The International Forest List Weekly News Digest - August 03, 2024
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“Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all - the apathy of human beings.” - Helen Keller
'National forests are not national parks': Logging debate in Whites divides forestry experts, environmentalists
The Liberty Trail on Mt. Chocorua is one of the most popular hiking paths in the White Mountain National Forest. The trail, flanked by thick woods, laces through the Sandwich Range, a swath of public land along the forest’s southeastern ridge that’s beloved by…
https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2024-07-26/national-forests-are-not-national-parks-logging-debate-in-whites-divides-forestry-experts-environmentalists
The Fire Hub | Connecting the global fire community
Each year, approximately 340-370 million hectares of land are affected by wildland fires. To address this challenge, it is essential to shift from reactive responses to proactive, prevention-focused measures through integrated fire management…
https://www.fao.org/forestry/committee-on-forestry/world-forest-week-side-events/the-fire-hub/en
Drones One of Five Key Innovations to Protect Forests from Increasing Wildfire and Pest Threats
Climate change is significantly increasing the vulnerability of the world’s forests to stressors such as wildfires and pests, according to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Released at the 27th session of…
https://dronelife.com/2024/07/25/drones-are-a-key-tool-to-protect-forests-the-fao-report/
Tech Today: Remote Sensing Technology Fights Forest Fires
It’s not easy to predict the path of forest fires—a lot depends on constantly changing factors like wind. But it is crucial to be as accurate as possible because the lives, homes, and businesses of the tens of thousands of people living and working in fire-prone areas…
https://www.nasa.gov/general/tech-today-remote-sensing-technology-fights-forest-fires/
FAO Forestry Roadmap seeks innovative solutions to global challenges
A new roadmap guiding the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on forests was endorsed on Wednesday by members at the 27th Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO 27) in Rome…
https://www.fao.org/forestry/newsroom/news-detail/fao-forestry-roadmap-seeks-innovative-solutions-to-global-challenges/en
Accelerating innovation for forest data transparency
This event will highlight the role of technical innovation and novel capacity development approaches in enabling country participation in the implementation of Article 13 Enhanced Transparency Framework of the Paris Agreement…
https://www.fao.org/forestry/committee-on-forestry/world-forest-week-side-events/forest-data-transparency/en
Climate change tips and tools for forest landowners
Climate change is expected to impact forests on a global scale, but there are new tips and tools for public and private forest managers to plan ahead, thanks to efforts from the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, a multi-partner institution led by the USDA…
https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/features/climate-change-tips-and-tools-forest-landowners
A Summary of the Global Forest Industry: 1H2024
The first half of 2024 proved to be a dynamic period for the global forest industry. Many shifts, fluctuations, and emerging trends have formed the industry's landscape. Timber markets, lumber markets, wood fiber markets, and biomass markets each contribute…
https://www.resourcewise.com/forest-products-blog/a-summary-of-the-global-forest-industry-1h2024
Keeping Pace with the Forest Products Market: A Close Look at Finland's Forestry Update
The forest products market worldwide is anything but stagnant. With various factors such as weather conditions, policy changes, and global demand constantly tipping the scale, anyone involved in this sector must stay current with the latest developments…
https://www.resourcewise.com/forest-products-blog/keeping-pace-with-the-forest-products-market-a-close-look-at-finlands-forestry-update-for-june-2024
Jasper town fires extinguished, Canadian officials defend forest management practices
Parks Canada, the federal agency managing the country's national parks, on Monday rejected criticism that it left the town of Jasper vulnerable to wildfires by not removing more trees killed by decades of mountain pine beetle infestation…
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/jasper-town-fires-extinguished-canadian-officials-defend-forest-management-2024-07-29/
COFO 27 Innovates for Forests
The 27th session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO 27) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) broadened the discussion on forests to encompass the need to engage in more cross-sectoral and cross-committee work to ensure forests’ role in…
https://sdg.iisd.org/news/cofo-27-innovates-for-forests/
Forestry Australia Proposes Expanding Carbon Credits to Native Forests to Help Meet Targets
Forestry Australia is leading an initiative to expand Australia’s carbon credits across all native forest tenures, including state forests, private native forests, forests managed by Traditional Owners, national parks, and conservation reserves. Forestry Australia is an…
https://getfea.com/international-markets/forestry-australia-proposes-expanding-carbon-credits-to-native-forests-to-help-meet-targets
