Forestry News
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Interaction between water and forest – challenge to water policies and forest management
Incorporating results from forest hydrology studies in water policies can help avoid uncertainty and confusion caused by the current difficulties in transferring research findings to different countries and regions, varying forest types and species and diverse forest management regimes. In addition, institutional mechanisms to enhance synergies in forests and water administrations are needed at ...
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Impact of protected forest areas: Improving assessment
Designating protected areas is a recognised way of avoiding deforestation and maintaining carbon sinks. But new research shows conventional methods for estimating avoided deforestation are flawed. The study proposes an improved method which may provide more accurate estimates for the effectiveness of protected area networks in reducing deforestation and help shape future conservation policy. ...
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Africa could reduce greenhouse gases, says UN
Although Africa contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sources other than fossil fuels, it could be absorbing more carbon from the atmosphere than it puts back in, according to CarboAfrica, an international research project of 15 institutions from Africa and Europe that includes FAO. Studying wild fires in South Africa's Kruger Park, carbon dioxide flows in the ...
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Frontier forest science for carbon solutions
Under the agreement, a software model referred to as CABALA, which can be used to model forest growth over time, has been licensed to CO2 Australia to assist it in the design and management of tree plantings for use in large greenhouse gas abatement projects. Based on inputs like rainfall, temperature, and data on the particular tree species of interest, CABALA can estimate the amount of carbon ...
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Understanding land use change and US ethanol expansion
Understanding changes in land use—such as deforestation, urbanization and agriculture expansion—is important if society is to properly address the challenges of climate change, utilization of natural resources, and energy production and consumption. However, the intensifying debate over potential indirect land use changes resulting from biofuels expansion is nebulous at best. At worst, it is ...
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Protecting Europe`s forests: the value of standardised guidelines
A network of protected forest areas (PFAs) stretching across Europe plays a major role in conserving a wealth of biodiversity. However, a recent study voices concerns that the full benefits of such areas will not be reaped unless a standardised approach, which uses scientific guidelines, is used to help select forest areas for protection. Poor connections between forest areas, unsuitable ...
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Mitigating the effects of climate change through sustainable forest management
Europe’s forests are growing at the rate of about 360 million cubic metres annually, yet only two-thirds of this growth is being exploited. Given that forests are essential to the global energy balance, the vital role of forests in combatting climate change are among the major issues to be debated at the first-ever European Forest Week, taking place at FAO Headquarters from 20 to 24 October 2008. ...
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Rural development: managing knowledge for sustainability
Sustainable rural development could be improved by paying more attention to the interaction between different types of knowledge, such as local, scientific and political knowledge, according to new research. The interplay of natural, social, economic and human resources also needs to be better understood. Knowledge interaction in rural development needs to meet two different criteria for ...
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Loss of flowering plants: higher risks with non-random extinction
A recent study has shown that among flowering plants, species-loss does not occur randomly, but is clustered in families that contain only a small number of species. This suggests that the impact of biodiversity loss will be greater than previously thought and that resources should be targeted on particular plant families. Genetic relationships between flowering plant species (angiosperms) can ...
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Reduced humidity seriously restricts leaf growth of beech trees
Beech trees are extremely sensitive to drought and are known to be one of the European tree species most at risk from climate change. New research found a dramatic reduction in the leaf growth of young beech trees growing in Central European forests when air conditions were dry, even where there was sufficient moisture in the soil. While previous experiments have shown the damaging effect of ...
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Forest leaders agree on principles for sustainable forestry
International efforts to combat climate change received a boost recently with consensus amongst a diverse group of global forest leaders on a new set of principles dealing with sustainable forestry. A two-day meeting in Washington, organized by The Forests Dialogue (TFD) in conjunction with the World Bank, covered a wide range of issues. These included how to deal with the drivers of ...
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Growth-oriented logging: a new concept in forest management
Deforestation in the tropics has both local and global effects, but conservation remains a major challenge. New research describes a method for measuring tree growth and timber harvesting, which can lead to sustainable management of tropical timber resources. The method tailors cutting cycles according to accurate growth rates of different tree species. Research explored the Mamirauá Sustainable ...
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The realm of earthworms: NASA gets down to the nitty-gritty
When you hear the word 'NASA,' do visions of rocket ships dance in your head? Well think again. From now on, it's 'earthworms.' That's right. Using space technology, NASA is now studying the realm of earthworms, millipedes, and springtails -- the soil beneath your feet -- with a project called OMEGA (Observing Microwave Emissions for Geophysical Applications). Why would an agency whose cosmic ...
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Algae: The New Oil
The Woodlands, Texas – August 7, 2008 – The National Algae Association announces its Algae Commercialization Business Plan, Research, and Networking Forum. Existing algae oil production companies, algae researchers and algaeprenuers will present leading-edge technologies for commercialization of Algae: The “New Oil” on October 23-24, 2008, at The Woodlands Conference Center and Resort in The ...
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Trimble introduces Blue Ox integrated transportation management system for forestry
Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) today introduced the Blue Ox™ system, an integrated transportation management solution for forestry applications. Blue Ox integrates several mobile technologies with real-time data across the forestry supply chain. The system analyzes and processes the data to help timber companies, loggers and trucking firms increase the percentage of loaded miles, take advantage of more ...
By Trimble
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FAO urges farmers to join “Greener” revolution
Some 100 delegates from 36 countries meeting at FAO last week called on farmers to join the ongoing “Greener” revolution represented by a form of farming known as Conservation Agriculture. This farming system, CA for short, aims to help feed the world more sustainably by building up soil ecosystems and reducing unnecessary soil disturbance wherever possible. According to one study, some 20 ...
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Mangroves key to saving lives
The replanting of mangroves on the coasts of the Philippines could help save many of the lives lost in the 20-30 typhoons that hit the islands annually. This is one of the numerous reasons for the ‘urgent need for immediate and massive mangrove replanting’ that J.H. Primavera from the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center and J.M.A. Esteban from De La Salle University, both in the ...
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A new climate for the forest products industry
The forest products sector holds an enormous stake in the coming economy defined by resource constraints, climate change policies, and shifting consumer values. What was once a simple business of turning trees into lumber and paper is now uniquely positioned—or exposed to—political and economic forces that are reshaping regulatory and market landscapes. Less than five percent of the world’s ...
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Unlocking the water held by US forests not so easy, say experts
Can forests, which process nearly two-thirds of the nation’s water supply, be managed to help slake our growing demand for water and avert the worst consequences of climate change? A new report from the National Research Council suggests a need for caution in trying to tap greater water output from forests, and recommends more research and citizen involvement to help protect water quality and ...
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FAO place the spotlight on forest monitoring
With global concern growing over deforestation, loss of carbon stored in forests and the role of forests in climate change, the spotlight has been turned on forest monitoring in a bid to safeguard forests and monitor emissions from deforestation. Earlier this year, countries and FAO reconfirmed their commitment to jointly prepare the next Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA), a comprehensive ...
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