A new report has just been published by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and their Indonesia partner Telapak makes dismal reading as palm oil companies rip off the tribal people of Papua. In one instance highlighted in the report - Clear-Cut Exploitation … Continue reading
One of the world’s leading pulp and paper producers Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) has announced that it is to suspend cutting down natural forests in it pulpwood plantations and concessions from 1st June. The announcement is only for a temporary … Continue reading
Could the Indonesian government be preparing to get tough with the forestry industry in the country? Recent news that the government is to sue 16 logging companies for USD225 Billion seems to indicate that muscles are being flexed. The law suit will be a … Continue reading
A new study has shown that in the forest all trees are not equal when it comes to contributing to ecosystem services such as carbon capture. The study of trees in the Yosemite National Park demonstrated that the largest trees made … Continue reading
England is set to get 12 new wildlife sites following an announcement today by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The new nature reserves is set to cover hundreds of thousands of hectares of both rural and … Continue reading
Tropical hardwoods are highly sought after by furniture makers and rosewoods are among those species most in demand. Behind the luxury furniture or ornaments made from the wood lies a world of international commodity traders, armed shoot-outs, corruption of officials and most … Continue reading
X-ray vans and equipment are normally used in anti-terrorist operations or to tackle smuggling of drugs, weapons and explosives. A few years ago the equipment was large and cumbersome, now it can fit in the back of a small van. … Continue reading
We often think of illegal logging taking place in South America, Asia or Africa. Trees are chopped down for timber or firewood threatening habitats of the local wildlife. Illegal timber thefts and more worryingly chopping down of trees is now happening in the … Continue reading
The Independent Panel on Forestry -set up by the government after it’s disastrous original decision to sell them off to the highest bidder caused uproar – published it’s progress report last week. The full report is due out in the spring of 2012 when it will … Continue reading
A field sports company that damaged Farndale Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the North Yorkshire National Park have been hit with a total of £165,000 in fines and costs at York Crown Court. The company also has it’s … Continue reading
Ragwort is a precious British wild flower that is essential for the survival of the cinnabar moth. Ragwort is an essential food plant for the caterpillar and without it this bright red day-flying moth could be under threat. Sadly, for the moth, ragwort is … Continue reading
The latest land use cover map has just been published. The map is the third in the series and follows on from maps produced in 1990 and 2000. The new map provides a visual representation of habitat types across the … Continue reading
One of the big questions that keep getting raised in relation to tropical forests is will species return when deforested areas are replanted. This so called secondary forest may not be as diverse as the original primary forest. With REDD … Continue reading
Earlier this year a team of scientists from the California Academy of Sciences explored the biodiversity of the Philippines. It was one of the most extensive wildlife surveys ever conducted in the country and ranged from mountain tops to under sea … Continue reading
The UK signed up to show it’s support for the The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing yesterday (25 June 2011). Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, added her signature to that of 11 other European countries who signed yesterday. In total 36 … Continue reading
The fire at Upton Heath in Dorset has devastated a large proportion of this 205 hectare nature reserve overlooking the picturesque Poole Harbour and Corfe Castle. As dampening down continues by the fire service it’s believed that between a third … Continue reading
New research just published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials by a team from Queens University has shown – probably for the first time – that nano particles could prove to be a threat to the environment. Nano particles are … Continue reading
A new interactive map that plots the land use of DR Congo’s forested lands is now online. Anyone can take a look at the map and find out where the logging concessions are, which parts are protected, the nationality of … Continue reading
Better surveying tools and methods has meant that the latest woodland cover for Wales has been increased by an extra 20,000 hectares. Forestry Commission Wales has recently published the findings of one of it’s periodical National Forest Inventories. Woodlands now … Continue reading
The coalition government has demonstrated that it’s new style of open government is working by listening to people. It’s just been announced that there is no need for the full 12 weeks consultation. The public have spoken clearly so plans … Continue reading
