Destruction of Forests In Developing World Is "Out Of Control"

[RestoreGore]

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2355962.ece

By Jerome Taylor

Published: 14 March 2007

Progress in forest management in the industrial world is being overwhelmed by accelerating deforestation in the developing world, a global report from the United Nations has revealed.

Many countries in Europe and North America have been able to reverse centuries of deforestation and even, in some cases, increase their forest cover, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). But the global picture is blighted by uncontrolled felling in poorer countries - home to the majority of the world's forests.

"Many countries have shown the political will to improve forest management by revising policies and legislation and strengthening forestry institutions," said David Harcharik, FAO's assistant director-general. "Increasing attention is being paid to the conservation of soil, water, biological diversity and other environmental values."

But researchers from the FAO, which releases an annual survey of the world's forests, found that enormous tracts are still disappearing from the developing world. "Countries that are facing the most serious challenges in achieving sustainable forest management are those with the highest rates of poverty and civil conflict," said Mr Harcharik.

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Forests in the developing world still suffer from widespread deforestation primarily caused by unregulated slash and burn farming practices and uncontrolled forest fires.

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Disappearing forest cover

* Global forest cover amounts to just under four billion hectares, covering about 30 per cent of the world's land area. From 1990 to 2005, the world lost three per cent of its total forest area - 0.2 per cent a year.

* From 2000 to 2005, 57 countries reported a rise in forest area, and 83 reported a drop. Net loss at 7.3 million hectares a year.

* Ten countries account for 80 per cent of the world's primary forests, of which Indonesia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea and Brazil saw the highest losses in primary forest in the five years to 2005.

[RestoreGore]

1. Photos of Deforestation In The Rainforest

http://travel.mongabay.com/deforestation.html

It breaks your heart.