World's forests failed to curb 2023 climate emissions, study finds
Forests and other land ecosystems failed to curb climate change in 2023 as intense drought in the Amazon rainforest and record wildfires in Canada hampered their natural ability to absorb carbon dioxide, according to a study presented on Monday…
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/worlds-forests-failed-curb-2023-climate-emissions-study-finds-2024-07-29/
Massive sinkholes in China hold 'heavenly' forests with plants adapted for harsh life underground
Plants growing at the bottom of giant sinkholes in China are so awash in nutrients, they grow faster than their surface-dwelling counterparts, all while using less of a fundamental building block, a new study finds…
https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/plants/massive-sinkholes-in-china-hold-heavenly-forests-with-plants-adapted-for-harsh-life-underground
Tropical forests use CO₂ as fertilizer but are limited by phosphorus availability
Tropical forests store approximately 72% of the global forest biomass carbon and contribute about one-third of the global net primary productivity (NPP). The CO2 fertilization effect, which enhances CO2 concentrations in leaves and boosts plants…
https://phys.org/news/2024-07-tropical-forests-fertilizer-limited-phosphorus.html
EUDR Preparedness Check for the Coffee and Commercial Forestry Sectors in Viet Nam
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department of Forestry (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) organized a workshop on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Preparedness Check for the Coffee and Commercial…
https://www.undp.org/vietnam/press-releases/eudr-preparedness-check-coffee-and-commercial-forestry-sectors-viet-nam
Europe's trial by fire: Risk of forest fires continues to rise
A team of researchers from the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center Frankfurt (SBiK-F) and from partner organizations of the joint EU project "FirEUrisk" has investigated the development of forest fire risk in Europe in the coming decades and…
https://phys.org/news/2024-07-europe-trial-forest.html
Conservationists need to pay more attention to 'degraded' tropical forests
Conservationists have typically focused on pristine tropical rainforests, or those thought to have been relatively untouched by human disturbance. But as these regions are getting rarer, focus is turning to other types of habitat that might still have conservation value…
https://phys.org/news/2024-08-conservationists-pay-attention-degraded-tropical.html
Working with Fiji's coastal communities to protect vital mangrove forests
Mangroves—remarkable trees that grow along ocean coasts around the world—serve many functions for people and nature. In Fiji, their importance is unmatched. Fijian communities rely on mangroves for traditional medicine, protection from storms and…
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/working-with-fiji-s-coastal-communities-to-protect-vital-mangrove-forests
South Sumatran villagers opt for the riches of mangrove restoration
In 2022, Abdullah—chief of the Community Village Forest Management Institution (LDPHD) for Sungsang IV village in South Sumatra, Indonesia—was approached by a businessman from a neighbouring village with a controversial offer…
https://forestsnews.cifor.org/88825/south-sumatran-villagers-opt-for-the-riches-of-mangrove-restoration?fnl=
Why Mangroves Are Making Waves: A Deep Dive
Imagine stepping into a world where the land meets the sea, and twisted roots rise from waters like natural sculptures to create thriving ecosystems. These are mangroves, unique coastal forests found from the shimmering shores of Southeast Asia to the vast…
https://www.birdlife.org/news/2024/07/25/why-mangroves-are-making-waves-a-deep-dive/
Roots and refuge: the year’s best mangrove images – in pictures
From an unexpected glimpse of a silky anteater to a tagged terrapin, here is a selection of this year’s winning, runner-up and commended images from the 2024 Mangrove photography awards, run by the Mangrove Action Project…
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2024/jul/26/roots-and-refuge-the-years-best-mangrove-images-in-pictures
In Ecuador, a ‘milestone’ effort to protect mangroves — and people
Once underappreciated, mangroves are having a moment. From global initiatives to community-led efforts, work to conserve these climate superstars is gaining traction. Now, a landmark US$ 45.9 million project aims to give Ecuador’s degraded mangroves a new…
https://www.conservation.org/blog/in-ecuador-a-milestone-effort-to-protect-mangroves-and-people
Emotive image of young climate refugee wins 2024 Mangrove Photography Award
Mangrove forests are said to be one of Earth’s climate change ‘canaries’. In other words, it’s a fragile yet rich ecosystem that is on the front line of impact from global warming and extreme weather phenomena. Supratim Bhattacharjee from India won the 2024…
https://www.diyphotography.net/emotive-image-of-young-climate-refugee-wins-2024-mangrove-photography-award/
Leading the way: Gulf countries' efforts in mangrove restoration
On the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, we delve into the vital importance of mangroves. These unique coastal ecosystems provide critical habitats for a myriad of marine and terrestrial wildlife. They play a vital role in coastal…
