Guest guest Posted December 13, 2008 Report Share Posted December 13, 2008 --Today for you 33 news articles about earth's trees! (448th edition) http://forestpolicyresearch.org --To Subscribe / to email format send blank email to: earthtreenews- OR earthtreenews- Index: --Asia: 1) Drought & Deforestation in Forests of Equatorial Asia, --China: 2) As log imports slow, prices rise, 3) China Forestry Inc Company gains 233 hectares of timber, --India: 4) Lack of connecting corridors leads to need for tiger reintroduction, 5) 90 road widening projects spells doom for many trees, Despite ban trees keep falling, 6) Forest encroachment estimates, 7) Clearing forests for coal, --Bhutan: 8) Gross National product morphs into gross national happiness, 9) Some trees surviving increased salinity, --Nepal: 10) Framework for better management of mountain transboundary protected areas --Bangladesh: 11) Environmentalists call for government to create a separate forest policy, --SE Asia: 12) 470 million tons of carbon dioxide per year --Vietnam: 13) Rare Monkey Tonkin snub-nose monkey population found, 14) Rangers discover 860 cases of illegal logging, 15) New inter-agency agreement on forest protection, --Philippines: 16) Mining proposals a threat to forest & streams, 17) Sierra Madre Logging Contract finally revoked, 18) Why does illegal logging still prevails in region, 19) Lifting of total log ban empowers insurgents, --Mynamar / Burma: 20) Rapid depletion of Hardwood resources, --Borneo: 21) He gave away 1.25 million hectares of logging concessions to his cronies, --Malaysia: 22) Kelantan tourism industry concerned about logging plans, 23) Forest is the nest of the hornbills, ) Plant trees on your own land, not ours, 24) Massive GEtree growing operation has 11 new tree nurseries, 25) Second largest Mangrove preserve on the peninsula, 26) Two books on Peat forest flowers 28) Informants of illegal loggers to be rewarded? 29) Forest Plantation Development Programme 30) Sime Darby pledges $7 million for Borneo restoration, 31) Forests are healthier now that logging's shut down, 32) Landslide murders musts be addressed! 33) Health In Harmony wins mongabay.com's " Innovation in Conservation " award, Articles: Asia: 1) A new study has found that in the rainforests of equatorial Asia, a link between drought and deforestation is fueling global warming. The study, analyzing six years of climate and fire observations from satellites, shows that in dry years, the practice of using fire to clear forests and remove organic soil increases substantially, releasing huge amounts of climate-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In 2006, the climate on the fast-developing islands of Borneo and Sumatra and in New Guinea and other parts of equatorial Asia was three times drier than in 2000, but carbon emissions from deforestation were 30 times greater exceeding emissions from fossil fuel burning. Land managers respond to the drought by using fire to clear more land. In dry years, they burn deeper into the forest, which in turn releases more carbon dioxide, said James Randerson, climate scientist at UCI (University of California Irvine) and co-author of the study. The findings, according to Randerson, illustrate why limits on deforestation should be a critical part of future climate agreements. Global warming modelers typically consider climate and land use separately when assessing how changes will affect greenhouse gas emissions. The results also indicate that forecasting drought may be important when countries in this region allocate resources to combat illegally set fires and clearing. The link between drought and deforestation is very sensitive, Randerson said. If the climate warms and there are more droughts, it potentially makes the forest and its stored carbon more vulnerable, he added. Randerson and his colleagues used several kinds of satellite data to develop and refine their emission estimates. First, they used satellite images of fire areas and additional information about carbon pools to estimate emissions from the region. Next, they sharpened their estimate using measurements of atmospheric carbon monoxide levels, which can be a strong signal of fire activity. In a final step, they used both carbon monoxide and satellite data to determine total carbon emissions. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/global-warming-aided-by-drought-d\ eforestation-link-in-equatorial-asia_100128928.html China: 2) Reduced log imports from Russia to China saw prices hit a record high in the Asian market during the third quarter of this year, figures show. Data released by Wood Resources International show that production of most wood products in China is also up on 2007 levels, creating further upwards pressure on prices. Imports of softwood logs to the nation have fallen for the past three quarters and hit 4.4 million cubic metres in the three months to October. Hakan Ekstrom, spokesperson for Wood Resources International, said: " It is still too early to know the full impact of the global financial crisis on log demand and prices in China. " However, there were indications that demand for forest products started to fall in December, he added.It also remains to be seen what impact the delayed tax increase on Russian log exports will have on the flow of wood into China, Mr Ekstrom stated. Recently, Estonian forestry minister Urmas Paet told AFP that Russian membership of the World Trade Organisation would boost the Baltic nation's forestry industry as it would mean an end to the " discriminative " tax on timber exports currently imposed. This news item is brought to you by KMS Baltics in conjunction with Fest-Forest and EST KINNISVARA. Baltic forestry and property specialists. http://www.kms.ee/articles/China_log_prices_hit_record_highs?266 3) China Forestry Inc., a timber investment group in the People's Republic of China, announced today that it has signed a second letter of intent with a Chinese citizen to acquire user rights to an additional 233 hectares of forest near Shangzhi city in Heilongjiang Province. The forest has wood reserves of approximately 33,392 cubic meters, and is subject to user rights certificates until July 7, 2051. The Company has negotiated a purchase price of $4,728 per hectare for a total cost of $1.1 million for the forest user right certificates. Commenting on the LOI, Mr. Yuan Tian, CEO of CHFY, stated, " With this new agreement, we now have two LOI represents 1,166 hectares of forest near Shangzhi city to add to our existing ownership of user rights to 1,561 hectares of forest in Heilongjiang Province. " " Our long-term strategy is to have our timber certified and we are actively seeking investments to expand our existing locations to make forest certification more economical, " said Mr. Tian. http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=156216 India: 4) After a gap of about four years, tigers are back in Sariska. Two tigers-a male and a female-were airlifted from Ranthambhore. Three more tigers are supposed to join them shortly. This is the first time that a big cat species has been relocated in independent India. Rajasthan's forest department, the government of India and the Wildlife Institute are involved in the project. Reintroduction of tigers in Sariska is important, because if successful this could provide a great tool in intensive genetic management of small isolated populations of tigers. Over the last few decades, dense human settlements and cultivated fields have surrounded most of the tiger reserves in the country. Tiger reserves are cut-off from each other. The corridors for movements of these big cats have been totally erased. The small tiger populations of these tiger reserves are likely to face genetic isolation, and consequent in-breeding. This is a known cause of serious physical abnormalities among the offsprings of large cats. The males may have very poor sperm quality and females may have reduced fertility. It is