temperate and tropical forests, some the most diverse in the world, are greatly threatened by high population growth rates and intensive commercial logging. Threatened species include the giant panda, red panda, South China tiger and golden snub-nosed monkey. Human populations have suffered as well: in 1998, over 2,500 people died in floods resulting from widespread deforestation. This catastrophe prompted a government ban on commercial logging of natural forests in seventeen provinces. China’s manufacturing sector consumes nearly one out of every two tropical trees harvested in the world. The logging ban has resulted in a dramatic increase in the amount of wood and pulp China imports from Southeast Asia and Siberia, increasing pressure on biologically rich habitats already endangered by illegal logging. To continue servicing its factories while alleviating pressure on tropical forests abroad, China is looking to resume logging in its state forests in a sustainable manner that will maintain wildlife habitat and help control flooding. In collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund, the Chinese Academy of Forestry and others, the Rainforest Alliance is promoting Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) forest management certification in China by educating foresters and stakeholders on the principles of FSC certification. By training these experts and giving them the tools and materials they will need to replicate the workshops on their own, we are able to multiply the impact of our efforts. Biodiversity News Forest management certification efforts in China are coming at a critical time as, according to an article in the July issue of Nature, " there is...clear scientific evidence that we are on the verge of a major biodiversity crisis. " In the article, a group of leading biologists calls for the formation of an international panel of experts to address this looming catastrophe that threatens " an irreplaceable natural heritage crucial to human well-being and sustainable development. " Habitat destruction and degradation, pollution, the introduction of alien species, over-exploitation of biological resources and climate change threaten 12% of bird species, 23% of mammals, 25% of conifers and 32% of amphibians with extinction. The sustainable use of natural resources is one vital factor in helping to stem this irreversible loss, and certification is an increasingly important tool for driving continual positive change and promoting long-term sustainable land-use practices. Museum Spectacular: Check Out These New Exhibits! Lizards & Snakes: Alive! Did you known that snakes aren’t slimy? That some lizards have tongues longer than their own bodies? That Gila Monster venom may hold the key to understanding diabetes? Learn all this and more in an engaging exhibition that sheds new light on these magnificent but often misunderstood creatures. Go see this great, new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and check out the September issue of Rainforest Matters for the chance to win pairs of tickets to this special exhibit! The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design The groundbreaking exhibition at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC reveals exciting trends in green technology, materials, and design yielding homes that are as aesthetically compelling as they are environmentally friendly. Green Dollhouse This special exhibition at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum presents earth-friendly dwellings with a doll’s eye view of a healthier world. Dollhouses created by professional architects and design students feature " green " architecture in miniature scale. Learn how to conserve energy and protect the environment, and build your own eco-house. Chocolate -- The Exhibition From rainforest treasure to luscious treat -- immerse yourself in the story of chocolate. Journey through history to get the whole story behind the tasty treat that we crave. This online exhibit published by the Field Museum in Chicago takes you from seed to bar, including a stop at a sustainable cocoa farm (PDF - 1.13 MB), to give you the complete history. © 2006 Rainforest Alliance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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