https://www.fao.org/neareast/news/blog/greening-agriculture--water-scarcity-and-climate-action/2024/07/25/leading-the-way--gulf-countries'-efforts-in-mangrove-restoration/en
New manual aims to improve accuracy of mangrove monitoring
A new manual, produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), aims to help governments to gather far more accurate information on mangroves to better inform decisions on coastal land use and…
https://www.fao.org/forestry/newsroom/news-detail/new-manual-aims-to-improve-accuracy-of-mangrove-monitoring/en
Mangrove restoration project unveils income-generating opportunities in Kenya
At Tudor Creek in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, local community members have committed to restoring mangroves, an eye-opener initiative that is creating lucrative income ideas…
https://www.ecns.cn/news/society/2024-08-01/detail-iheeumea4571258.shtml
China, Indonesia collaborate on mangrove protection project along Indonesian coastline
An aerial drone photo taken on July 15, 2024 shows a view of mangrove forests in the coastal area near "Java 7" project in Serang, Banten province, Indonesia. The large areas of mangroves along the Indonesian coastline play an important role in purifying seawater…
https://english.news.cn/20240726/347e1a8295694be68026ed7ab13aa8a3/c.html
Saudi Arabia ramps up efforts to protect mangrove forests
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification are increasing their efforts to protect the Kingdom’s mangrove forests…
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2559721/saudi-arabia
Drones to the rescue. A technological revolution in mangrove conservation
Although they occupy only 1 percent. of all rainforests, mangroves are crucial to protecting coastal ecosystems. As natural barriers, they protect coastlines from erosion and extreme weather events. Will an Abu Dhabi-based project that uses drones to plant mangroves…
https://wodnesprawy.pl/en/drones-to-the-rescue-a-technological-revolution-in-mangrove-conservation/
WWF says housing schemes, uplift projects destroying mangroves forests in southern Pakistan
A leading international organization focusing on environmental research and conservation said on Friday mangrove forests in Pakistan’s southern metropolis of Karachi, which shield the city from climate-induced disasters, face a significant threat due to the unchecked…
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2557166/pakistan
World Mangrove Day: Reports advocate more initiatives to stem degradation
Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the 2024 World Mangrove Day on July 26 to raise awareness on the importance of mangrove ecosystems and promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and utilisation…
https://dailytrust.com/world-mangrove-day-reports-advocate-more-initiatives-to-stem-degradation/
Fire for forests – a lesson in community led conservation
The forests of Zambia are vital to people, wildlife, and the environment. Local communities are on the forefront of protecting this invaluable resource and helping curb illegal activities and wildfires…
https://wwf.panda.org/?11790441/Fire-for-forests--a-lesson-in-community-led-conservation
USDA backs research into making sustainable jet fuel and fish feed from wood
Millions of pounds of low-value wood, such as small diameter trees and branches, have been left behind in Maine’s forests due to the decline in pulp and paper production, stymied by drought, fire suppression and dropping demand. While there are very few…
https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2024/08/02/usda-backs-research-into-making-sustainable-jet-fuel-and-fish-feed-from-wood/
Restoring the iconic American chestnut
American chestnut once spanned more than 200 million acres from Maine to Georgia and as far west as the Mississippi River. Exotic pests from Asia, notably the chestnut blight, decimated it about 100 years ago. Today, The American Chestnut Foundation is working…
https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/delivering-mission/sustain/restoring-iconic-american-chestnut
Nepal’s once-thriving community forests face existential crisis
For the past few years, Harkamati Karki, the president of Parshuram Bangat Women Community Forest in Nepal’s western province of Sudurpashchim has been struggling to raise funds. “Due to financial constraints, we are unable to renew our action plan…
https://dialogue.earth/en/forests/nepals-once-thriving-community-forests-face-existential-crisis/
Vietnamese, Lao provinces reinforce ties in forest management, protection
The forest protection bodies of Vietnam’s central province of Thua Thien - Hue and Laos’s southern province of Sekong have signed a cooperation deal to promote forest management and protection, natural resource conservation, and forest produce…
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnamese-lao-provinces-reinforce-ties-in-forest-management-protection-post291257.vnp
Global forestry event draws NASA to NZ
A global forestry event is attracting experts from NASA and remote sensing specialists from nearly 30 countries to Rotorua next month. Crown Research Institute Scion is hosting ForestSAT 2024, an international conference on the application of remote sensing…
https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/technology/global-forestry-event-draws-nasa-to-nz/
Can High-Altitude Balloons Help Fight Wildfires?