feared that because of absence of corridors, tiger populations in many tiger reserves in India, including Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, could already be facing this malaise. There is no other tiger population in any area near Ranthambhore. Tigers have disappeared from adjoining wildlife sanctuaries of Kailadevi (Karauli) Ramgarh (Bundi), Durrah (Kota) and Bhainsrorgarh (Chittorgarh). There is no chance of tigers coming to Ranthambhore from any of the tiger areas in Madhya Pradesh. The tiger population of Ranthambhore is small. In 1973, at the time of launch of Tiger Project, as per official records of the forest department, there were only 13 tigers in Ranthambhore. During last 35 years this number has swelled and shrunk at times. The present population of tigers in Ranthambhore are all descendents of this small original population of 13 tigers. So the possibilities of in-breeding cannot be ruled out-though this requires further study. The local gene pool of tigers in Sariska vanished without any genetic study. Now new gene pool is to be introduced in this tiger habitat. This can be manipulated and managed in the interests of the animal. But it seems that this important aspect is being neglected. It appears from newspaper reports that there is a plan to reintroduce about 3 to 5 tigers in Sariska from Ranthambhore. If this is correct, it certainly is not a sound proposal. http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/12/01/news0990.htm 5) BANGALORE: Environmental groups like the Hasire Usiru and the Environment Support Group (ESG) has appealed to the High Court that the empowered committee constituted hear the public's views on road widening work before the Bruhant Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) goes ahead with tree felling for such work.At a protest demonstration on Saturday, members of the two groups noted that the empowered committee which was constituted in June this year has not approved a single road widening project so far, but the BBMP and forest officials have carried on with the works felling trees, removing pavements and so on. It was noted that BBMP has already identified about 91 roads for widening and another 200 are likely to be listed soon. It effectively means many trees will be felled and therefore there is an immediate need to take the general public's view into consideration, they said. The road widening projects are illegal, and are against the provisions of Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act and tree felling in particular is against the provisions of Karnataka Tree Preservation Act, the protesters said. http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Tree-felling:+Greens+see+red\ & artid=x5VgOaf1Smk= & SectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs= & MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI= & SectionNam\ e=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ== & SEO=BBMP,%20Hasire,Usiru 6) As many as 16.2 lakh hectares of forest land in the country are under encroachment, a report from the Ministry of Environment and Forests has said. The Ministry issued guidelines to State/UT Governments to get the encroached land freed from illegal possessors. Assam has highest area, that is almost 3.5 lakh hectare land under encroachment. Andhra Pradesh has 2.93 lakh hectare under illegal occupant and Madhya Pradesh has 2.40 lakh hectare land under encroachment. The Union Territories of Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep and Puducherry do not face this problem. Protection and management of forest areas is primarily the responsibility of concerned State/UT Governments. Forests cover roughly a little over 20 per cent of India's total geographical area and forestry is the second biggest land-use in India after agriculture. According to a World Bank report, if managed properly, forests can yield two billion US dollar per annum by 2020 Over a quarter of the country's poorest people depend on forests for part of their livelihoods. However, due to lack of proper conservation and enforcement, a large part of the country's forests have been degraded, and a large part is under illegal occupation. http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-57069.html 7) Coal mining is set to replace 3,350 hectares (ha), and perhaps more, of reserve forests in Chandrapur district, Maharashtra . This will affect people who are dependent on such forests for everyday needs like firewood. The Centre has given mining leases to three companies, of which Adani Enterprises has got 1,600 ha for its opencast mining project in western Lohara village. Adani recently submitted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for its 140-million-tonne project and is obtaining other clearances. Two local non- profits working on environment and wildlife examined the EIA and alleged that it did not include the project's impact on the nearby Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. The company's plans, they said, had divided Lohara, the only village that would be rehabilitated, and 11 others that don't find a mention in the EIA. The non- profits-Green Planet Society and Eco Pro-listed several irregularities in the EIA and the public hearings on September 11 and November 4. On both occasions the hearings could not be completed because of altercations between project supporters and opponents. Pointing out the flaws in the EIA, the president of Green Planet Society said Adani had underestimated the extent of deforestation. " Adani will require another 1,750 ha for related activities such as dumping, housing, roads, workshop and so on, " said Suresh Chopane, the president of the non-profit. Adani has earmarked 600 ha for dumping, the company's general manager informed those present in one of the failed public hearings. " If this is true, why does the EIA mention that the project has no space for the related activities? " Asked Chopane. Taking into account the requirements of all three pending projects, the total amount of deforestation would be " to the tune of 10,000 ha " , he added. The Adani project may also affect a 10-ha tank in Lohara, which sustains several natural water sources in neighbouring villages and within the Tadoba reserve. The tank is in the mining area of the project, said Durga Kamdi, also of Green Planet Society. She added that mining activities of Western Coalfields Limited had affected the groundwater table in villages close to mining sites. " The Adani project will intensify the water crisis. " http://newsarticlesofchoice.blogspot.com/2008/12/another-singur-in-making.html 8) KOLKATA: If you go for a stroll at Millennium Park, keep an eye out for some strange looking fruits and weeds' on the riverbank. If you notice a strange, sweet smell, it's from the fruits of the chak keora trees, also known as the mangrove apple. And the weed that poke out of the mud are actually the breathing tubes of mangrove trees in the making. The startling fact has amazed marine biologists, wildlife experts and botanists alike. Wildlife expert Pranabesh Sanyal first located nearly 132 such mangrove trees along the banks of the Hooghly, from Akra Santoshpur in South 24-Parganas to Uttarpara. You may call it sweet retribution of nature against urban sprawl. Mangrove trees, which grow only in the high-salt, low-oxygen soil of the Sunderbans, are sprouting new life on the banks of the Hooghly in Kolkata. And the now-rare Sundari tree may find new life and a new home. " I chanced upon the mangrove trees on the bank adjacent to Millennium Park a few months ago. I was thrilled. It was found to be Sonaritia casualaris or chak keora. I asked people of Sea Explorers' Institute to make a survey. They located at least 132 such trees of four species. Most of them are young, except the one near Millennium Park, which is five to six years old, " said Sanyal. The growth of mangroves is a sign of increasing salinity in the Hooghly. This may pose a distant