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1. Forests really matter

   Posted on 9:00pm Wednesday 28th Feb 2018

   Nature Ecology & Evolution have published research that shows the enormous value of Earth’s remaining intact forests on several levels: Climate Change Infact forests absorb about 25% of our carbon emissions from all human sources – if we destroy them, there will be far more carbon dioxide in the air which a) makes the climate warmer and b) can hardly be good for any of us to breathe in Water availability Intact forests ensure that local and regional weather remains stable, as they generate more rain than cleared forests which reduces the risk of drought. Biodiversity Intact forests have higher numbers of species who are dependent on forests and who have higher functional and genetic diversity Indigenous cultures Intact forests enable many indigenous groups to sustain their livelihoods and cultures Human health The loss of forest compromise the supply of species that millions of people rely on for medicinal purposes, and it drives the spread of many infectious diseases because humans come into closer contact with disease vectors. Professor James Watson of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the University of Queensland says that not all forests are equal and forest conservation should be prioritised on their relative values.  The researchers say we need to act while we still have intact forests left to save, before mankind destroys them all. Global and national environmental strategies must retain the integrity of infact forest, and there must be more efforts to stabilise deforestation frontiers and stimulate restoration. Policy interventions the researchers recommend include; Creating new standard metrics of intactness to raise awareness of the importance of forest quality and help target action to those areas most intact Embedding the intact forests concept in the UN Frameowrk Convention on Climate and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Reports to ensure the Paris Agreement’s commitment includes the protections of intact forests Supporting local and global policies which limit road expansion, regulate hunting, extraction and development on the one hand; and to help secure indigenous communities’ land tenure rights and invest in restoration and protected areas on the other Support efforts which restore and make degraded forests more productive, and conserve the intact systems which are at risk, rather than opening them up to activity We need to start cherishing our forests and caring for them all.  They look after us; we need to look after them.

    

2. New Northern Forest to be planted in the UK

   Posted on 9:00pm Monday 8th Jan 2018

   In January 2018, the UK Government kicked off the year by backing a project to create a new Northern Forest.   The Government will provide £5.7 million to increase tree cover in this area.  The project will cost £500m over 25 years, and the balance will be raised by charity.  The Woodland Trust is leading the scheme with local Community Forests.  The project will see 50 million trees over 25 years.  They will stretch from Liverpool right over to Hull, embracing the major cities of Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Chester and Hull alongside other major towns along the M62 corridor.  Shared from New World 360 According to the Woodland Trust, benefits of this new forest include: Improving air quality in towns and cities Mitigating flood risk in key catchments Supporting the rural economy through tourism, recreation and timber production Connecting people with nature Helping to delivery better health and wellbeing for people by providing access to green spaces Providing a rich habitat for wildlife to thrive Woodland cover is at just 7.6% there, below the UK average of 13%.  The EU has an average of 44%.  Tree planting rates are very low with there being only 700 hectares against the Government’s target of 5,000 hectares a year, so this project should help. However, while it is one thing to create new forest, it is another to destroy ancient woodland which the Government is hell bent on, in part to create room for this ridiculous and incredibly expensive HS2 railway.   If this Government really cared about forests and woodlands, it would stop destroying ancient woodland and stop routing the high-speed train route through them.   Five Community Forests that sit within the proposed areas for the Northern Forest – you can find out more about the Community Forests here.

    

3. Good news from Mexico - 10,000 acres saved thanks to Buy an Acre scheme

   Posted on 7:00pm Tuesday 5th Dec 2017

   There's good news for 10,000 acres in Mexico.  They've been saved by supporters of the World Land Trust. Acre by acre, the supporters and Buy an Acre donors have saved the forest in Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. The World Land Trust and Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda have worked together for 10 years to protect the range of forest habitatws in Sierra Gorda. The area is home to 100 mammal species, including Black Bear, Jaguar, Neotropical Otter and Puma.  It's also home to 339 speices of birds such as Military Macaws and Great Curassow. Protecting the world's forests mean that we will have water, oxygen, climate regulation and beautiful landscapes to enjoy.  We are giving land back to the species who live there. "Walking through the reserves we have made is like travelling back in time, back to when Mexican forests were ruled by the jaguar and filled with species we consider rare today." Roberto Pedraza Rulz, GESG This success is increasing the amount of land within the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve that is actually under private proteciton and management by conservationists.  GESG has focused their attention on the most important and threatened areas to create a network of privately protected areas in the eastern part of the reserve. The success is thanks to the suppoters of Buy an Acre, and grand funding and generous corporate supporters such as Puro Fairtrade Coffee.  And work continues to protect the area.   Sierra Gorda's habitats include Cloud Forests, Conifer Forests, Oak Forests, Tropical Forests and Riparian Forests.  Click here to visit the World Land Trust

    

4. Trees for Life keep planting trees in Scotland :-)

   Posted on 9:00pm Tuesday 31st Oct 2017

   Today, I had an email from the amazing Trees for Life who are based in Scotland. Nine years ago, they bought an estate – the Dundreggan Conservation Estate.   And today’s news is that at the end of this autumn’s planting season, they will have planted 176,965 trees in the Allt Ruadh exclosure at our Dundreggan Conservation Estate.  This means, they say, that any day now, they will surpass 500,000 total trees planted on the estate since they bought it nine years ago. Their Rewilding the Highlands project proposes to deliver an inspiring example of rewilding in the UK.  It is significantly expanding and enhancing the native Caledonian forest habitats on the Dundreggan Conservation Estate, while helping others to begin their own forest restoration initiatives.  It wants to develop the area into one of Scotland’s finest native woodlands, full of wildlife, for generations to come.  Over 3,000 species have been discovered. This will enable opportunities for wildlife watching to grow, fantastic for anyone who loves the outdoors.  You can help by sponsoring an acre, becoming a friend of Dundreggan or even volunteering!  Find out more here

    

5. Schools help rainforest by fundraising

   Posted on 5:00pm Monday 25th Sep 2017

   It's always wonderful to read about schools helping with fundraising towards wildlife and environmental causes. Reading through my copy of the excellent "Rainforest Review 2017" from Rainforest Concern, I was really excited to see a number of schools supporting the charity.   Cake sales, farmer's markets, a raffle and rainforest calendars were just a few of the ways in which young people raised funds for this charity.  The charity reported on 10 schools who did their bit for Rainforest Concern and raised funds - it would be great to see more schools getting involved. One young supporter raised a very impressive £553, which saved 11 acres of rainforest!  And Angharad is only eight years old!  She ran 20 km over 4 weeks.   A big well done to her :-)  There some great teacher resources for schools on Rainforest Concern's website which you can find here, and there are even Amazonas Comics for the children too! It costs £50 to sponsor one acre of rainforest.  If you sponsor an acre, Rainforest Concern will give you a personalised certificate recording your sponsorship and regular updates on their progress.  Your sponsorship will protect many plants and animals who need rainforest to live in.  Click here for more information.