In the past decade, wildfires have transformed from seasonal threats to year-round disasters across the United States, displacing and killing thousands of people, polluting the air and destroying wildlife habitats that will take years to recover…
https://news.chapman.edu/2024/08/01/can-high-altitude-balloons-help-fight-wildfires/
Development of a multidecadal land reanalysis over High Mountain Asia
Anthropogenic and climatic changes affect the water and energy cycles in High Mountain Asia (HMA), home to over two billion people and the largest reservoirs of freshwater outside the polar zone. Despite their significant importance for water management…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-024-03643-z
Regional Climate Analysis: Horn Of Africa - Integration of remote sensing into intersectoral assessments across the Horn of Africa arid zone
Climate-related shocks are increasingly impacting communities in crisis-affected areas around the world. The rising frequency and severity of phenomena such as flooding, drought and extreme heat, intensified by climate change, are further undermining the…
https://reliefweb.int/report/ethiopia/regional-climate-analysis-horn-africa-integration-remote-sensing-intersectoral-assessments-across-horn-africa-arid-zone-july-2024
A global annual fractional tree cover dataset during 2000–2021 generated from realigned MODIS seasonal data
Fractional tree cover facilitates the depiction of forest density and its changes. However, it remains challenging to estimate tree cover from satellite data, leading to substantial uncertainties in forest cover changes analysis. This paper generated a global annual…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-024-03671-9
Temporal variation characteristics in the association between climate and vegetation in Northwest China
Northwest China has undergone notable alterations in climate and vegetation growth in recent decades. Nevertheless, uncertainties persist concerning the response of different vegetation types to climate change and the underlying mechanisms. This study utilized…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-68066-7
Surrounding cities with trees may bring down urban heat
A reduction in temperature of 0.5C may not sound much but with cities getting hotter as the climate warms it could save the lives of elderly people and young children. The urban heat island effect, which raises temperatures in cities by 2-3C because the sun’s rays…
https://www.theguardian.com/news/article/2024/aug/02/surrounding-cities-trees-bring-down-urban-heat
Indigenous Australians want a seat at the table when it comes to conservation. Here’s how we might get there
Globally, many Indigenous people want to help protect their traditional lands and waters, drawing on knowledge stretching back millenia. Indigenous people have an obligation to look after species and habitats that are culturally important to them…
https://theconversation.com/indigenous-australians-want-a-seat-at-the-table-when-it-comes-to-conservation-heres-how-we-might-get-there-235954
Bacteria and plants could help clean up toxic waste from gold mines – South African study
Highly toxic metals are leaking out of nine abandoned mines in Krugersdorp, 32km west of Johannesburg, South Africa. The metals include uranium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury. This acid mine drainage – when water mixes with heavy metals in mines…
https://theconversation.com/bacteria-and-plants-could-help-clean-up-toxic-waste-from-gold-mines-south-african-study-234928
A Lawsuit Promises Justice for Rio Tinto’s Mining Disaster in Bougainville. Some Say It’s Nothing But a Cash Grab
The Panguna mine made a fortune but left war and pollution in its wake. A new lawsuit backed by anonymous investors is now seeking billions in compensation – and raising concerns about who stands to benefit…
https://www.occrp.org/en/37-ccblog/ccblog/18936-a-lawsuit-promises-justice-for-rio-tintos-mining-disaster-in-bougainville-some-say-its-nothing-but-a-cash-grab
Earth Overshoot Day: Humanity burns through planet's yearly resources in 7 months
Humanity has burned through Earth’s annual budget for resources in just over seven months. Known as Earth Overshoot Day, 1 August marks the date on which we’ve used up all the resources that the planet can regenerate in one year…
https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/08/01/earth-overshoot-day-humanity-burns-through-planets-yearly-resources-by-2-august
Reviving Germany's river landscapes
We have been altering river landscapes for hundreds of years for industry, energy, farming and building houses. River courses have been straightened, regulated, diked and deepened across the world…
https://www.dw.com/en/how-restoring-river-landscapes-can-keep-flash-floods-in-check/a-69744328
Andean glacier retreat unprecedented in human civilization, study finds
Recent glacier retreat across the Andes is unprecedented in the history of human civilization, according to a new study published, opens new tab in the Science journal on Thursday. The discovery shocked scientists, who initially planned to study the current…
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/andean-glacier-retreat-unprecedented-human-civilization-study-finds-2024-08-01/
Life and death in the heat. What it feels like when Earth’s temperatures soar to record highs
In the unrelenting heat of Morocco’s Middle Atlas, people were sleeping on rooftops. Hanna Ouhbour needed refuge too, but she was outside a hospital waiting for her diabetic cousin who was in a room without air conditioning…
https://apnews.com/article/heat-global-records-climate-change-65f65adb515de3b7475b8a38ebabf47e
The indigenous community protecting Himalayan sacred cattle in India
The mithun, a sacred cattle species in the Himalayas, is threatened by deforestation and climate change. An indigenous community is building "living fences" to protect this endangered species…
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240725-the-indigenous-community-protecting-himalayan-sacred-cattle-in-india
Compiled by Nelson Wong
IFL Owner