danger for the city. " But it can do immense good to the soil and environment. Mangrove trees can absorb more carbon dioxide than other trees and stop soil erosion. The mangroves on the bank of the Hooghly must be preserved, " Sanyal added. Botanical Survey of India's deputy director and principal investigator of the Lead Institute, Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, Dr H S Debnath was equally excited by the presence of mangrove trees in Kolkata. " Mangroves grow at the confluence of sweet and saline water. So there must be alarming increase of salinity in the Hooghly. During our study in Sunderbans, we found 28 parts per thousand at the river mouth. This is happening because the natural flow is being disturbed with people building bandhs (embankments) for aqua culture. " " This is a great opportunity to breathe fresh life into the sundari (Heritiera fomes) tree, which gave the Sunderbans its name but is now almost lost due to the rising salinity. Trees like golpara (Nypa fruitiacans) can also be revived, " said Dr Debnath. http://www.mangroveactionproject.org/news/current_headlines/mangroves-sprout-in-\ kolkata Bhutan: 9) Economists have come to this Himalayan kingdom to study a unique economic policy called Gross National Happiness, based on Buddhist principles. When considering economic development, policymakers here take into account respect for all living things, nature, community participation and the need for balance between work, sleep and reflection or meditation. " Happiness is very serious business, " Bhutan Prime Minister Jigme Thinley said. " The dogma of limitless productivity and growth in a finite world is unsustainable and unfair for future generations. " From his ornate pedestal at the 4th annual Gross National Happiness conference last week, Thinley said it is common knowledge in Buddhism that every creation requires destruction. " New thoughts and ideas emerge from chaos and devastation, " he said. " If Gross National Happiness (is to) be the new order, the old (order) certainly seems to be giving way. " Gross National Happiness, or GNH, evolved over centuries in Bhutan but was launched formally in 1972 as an economic alternative by then-King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. At the time, he was criticized for overseeing the stagnation of one of the world's smallest economies based mainly on agriculture and forestry. As a result, the former king shifted focus of development from productivity to human well-being in four areas: sustainable economic development, preservation and promotion of cultural values, conservation of the environment, and good governance. http://www.truthout.org/120508LA Nepal: 10) More than 40 representatives from global conservation organisations in 15 countries met at Dhulikhel near Kathmandu, Nepal, to create a framework for better management of mountain transboundary protected areas, especially through development of connecting corridors which will provide better opportunities for adaptation and response to climate change. Climate change, globalisation and overexploitation, population growth and others are leading to an alarming loss of biodiversity and habitats in mountain areas across the globe. The world's people rely heavily on the freshwater, resources, and goods and services that mountains provide, services that are increasingly threatened. Protected areas can play an important role in combating the loss of biodiversity and habitats, but many of the existing areas are relatively small and isolated from one another and, especially in mountain areas, may be separated by international boundaries. They do not provide the connectivity needed to enable animals and plants to migrate and adapt to changing conditions. Now global initiatives like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are tackling this problem by encouraging development of 'conservation corridors' to form large-scale landscape systems of interconnected protected areas across boundaries, and encouraging countries to develop effective landscape management approaches to help reduce biodiversity loss. IUCN (the International Union for Conservation of Nature), ICIMOD (the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development), and WWF Nepal organised a workshop on mountain protected areas and connectivity conservation in Dhulikhel near Kathmandu, Nepal from November 10 to 14, 2008, with some 40 experts from all over the world to discuss the conservation corridor approach. As explained by Dr Graeme Worboys, Vice Chair of IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas (Mountains Biome), the principal purpose of the workshop was to facilitate the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA), and in particular its targets for transboundary protected areas and for connectivity conservation. http://www.icimod.org Bangladesh: 11) Environmentalists at a roundtable called on the government to formulate a separate policy to protect forests, saying that the forests are being destroyed in the name of development. They also said that forests in Jafflong, Lawachhara, Naharpunji and Madhab Kunda, where a huge number of indigenous people have been living, are now under threat of destruction from illegal logging. Adivasi Paribesh Rakkha Andolon of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) organised the roundtable in the city on Monday. The speakers said the existence of indigenous people is under threat due to various activities such as survey for gas exploration at Lawachhara in Kamalganj, Moulvibazar, and destruction of forest in Jafflong for lifting of stones. The development activities should be environment-friendly, but a number of organisations are destroying forests and evicting indigenous people in the name of development, they added. The environmentalists also placed a number of demands, including stopping damaging environment in the name of industry, protecting the rights of indigenous people, banning logging at Khashiapunji and hilly forests and cancelling proposed Mourichhra eco-park. Bapa President Prof Muzaffer Ahmad presided over the roundtable while coordinator of Adibashi Paribesh Rokkha Andolon Sharif Jamil presented a keynote paper. Father Simos, Sanjib Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Adibasi Forum, Father Joseph Gomez, AZM Samsul Huda, consultant of FAO, Joyoti F Gomez and Dr Md Abdul Matin also spoke at the roundtable. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=66793 SE Asia: 12) Researchers have linked drought and deforestation in southeast Asia to climate change. Analyzing six years of climate and fire data from satellites, Guido van der Werf and colleagues report that burning of rainforests and peatlands in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea released an average of 128 million tons of carbon (470 million tons of carbon dioxide - CO2) per year between 2000 and 2006. Fire emissions showed highly variability during the period, but were greatest in dry years, such as those that occur during El Niño events. Borneo was the largest source of fire emissions during the period, averaging 74 million tons per year, followed by Sumatra, which showed a doubling in emissions between 2000 and 2006. Both islands are experiencing rapid forest destruction due to logging and conversion to industrial oil palm plantations. Forests are usually logged and then burned to establish plantations. Previously analyses have shown a high correlation between the location of fire hot spots and plantations in both Malaysia and Indonesia. The researchers say their results highlight the importance of including deforestation in future climate agreements. " Deforestation and carbon emissions are substantial and important contributors to the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, " James Randerson, climate scientist at UCI and co-author of the study, said. " We should not neglect this flux in developing comprehensive approaches for stabilizing