Rainforest Destruction By Paper-Pulp Companies
In
Sumatra, Indonesia, large areas of rainforest are being destroyed
by paper-pulp companies such as APRIL (Area Pacific Resources
International Holdings Limited) and APP (Asia Pulp & Paper).
Not only are thousands of species threatened with extinction,
particularly the Sumatran tiger, elephant and rhino, but local
communities are being seriously and adversely affected. A
World Bank study estimates that without a change in logging
practices, there will be no more good quality forest left
in Sumatra by the end of this year. Tesso Nilo, the most bio-diverse
lowland forest on the planet is one of APRIL’s logging
sites.
Forests can be managed profitably
in several ways. Logging selected trees instead of clearcutting
for example, allows natural regeneration. Harvesting an area
for fruit can be worth substantially more than the timber
it contains.
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/corporates/
Research Grant For The American Chestnut
The
American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) will receive $250,000
to support research to develop a blight resistant American
chestnut tree to return to the Appalachian forests. The funding
was approved as part of the 2004 Department of the Interior
Appropriations bill. The giant, majestic tree whose summer
canopy of creamy-white flowers stretched from Maine to Florida
and whose large crop of nuts provided plentifully for both
humans and wildlife was destroyed by an Asian fungus (Phytophthora
cinnamomi Rands) first discovered in 1904. By the 1950s,
chestnut blight had finished what the fungus had begun.
Resistance in Asian chestnut
species (particularly the Chinese chestnut) led to hybrid
breeding programs up until the 1960s but they were unsuccessful
in producing the growth required of the American chestnut.
Breeding programs exist today using a backcross method and
successful results indicate that the tree may be available
for reforestation by 2012. However, other pests such as the
chestnut gall wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu) still
threaten the chestnut.
http://www.acf.org
Sudden
Oak Death
Caused by the fungal
pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, this disease has reached epidemic
proportions in certain areas to the USA (the Californian coast
for example). It was initially observed on a tree in the UK
in Nov. 2003 affecting not only Oak but also Beech and Horse
Chestnut. In Feb. 2004, it was observed in Cornwall possibly
spread from nearby rhododendrons but by what is still being
speculated. Encouragingly, there was a 30% reduction in the
number of outbreaks identified in England and Wales during
2004 compared to 2003 owing to the preventative measures taken
by DEFRA.
In Oaks, the disease is identified by a dark sap, red to black
in colour, oozing from the trunk. When this outer bark is
removed, mottled areas of dead and discoloured tissue are
seen. It affects different species in different ways however.
This disease is notifiable. If seen, immediately contact your
local DEFRA
http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ph.htm
http://www.the-tree.org.uk/TreeTalk/4/suddenoakdeath.htm
|
|
Tree Free Paper.
Biotek
SP of Poland have patented a new paper-making method. The
perennial plant Virginia Mallow (Sida Hermaphrodita) with
a cellulose content about that of birch and a growth rate
ten times faster than conifers (imagine that next
to the Lawson’s Cypress) provides paper of quality just
as good as wood. Production costs are also far lower.
http://www.gecko.org.au
Palm Oil Plantations Wipe Out More
Rainforest
Palm
oil plantations in Indonesia have doubled in the last 10 years.
Laws to protect the rainforest they replace are weak and easily
overridden by large influential companies. Palm oil in supermarket
products such as soap, chocolate, cosmetics and muesli for
instance is simply labelled as vegetable oil so the consumer
cannot distinguish it.
Most UK companies exploiting
palm oil are unaware of its origins but could act by ensuring
that they use only the responsibly produced product. Legislation
could prevent companies from exploiting the oil originating
from such regions.
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/corporates/
Expansion Of Taklimakan Desert Halted
By Trees?
The
expansion of the world’s second largest desert of a
size substantially larger than that of Britain: the Taklimakan
in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is successfully being
curbed by massive reforestation. Locals obliged to provide
many days of planting 'gratis' planted more than half a million
trees last year.
Trees which can survive the
scorching summers and freezing winter temperatures include
the jujube tree (Sisiphus spp.), sacsaouls, purple willows
and narrow-leaved oleasters. Local people are now enjoying
better weather and statistics show that sandstorms which averaged
five a year in the 1960s, rising to over 20 during the 1990s
have now fallen to about 11 a year.
http://www.china.org.cn/english/environment/83774.htm
Where Have All The
Willows Gone?
The U.K National
Willows Collections, at Long Ashton Research Station, closed
in March 2003, has been transferred to IACR Rothamsted Experimental
Station from cuttings taken. There are over 200 species and
hybrids and about 1200 clones in the collection.
http://www.workingwillow.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.the-tree.org.uk/TreeTalk/
3Spring2003/nationalwillowcollection.htm
|
