Straight Line Public Relations: deforestation

Showing posts with label deforestation. Show all posts

Friday, May 18, 2012

China, Korea, Japan Forestry Agreement is Great news for Environment says FRA

FRA has stated that the signing of a sustainable forestry agreement between China, the Republic of Korea and Japan is an "extremely positive move” in the fight against desertification and deforestation.

Bainbridge Island, WA, May 18, 2012 - Forestry Research Associates (FRA) has stated that the signing of a sustainable forestry agreement between China, the Republic of Korea and Japan is an "extremely positive move” in the fight against desertification and deforestation.

The three nations met at the Fifth Trilateral Summit Meeting over the past two days. They each signed an agreement to try to increase sustainable forestry management in their countries in a move that will help to bring down their carbon emissions as additional trees means more CO2 being absorbed from the atmosphere.

The joint statement of cooperation will ensure that all three nations take the conservation and management of sustainable forests seriously and as part of their wider environmental goals. The statement made by the three countries stated: ‘We, the leaders of the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and Japan, recognizing that the realization of economic, social and environmental benefits of forests is one of the important means to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) given the renewable, diverse and multi-functional nature of forests.’

They added, ‘We recognized that sustainable forest management is the perpetual theme in ecological improvement and the pursuit of sustainable development, and facilitates efforts to tackle climate change, conserve biodiversity and promote green growth among the three countries.’

FRA, which supports the sustainable management of forests and investment in managed forestry projects such as those run by Greenwood Management in Brazil. The organization's analysis partner, Peter Collins, stated, “We welcome the news of the this new agreement.”

FRA has long been an advocate of viewing forests as valuable when they are standing as well as when they are harvested and made into timber products. “What countries all over the world are beginning to realise is that trees hold a financial value when they are standing and forming part of a forest due to their carbon absorption qualities. This could soon be worth more than the timber products they could be chopped down to make,” added Mr Collins.

Contact:

Peter Collins

Forestry Research Associates

620 Vineyard Lane

Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

(206) 316 8394

info@forestry-research.com

http://www.forestry-research.com

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

FRA Claims Protecting Indigenous Rights is Vital to REDD+ scheme

FRA claims that the REDD+ project is more than just about preventing deforestation and has backed a statement from a high profile member, who talks about the importance of helping those living in and around the forests.

Bainbridge Island, WA, February 21, 2012 - Forestry Research Associates (FRA) claims that the REDD+ project is more than just about preventing deforestation and has backed a statement from a high profile member, who talks about the importance of helping those living in and around the forests.

Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, one of the leaders of the REDD+ task force in Indonesia, has spoken out to highlight the fact that the campaign should be just as much about safeguarding the rights of indigenous people as preventing deforestation.

He stated, “It’s not as simple as the destruction of forests by logging companies. That certainly happens, but the real issue in REDD is poverty, and we must link the two together.”

FRA, which is a research and analysis consultancy, and Mangkusubroto, agree that poverty has become rife in some regions that have experienced a high level of deforestation due to the failure to recognise indigenous peoples’ land rights.

FRA also points out that these kinds of land rights issues can occur as a result of REDD+ measures. Mangkusubroto points out an example that occurred in Sumatra, where an indigenous population were told to move away from their homes as the forest land they lived in was designated a conservation area. Mangkusubroto was keen to point out that he intends to avoid these kinds of measures being introduced. He stated, “We will not implement a ‘father knows best’ approach, but instead we’ll do this cooperatively.”

FRA supports sustainable forestry investment schemes that help to safeguard valuable forests in developing countries. An example is the non-native forestry plantations grown by Greenwood Management in Brazil. The growth of non-native trees for use as charcoal by the domestic steel industry, can help reduce the reliance on native trees. Peter Collins, AAA’s analysis partner explained, “This kind of scheme helps local people realise the value of their standing forests.”

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