climate. " Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) is indeed under discussion at current climate talks in Poznan, Poland, although the mechanism is being held up due to technical debates and poor coordination among some parties. Globally deforestation accounts for roughly 20 percent of emissions — greater than all the world's cars, trucks, planes, and ships combined. In some years, such 1997-1998 which was marked by a particularly strong Niñ;o event; deforestation and emissions from vegetation burning can account for more than one-third of total anthropogenic emissions. http://boilingspot.blogspot.com/2008/12/drought-and-deforestation-in-southeast.h\ tml Vietnam: 13) A new population of the extremely rare Tonkin snub-nosed monkey, so-called because of its unusual and distinctive up-turned nose, has recently been discovered in a remote forested area of northern Vietnam. The breed was actually believed to be extinct until sightings in the late 1980s; now only around 200 Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys are are left in the world. The primate, scientifically known as Rhinopithecus avunculus, is listed as " critically endangered " on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species. Unique to Vietnam, the species is now known to be present in two of Vietnam's northern-most provinces - Tuyen Quang and Ha Giang. The finding was officially made by Fauna & Flore International (FFI), an organisation working to protect threatened species and ecosystems. FFI set out to discover whether any more populations of the rare monkeys existed. While interviewing communities near the Chinese border last year, it emerged that villagers in the Tung Vai Commune had sighted the strange looking monkeys after seeing rare film footage of them. On the strength of these reports, in April 2008 an FFI-led team of biologists observed 15-20 of the monkeys in the nearby forest, including three infants - an indication that this is a breeding population. The monkeys were located in a small forest patch in Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province, near the Chinese border. Local reports indicate that another - possibly larger - group also exists. Two photographs of one member of the new population has been captured. The fleeting glimpse of an adult male scampering through the trees is the only photographic evidence of Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys in Quan Ba District. The village surveys carried out by FFI in and around Tung Vai were funded by the Flagship Species Fund, a joint initiative between FFI and the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Habitat loss and hunting for the bush meat and traditional medicine trades have been pushing the species to the brink of extinction. This new population provides a slim grain of hope for the future of the snub-nosed monkey, with FFI hoping the finding will focus greater attention on protecting them. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/new-population-of-endangered-mon\ key-found-in-northern-vietnam-1051794.html 14) Rangers discover 860 cases of illegal logging --Forest rangers in the northern province of Bac Can had discovered 860 cases of illegal logging so far this year. The forest rangers confiscated more than 1,100cu.m of wood, including rare woods dinh and nghien (linden), and fined violators over VND3 billion (US$187,500). http://vietnamnewsdaily.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/social-in-brief-712/ 15) HA NOI — The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Forestry Department and the Ministry of Public Security's Environmental Police Department yesterday agreed to co-operate on forestry protection. Ha Cong Tuan, the head of the Forestry Department, said the document to this effect signed by the two sides aimed to prevent, investigate and punish violations of laws to protect forests and preserve natural resources. This was considered an important implementation of international commitments to protect forests and wild animals, said Tuan. The document will take effect nation-wide. Officers of the two departments in each locality will draft out co-operative plans for each situation. http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=09SOC111208 ______ Philippines: 16) A member of the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) of Sagada, Mountain Province, Jaime Dugao, revealed that at least three exploration applications (EXPA), four applications for production sharing agreement (APSA), and five applications for financial and technical assistance agreement are pending at the regional office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural resources (MGB-DENR-CAR). " The applications threaten our communal forests, the rivers, and the sustainable environment in the province which we had nurtured through our indigenous systems, " added Dugao, popularly known as Tigan-o, in a Manila forum last week with the theme " Church leaders-indigenous people's dialogue on traditional knowledge, food security and indigenous people's rights. " The forum was attended mostly by church personalities and was held at the Balay Kalinaw, University of the Philippines in Quezon City. It was sponsored by the Task Force on Indigenous People's Rights, a national network of non-government organizations, church-based and academic institutions advocating for indigenous peoples rights. Based on MGB-CAR documents, the three EXPA cover 8,745 hectares; four APSA cover 11,376 hectares; while the five AFTA cover 222,482 hectares. One EXPA and APSA applications included areas in Kalinga and Ilocos Sur, respectively. The two provinces are neighbors of Mountain province. The AFTA applications also cover areas not only in Mountain province but included areas in the neighboring provinces of Ilocos Sur, Benguet, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya, MGB documents revealed. Dugao said these applications are among several in the region, which all in all cover nearly 70 percent of the Cordillera's 1.8-million hectare land area. http://bulatlat.com/main/2008/11/29/large-scale-mining-threatens-communal-forest\ s-in-mountain-province/ 17) The controversial 25-year forest management contract granted to Timberland Forest Products Inc. (TFPI) covering 36,660 hectares in the Quezon province part of Sierra Madre has been finally revoked by Malacañang. In a Malacañang order dated Oct. 21 and received by the municipal government of Infanta, Quezon on Nov. 25, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita directed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to immediately implement the revocation and cancellation order on the Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) No. 2007-07 issued to TFPI. The company is owned by Bulacan-based logger Wilson Ng. " The cancellation of TFPI's IFMA would surely enhance the government's effort in protecting and conserving our forest resources in that part of the country, " Ermita said in his order, a copy of which was obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net). Citing Section 20 of the Forest Reform Code, which was affirmed by the Supreme Court in a ruling, Malacañang maintained that timber licenses, permits and license agreements are merely evidence of privilege granted by the State to qualified entities but without permanent or irrevocable right to the area. " They may be validly amended, modified, replaced, or rescinded by the Chief Executive when the national interest so requires as in this case, " Ermita explained. Malacañang said the order was also based on a report submitted by the Task Force Sierra Madre citing destructive effects of continuous logging inside the area granted to TFPI. The IFMA was granted on Nov. 12, 2002, during the term of then Environment Secretary Heherson Alvarez. Alvarez's successor, Elisea Gozun, revoked the IFMA on Jan. 13, 2004, saying " fraud, misrepresentation and omission of material facts " surrounded the process by which the DENR granted it. Ironically, the agreement was reinstated by Malacañang on March 4, 2005, four months after flash floods and landslides struck Real, Infanta and General Nakar towns. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20081201-175422/Sier\ ra-Madre-forest-contract-revoked 18) Ms. Perla Visorro, President of the Cagayan Valley Partners in Peoples Development (CAVAPPED) and Chair of the Regional Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee, said accessibility of forest to loggers, poverty, social demand for wood, business opportunism and bureaucratic dysfunction are factors why illegal logging still prevails in region 2. She said the small time Carabao logging before is now a big operation thru the use of trucks or other types of conveyances that enter the forests. Operators also apply river rafting thru the use of styrofoams or floating rubber tires to transport the logs down the valley. " There is no doubt that illegal logging is not the way to sustainable development. Instead, it will retard the development process, destroy the environment, enrich only a few, erode cherished Filipino values and make a mockery of the laws we are supposed to uphold, " Visorro said. Because of this, the members of the Regional Committee on Sustainable Development (RCSD) recommended measures to help fight illegal logging in some areas of Cagayan Valley Region. Visorro said the committee has recommended to all implementing arms the strict enforcement of the law including the Chainsaw Act. The committee also the DENR officials to be more visible in the field and work with transparency in partnership with other stakeholders. Also called for local government units to improve their performance in forest protection, and provide alternative and appropriate livelihood to upland communities. The committee likewise recommended the increase in the budget for forest protection, management and biodiversity conservation. " It is also important for us to take the initiative to conduct reforestation of denuded critical areas, conduct information dissemination and advocacy campaigns, organize advocacy groups or movements, among youths and students to fight illegal logging, " Visorro added http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12 & r= & y= & mo= & fi=p081203.htm & no=43 19) A government policy lifting the total log ban in Caraga and Davao regions in March 2005 may have helped strengthen the communist insurgency in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, the " most problematic " and " most potent " among the NPA-influenced areas nationwide. Col. Allan Luga, commander of the Army's 1001st Infantry Brigade said logging, more than the gold or banana, has been a major source of funds for the Southern Mindanao Regional (Party) Committee (of the Communist Party of the Philippines). Luga said there are seven guerilla fronts with about 450 armed regulars in these areas. Nationwide, the NPA (New People's Army) in these areas is " the biggest " and " the strongest, " he said. " Not Bicol anymore. That was before, " Luga said, adding this is " why my brigade is also the biggest brigade Army-wide. " " They have the most number of people, most number of firearms. Here is where they get most of their resources…. they get a lot of resources here. They get a lot of money here, " he said citing gold mining in Diwalwal, logging and banana plantations. But it is not the gold rush that has been a major source of funds for the NPA, Luga said. Not even the banana plantations which are spread all over. " More from logging actually, " he said. Asked if the lifting of the moratorium on logging contributed to this, Luga replied, " most probably " although he added that " some of them, " referring to the NPA, " are doing illegal logging also. " Ricardo Calderon, regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR) said he does not want to argue with the military as it may have its basis for saying so and they are not privy to it. But Calderon said there's more logging in Caraga. The Davao region, he said, has more plantation species. He said the wood industry's utilization of natural forest is only 11.9% compared with 89.1% of plantation forest. This means that what are being harvested are plantation species like gmelina and falcatta, he explained. http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=5593 & Itemid=5\ 0 Mynamar / Burma: 20) Citing a report available at the Ministry of Forestry, the activist said the country extracted 30 percent of its exportable species from 1990 to 2000, primarily referring to the popular hardwood species teak (tectona grandis) and pyinkadoe (xylia xylocarpa).The study, carried out in 2005, also revealed that more than 780 million cubic meters of the top ten listed valuable species have been extracted within the same period.At least 92.51 million cubic meters of teak and 238.79 million cubic meters of pyinkado were extracted during the period, the report said. " Forests in Burma are losing those quality varieties, leading to a reduction in foreign income and an unbalanced ecosystem in the long run, unless a sustainable program is introduced, " the activist said.The content of valuable species in Burmese forests decreased to 19.51 percent in 2000, from 47.81 percent in 1990, the activist, referring the report, cited.The impoverished Southeast Asian country, according to the activist, earned US$ 578 million from the export of timber and forest products, 22.5 percent of total export earnings, for fiscal year 2007/2008.He added that another major reason for increased deforestation in Burma is the extension of acreage for cultivating crops like jatropha carcus, rubber and edible oil. " People continue to burn down forest to make way for such cultivation, that leads to a changed forest environment, a condition in which rare species of flora and fauna find it hard to survive, " he said.Similarly, U Ohn, a Rangoon-based environmental expert, said deforestation in Burma has been ongoing since World War II and continues today through illegal trade, forest fires, logging and the cutting of wood for coal and domestic use.He said cultivating only one kind of crop or tree also damages the forest and there is a need for more awareness, such as training, on the impact to the environment of deforestation. " Everyone, government, traders and poor people, need to realize the effects of deforestation and how to protect the resources, " U Ohn added. " There should be long-term and short-term plans for replanting trees if they are being cut down for whatever reasons, " he said.He said the quality of forest products is also declining as a result of the decrease in number of good trees and increasing use of lower quality woods. " Since 1990, the top 10 species have decreased to 20 to 50 percent [of their previous levels] while less useful species increased from 50 to 80 percent, " he said, citing 2005 research conducted by the FAO.Additionally, at least 37,800 hectares of forest in and around Rangoon and Irrawaddy Divisions were destroyed during Cyclone Nargis this May, threatening many lives along the coastal region due to mangrove deforestation. " Effective protection on deforestation requires law enforcement, community participation in awareness training and the replanting of trees with the help of foreign countries, " U Ohn articulated.According to him, despite the rampant deforestation – especially among Burma's most valuable hardwood resources – forested land still covers nearly half of Burma's 676,552 square kilometers. http://88gse.blogspot.com/2008/12/burmas-hardwood-disappears-and.html Borneo: 21) Sarawak on the Borneo Island has been known all over the world for its lush, virgin tropical rainforests, one of the three largest undisturbed rainforest blocks remaining worldwide. But the fate of it remaining virgin will be decided by the leader and lawmakers from their respective administrative states, as well as the conglomerate that dictates the global timber industry, such as the lush green group, the three goat company, the three zero company, and the company of the rising sun. At the height of the war of words between the duo, Taib accused Rahman of giving away a whopping 1.25 million hectares of logging concessions worth RM22.5 billion to his family and cronies in his 11 years at the helm. But having terminated the concessions disbursed by his uncle, Taib himself awarded an even bigger portion of the state's resources to his own family and his set of cronies - 1.6 million hectares in total, or about the size of 26 Singapores. The " state-owned " , which simply means owned by the Chief Minister, too - Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) is the organization that takes charge of every little thing that involves timber and wood produced in Sarawak. Truly, Sarawak pride itself in having one of the world's most complete grading system that even the European timber industry is lacking. The grading process covers quality control and making sure that the quality meets the stringent standards and also the requirements of the customers. Timber exporters were required to submit by hand, the grading and summary report produced by timber graders, and the payment of RM1/cubic meter " development " fee to obtain a certificate from the local STIDC office before the timber can be exported. Just a year ago, STIDC took the initiative to go online, in an effort to save time and to keep track of the timber production/export statistics. Timber graders representing the timber exporter can now submit and apply for a grading certificate through their online forms. http://www.alexallied.com/what-the/illegal-logging-in-sarawak Malaysia: 22) In line with the campaign to encourage eco-tourism in Kelantan, Tourism Kelantan has asked the state government to review any plans for logging near the Lebir Forest Reserve. Tourism Kelantan director, Muhammad Zaki Talib, said his agency was actively carrying out promotions to attract foreign and local tourists to visit and appreciate the beauty and greenery of Kelantan. " Kelantan is well known as an eco-tourism destination with the Kuala Koh National Park and the Lebir Forest Reserve. These areas are attractive to those who love nature, tropical forests, observing wildlife and viewing rare plants, " he told Bernama while on a visit to the Sungai Lebir Forest Reserve. There is much objection by the locals and the Department of Environment about logging with both giving their own reasons based on preserving nature, legalities and technicalities. The Kelantan Forestry Department on Nov 5 refuted a report alleging logging was going on in the Lebir Forest Reserve saying that the logging was actually on 60 hectares of state reserve land. Muhammad Zaki said if the logging continued it would to some degree affect the natural balance in the area as it was close to Kuala Koh and the forest reserve. " The river waters nearby may be polluted and the habitats of wildlife disrupted, " he said, adding that this will indirectly affect tourism and also the Batik Orang Asli there who would have to move to other areas. http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=374702 & cat=et 23) While Sarawak is known as the Land of the Hornbills, the Belum Temenggor Forest in Perak is considered the `Nest of the Hornbills'. The ten hornbill species found here are among the many natural treasures in the 130 million year old tropical rain forest that is believed to be far older than the Amazon in South America and Congo in Africa. The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), along with other parties, is playing the guardian role for the protected forest from the destructive forces like development and logging. MNS president Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor noted that since the first expedition in 1993, involving more than 100 scientists and 300 volunteers, numerous new flora and fauna have been found in the forest. Dr Salleh related that in the first expedition, nine hornbill species were identified in Belum-Temenggor. " Once they spotted more than 3,000 hornbills flying in the V formation and it was a spectacular view, " he said. Dr Salleh recalled that at that time the expedition members were unaware that they had mistaken the Wreathed Hornbills for the Plain-pouched Hornbill categorised as an endangered species. " With the discovery of the Plain-pouched Hornbill, thus all the 10 species of hornbills native to Malaysia have been found in Belum-Temenggor, the only place in the world where hornbills can be seen flying in big groups, " he said. The hornbills nest on big trees in the dense jungle covering 300,000 hectares. Among the important finding recorded by MNS is that more than half of the hornbills nesting and breeding in the Royal Belum part often fly into the Temenggor Forest. Located in north of Perak and surrounded by the waters of Tasik Temenggor that covers an area of 45,000 hectares, the Belum-Temenggor Forest Complex covers an area of 300,000 hectares, almost four times the size of Singapore. Other than being the main water catchment area for Peninsular, Belum-Temenggor is also the home for numerous plants where 274 bird species depend on them. Belum-Temenggor is also the home for more than 100 mammal species including the Sumatran Rhinoceros, Malayan Tiger, Sun Bear and, Gaur. The number includes at least 13 species in the endangered list. The forest complex is also the home for three species of giant flowers, the biggest in the world, the Rafflesia Kerrii, Rafflesia Kantolii and a new species Rafflesia Azlanii (named after the Sultan of Perak). On the whole there are more than 3,000 species of flowering plant, 168 butterfly species, 64 fern species, 51 snail species, 23 snake species and 21 lizard species in the Belum-Temenggor forest. http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_features.php?id=374716 24) A banner read: 'Plant trees in Japan. Respect indigenous land rights in Sarawak'. Japan is one of the biggest buyers of Sarawak logs and timber products used mainly in its housing construction sector. As Saturday's tree-planting commenced, 65 villagers armed with banners and posters aired their grouses. They also handed a strongly-worded memorandum to Sabah-based Japanese Consul General Koichi Morita, who was also present.Mulling legal action Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) secretary-general Nicholas Munjah handed the memorandum on behalf of the protestors to Morita. The memorandum stated that local indigenous communities are concerned with the Japanese tree-planting activity that encroaches on their NCR land. " Your activity is in violation of our rights and our freedom of livelihood, " they said. " During the Japanese Occupation of Sarawak our grandfathers gazetted the Apeng Forest Reserve for their descendants and future generations " The indigenous people have been practising good forest management since time immemorial and are the best conservators of their own forests, " they added. Munjah told malaysiakini that they intend to take the matter to court if the tree-planting activity on the NCR land is not stopped. Meanwhile, the Japanese Consul, when contacted, said he was surprised by the protest. " I had no idea it was going to happen. " Morita said he was invited to the ceremony as a guest and that to the best of his knowledge it was not a Japanese government project. " Obviously these are problems that Sarawakians themselves need to resolve, " he said, referring to the NCR land claimants and the state authorities. The project, covering a total of 300 hectares in Balai Ringin and Apeng, involves the planting over a period of 10 years from 2007 of local hard-wood species such as kapur bukat and engkabang jantang which the Japanese say is part of their contribution in dealing with global warming by putting the forest cover back. The idea was initiated by the Japan-Malaysia Association and sponsored by Kinoshita Group, one of Japan's biggest housing construction companies. It is supported by the Sarawak Forestry Department. http://www.wildasia.net/main.cfm?page=msg & messageID=665 25) KUCHING: Sarawak Forestry Corporation is stepping up mass production of genetically improved seeds to meet the growing demand for plantation timber projects. Its managing director Datuk Len Talif Salleh said the state government had targetted to establish one million hectares of planted forest by 2020. " Plantation forest is an alternative sustainable source of timber which will help to relieve pressure on the natural forests. " The government's planted forest project started 11 years ago, targeting to establish a sustainable source to supply the region's timber processors and the state's planned pulp and paper industry, " he added when opening a seed orchard establishment and plus-tree selection workshop in Semenggoh near here recently. Len Talif, also state Planning and Resource Management Ministry's deputy permanent secretary, said seed orchards would help mass produce quality seeds for large-scale plantation programmes. He said the corporation had set up 11 seed production areas statewide. It is producing seeds of priority species like kapur bukit, meranti sarang punai, kelampayan, benuang and even belian on natural stands. The corporation has sourced more than 650 mother trees from different species. http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/11/22/southneast/2592680 & sec=so\ uthneast 26) The largest mangrove area in Johor and second largest in Peninsular Malaysia, the Sungai Pulai Forest Reserve covers 9,126ha and was the first mangrove forest to be gazetted by Johor in 1923. It was listed as a Ramsar Site on Jan 2003 together with Tanjung Piai and Pulau Kukup. An estimated 46% of mangroves in Johor were lost from 1955 to 1998, due to illegal logging, clearing of upland vegetation and land reclamation. The Sungai Pulai Forest Reserve is managed by the state Forestry Department in supplying forest products, especially wood for charcoal making. Efforts at Sungai Pulai include the Save our Seahorses effort which monitor seahorses and seagrasses there. These habitats are currently under threat by a RM2 billion 2,000 ha petrochemical plant planned upstream of the Sungai Pulai estuary, to supply new manufacturing concerns anticipated for southern Johor. http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2008/11/sungai-pulai-mangroves-featured-in-new.ht\ ml 27) Two books on the flora and fauna found in the forests of Malaysia provide a spectacular and colourful insight of nature in all its glory, and a reminder to conserve these national treasures. Unlikely as it seems, the muddy, mosquito-infested jungle is just where these beauties go to hide. From rainbow-hued kingfishers to giant bats and exotic orchids, a host of nature's greatest and most gorgeous brighten up the thousands of hectares of drab grey-green swamps that dot the country. And they are featured in all their glory in two publications that are a result of a joint project between the United Nations Development Programme/Global Environment Fund project and the Forest Research Insitute of Malaysia, in several peat swamp forests here. " Orchids of Peat Swamp Forests in Peninsular Malaysia " detail the species found in peat swamp forests in four states. It was proposed after a surprisingly rich find during a 2004 scientific expedition to the Sungau Bebar forest in Pahang — 51 species, including some more commonly found in highland areas and two species of Vanilla. The orchid family consists of 30,000 species worldwide with Malaysia accounting for three per cent of that. The book by Rusea Go and Khali Aziz Hamzah features several of these newfound beauties, details their history, diversity, traditional uses and the threats they face. The other stars of the peat swamp forests are featured in " Birds and Bats of Loagan Bunut National Park. " Authored by conservationist Dr Melvin Gumal, birder and bat biologist Jason Hon and naturalist Daniel Kong, it focuses on one of Sarawak's last large swathes of peat swamp forests — the Loagan Bunit National Park. The park that covers over 100,000 ha is home to Sarawak's largest freshwater lake, over a hundred species of bird and 36 species of bats, including the world's largest — the large flying fox. A real heavyweight champion that weighs one kilogramme and boasts a wingspan of one metre, the large flying fox roots in big numbers in the park. One of the major attractions of the park is the mass emergence of this species in the evening, flying low over the lake and park quarters to feed in forests elsewhere. Apart from illustrations in full colour as well as close-up photos of these winged stunners, the book also advises how people can help conserve these natural treasures. http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Focus/20081129212103/Article/index\ _html 28) Sarawak will reward informants of illegal logging. Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud wants a fund to be set next year. " The move will encourage villagers, especially those living in and near forest areas, to report to the authorities of any intrusion into state forests. " Our timber resources must be protected at all cost, " said Taib, who is also Sarawak Forestry Corporation Chairman. He called on corporation officers to work closely with the Penans and other tribes to be guardians of the forests. " (But) we have to identify who are our friends and our enemies (among them). the corporation should also upgrade its log tracking system to separate the illegally sourced logs from the ones harvested with permission. " Adding that Sarawak was a model in sustainable forest management, Taib said it had to step up the development of planted forests to relieve the pressure of sourcing timber from its permanent forest estates (PFEs). " My worry is that we are a bit slow to achieve the target of planted forests. " He indicated the State Government was prepared to look for funds to finance planted forest projects, and that it may even take over such development initiated by the federal authorities. Taib said the state has decided to convert 20pc of its forest areas to planted forests, with the target of developing one million hectares of forest plantations by 2020. He said with fast growing timber species, the one million hectares planted forests could yield 15 million cubic metres of wood a year. Sarawak now harvests some 11 million cu m of timber a year, including some 9.2 million cu m from PFEs. More than half of the log production is reserved for the local timber processing mills. Meanwhile Sarawak's log tracking system will be extended to cover all regions from January. Sarawak Forestry Corporation Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Dr Yusoff Hanifah said Sibu was the only region implementing the system now. He said the extension of the tracking system was made possible with the implementation of Forest Net - a wide area network which serves the Forest Department, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, state Planning and Resource Management Ministry, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC), state-owned Harwood Timber, state Treasury and other stakeholders. http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=61374 29) " The government has undertaken the Forest Plantation Development Programme, where a total of 375,000 hectares of forest plantations would be established over a 15-year period, " he said at the Natural Fibre Composites seminar here. Chin said the area is expected to yield an additional five million cubic metres of timber a year at the end of the 15 year-period. However, he said the forest plantation initiative alone would not meet the requirements of the timber industry which at the moment has a total installed capacity of 32 million cubic metres. " The government has begun to look at the vast potential which exists in the utilisation of agricultural residues as an alternate resource for the timber processing industry, " he added. Given this rich agriculture resource, the timber industry has actively explored the use of fibre resources such as oil palm trunks, kenaf and other agricultural crops such as cocoa, coconut, sago and sugar cane. He said oil palm bio-mass materials have been used in the production of pulp and paper as well as panels such as fibreboard and plywood. " In addition, oil palm trunks are also being processed into solid lumber to be made into furniture and other timber products, " he said. Chin added, to support the bio-composite industry, his Ministry had set up a Fibre and Bio-Composite Development Centre to assist the industry to adopt the usage of natural fibre materials in commercial production. http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=376047 30) Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby has earmarked more than $7 million to restore a rain forest, home to the largest population of orangutans on Borneo. The donation followed a call from the Malaysian government for contributions from companies to help rehabilitate the severely damaged forests in the northern state of Sabah. The state, on Borneo island, has seen widespread logging. Sime Darby will spend $7.2 million over 10 years in the Ulu Segama Malua Forest Reserve. The money will be spent on replanting and securing a home for up to 500 orangutans across 5,400 hectares. Sime Darby, which operates oil palm plantations, says the endowment represents good corporate governance. " This also shows the government commitment and seriousness about conservation, especially our very endangered species like the orangutan, " says Musa Aman, Sabah's chief minister. More contributions for the Ulu Segama project have been promised from British department store chain Marks and Spencer, the WWF environmental group, and the Leaf Organization, which is dedicated to environmentally friendly and sustainable farming. Sabah has won international praise for the way it has managed its rain forests. This is in contrast to the devastation wreaked on the jungles of neighboring Kalimantan in Indonesia, where forests are cut down to clear land for growing palm oil or for timber. http://chinaconfidential.blogspot.com/2008/12/sime-darby-commits-7-million-to-ra\ in.html 31) The orangutan and other endangered wildlife are making their presence felt at the Ulu Segama and Malua commercial forest reserves almost a year after the Sabah government slammed the brakes on logging at the two sites, giving up billions in potential revenue from timber. Sabah Forestry Department director Datuk Sam Mannan said that forests at the reserves were starting to look better, a signal that the government had taken the correct step when it announced to the world that it would halt logging at Ulu Segama and Malua, which collectively are almost four times the size of Singapore. " The forest itself is looking better and we see animals more often now. We see tembadau (wild cattle) and orang utan, " he said. Sabah had in March 2006 said it would stop logging by Dec 31 last year at the two forest reserves due to the high concentration of wildlife. There are an estimated 4,500 orang utan at Ulu Segama and Malua, almost half of that found in Sabah. Mannan was speaking after signing a memorandum of agreement with Sime Darby Berhad group chief sustainability officer Puvan Selvanathan for the restoration of degraded forests on a 5,400ha site in the northern part of the Ulu Segama forest reserve. Sime Darby has pledged RM25 million to restore the habitat of the orang utan by planting indigenous tree species and developing environmental awareness programmes and exchange knowledge to improve wildlife conservation efforts. " Sime Darby has given us the biggest-ever endowment from outside the government to restore orang utan habitats degraded by years of bad logging practices, multiple forest fires and the threat of encroachments, " he said. http://redapes.org/news-updates/sabah-more-orangutans-seen-since-logging-ban/ 32) One of the first actions the government took when Highland Towers collapsed in 1993, killing 48 people, was to announce a ban on hillside development. The Federal Court in the Highland Towers tragedy noted the same cause and effect, saying " an extensive area of land was denuded of trees and water flowed over this area carrying eroded soil, silt. These caused or contributed to the collapse of Block 1 of the Highland Towers. " Today the government announced another ban on hillside development following the tragedy in Bukit Antarabangsa where at least four people are dead, many injured and nearly 5,000 evacuated and a large upscale housing area declared a disaster zone. This latest tragedy happened about a kilometre from the Highland Towers disaster that struck 15 years ago almost to the day. In between the intervening years hillside development has been taking place and at an alarming rate despite the tragedies. Every November/December when heavy rains start, landslides happen and policymakers usually passed off the tragedies as an " act of God " . The forgotten lessons of the the Highland Towers tragedy, if complied with, would have saved many lives. " A hill is a holistic structure… you cannot develop one side and ignore the other sides. Geologically, everything is inter-connected on a hill, " he said. The shocking part of the Highland Towers tragedy is that local councils were absolved for their failures and held not liable for losses suffered by anyone should a building collapse. http://forestexplorers.blogspot.com/2008/12/ban-hillside-development-talk-only-o\ f.html 33) Health In Harmony wins mongabay.com's annual " Innovation in Conservation " award for its work to link conservation to rural healthcare. Mongabay.com's " Innovation in Conservation Award " is granted each year to an organization using an unconventional and highly effective approach to conserving rainforests and biodiversity. Health In Harmony [donate] was today awarded mongabay.com's annual " Innovation in Conservation " award for its unique approach to conservation which combats illegal logging by providing healthcare and sustainable livelihoods to communities living around Gunung Palung National Park in Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo. The award includes a cash grant and prominent placement on the mongabay.com web site and newsletter for the month of December. " Health In Harmony is delighted to receive this award! " said Brita Johnson, Executive of Health In Harmony. " Our work to preserve forests and protect human health in Indonesia is rooted in a belief that human and environmental well-being are inextricably linked - and our success is the product of unique partnerships. We're honored by mongabay.com's support and partnership, in the form of the Innovation in Conservation Award, and we're grateful for mongabay.com's work to spread the word about rainforest conservation issues. " Located in West Kalimantan, the 90,000-hectare Gunung Palung is comprised of diverse array of habitats including mangrove forests, peat swamps, montane forests, and lowland Dipterocarp forests, a type of forest that is increasingly rare in Borneo due to industrial logging and conversion to oil palm plantations. It is one of the few places on Earth where orangutans can still be observed in the wild. But Gunung Palung has barely escaped the fate of other Bornean lowland forests. Illegal logging, encroachment, and escaped agricultural fires from neighboring plantations continue to chew away at its edges (including nearly 40 percent of its lowland area) and much of the reserve's buffer zone has now been destroyed. Gunung Palung is increasingly an island in a deforested landscape. http://news.mongabay.com/2008/1208-interview_kinari_award.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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