tag:news.mongabay.com,2005:/xml/logging1logging news from mongabay.com2012-02-10T20:07:22Ztag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/90842012-02-09T20:59:00Z2012-02-10T20:07:22ZSome toilet paper production destroys Indonesian rainforests, endangering tigers and elephants<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/12/0209wwf-report150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>American consumers are unwittingly contributing to the destruction of endangered rainforests in Sumatra by purchasing certain brands of toilet paper, asserts a new report published by the environmental group WWF. The report, Don't Flush Tiger Forests: Toilet Paper, U.S. Supermarkets, and the Destruction of Indonesia's Last Tiger Habitats, takes aim at two tissue brands that source fiber from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), a paper products giant long criticized by environmentalists and scientists for its forestry practices on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The brands — Paseo and Livi — are among the fastest growing, in terms of sales, in the United States.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/90832012-02-09T20:00:00Z2012-02-09T22:46:48ZTropical ecologist: Australia must follow U.S. and EU in banning illegally logged wood<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/mongabay/indonesia/150/kalbar_1083.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>Australia should join the widening effort to stamp out illegal logging, according to testimony given this week by tropical ecologist William Laurance with James Cook University. Presenting before the Australian Senate's rural affairs committee, Laurance argued that the massive environmental and economic costs of illegal logging worldwide should press Australia to tighten regulations against importing illegally logged timber at home. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/90812012-02-08T20:45:00Z2012-02-08T20:54:12ZGreen groups: government moving too slowly on protecting Canada's Great Bear rainforestThree environmental groups have submitted a letter to British Columbia Premier, Christy Clark, to ask the government to speed up the process of implementing the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement, which is meant to ensure 70 percent of old-growth forest is maintained. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/90562012-02-03T23:42:00Z2012-02-04T00:27:10ZCaution urged in sale of Madagascar's illegal timber stockpilesConfiscated timber stocks in Madagascar must be managed in a "transparent manner" to deter future illegal logging and boosting demand for endangered rainforest timber, says a letter published by a coalition of NGOs.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/90422012-02-02T05:37:00Z2012-02-02T05:40:49ZIndonesia to require loggers prove their concessions free of overlapping claimsApplicants for forest concessions in Indonesia will soon be required to prove there aren't overlapping claims on their holdings, reports <i>The Jakarta Globe</i>. The move, which offers the potential to reduce land disputes between forest developers and local communities, could complicate investments in the forestry sector in Indonesia.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/90352012-01-31T18:36:00Z2012-02-02T02:00:58ZForgotten species: the wild jungle cattle called banteng<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/j/banteng.SWD_1.150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>The word "cattle," for most of us, is the antithesis of exotic; it's familiar like a family member one's happy enough to ignore, but doesn't really mind having around. Think for a moment of the names: cattle, cow, bovine...likely they make many of us think more of the animals' byproducts than the creatures themselves—i.e. milk, butter, ice cream or steak—as if they were an automated food factory and not living beings. But if we expand our minds a bit further, "cattle" may bring up thoughts of cowboys, Texas, herds pounding the dust, or merely grazing dully in the pasture. But none of these titles, no matter how far we pursue them, conjure up images of steamy tropical rainforest or gravely imperiled species. A cow may be beautiful in its own domesticated sort-of-way, but there is nothing wild in it, nothing enchanting. However like most generalizations, this idea of cattle falls to pieces when one encounters, whether in literature or life, the banteng.Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/90212012-01-26T23:01:00Z2012-01-27T22:29:43ZBig trees, like the old-growth forests they inhabit, are declining globally<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/mongabay/panama/150/panama_0200.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>Already on the decline worldwide, big trees face a dire future due to habitat fragmentation, selective harvesting by loggers, exotic invaders, and the effects of climate change, warns an article published this week in <i>New Scientist</i> magazine. Reviewing research from forests around the world, William F. Laurance, an ecologist at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia, provides evidence of decline among the world's 'biggest and most magnificent' trees and details the range of threats they face. He says their demise will have substantial impacts on biodiversity and forest ecology, while worsening climate change.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/90042012-01-25T21:49:00Z2012-01-26T23:00:41ZLogging of primary rainforests not ecologically sustainable, argue scientists<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/12/0125peak_timber150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>Tropical countries may face a risk of 'peak timber' as continued logging of rainforests exceeds the capacity of forests to regenerate timber stocks and substantially increases the risk of outright clearing for agricultural and industrial plantations, argues a trio of scientists writing in the journal <i>Biological Conservation</i>. The implications for climate, biodiversity, and local economies are substantial.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89952012-01-24T02:57:00Z2012-01-24T04:23:21ZSumatran elephant population plunges; WWF calls for moratorium on deforestationThe Sumatran elephant subspecies (<i>Elephas maximus sumatranus</i>) was downgraded to critically endangered on IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species on Tuesday, prompting environmental group WWF to call for an immediate moratorium on destruction of its rainforest habitat, which is being rapidly lost to oil palm estates, timber plantations for pulp and paper production, and agricultural use. Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89872012-01-23T14:26:00Z2012-01-24T15:20:14ZEconomic slowdown leads to the pulping of Latvia's forests <table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/j/latvia.timber1.150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>The economic crisis has pushed many nations to scramble for revenue and jobs in tight times, and the small Eastern European nation of Latvia is no different. Facing tough circumstances, the country turned to its most important and abundant natural resource: forests. The Latvian government accepted a new plan for the nation's forests, which has resulted in logging at rates many scientists say are clearly unsustainable. In addition, researchers contend that the on-the-ground practices of state-owned timber giant, Latvijas Valsts meži (LVM), are hurting wildlife and destroying rare ecosystems. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89882012-01-22T20:35:00Z2012-01-22T20:36:18ZFeatured video: music in Madagascar to protest illegal loggingA new video highlights the plight of Madagascar's protected tropical forests, which are falling prey to illegal logging and foreign contractors. Featuring Razia Said, Malagasy singer and songwriter, the video shows concerts to raise awareness about illegal logging, especially near Maosala National Park. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89802012-01-20T00:30:00Z2012-01-20T14:55:30ZFeared extinct, obscure monkey rediscovered in Borneo <table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/j/millersgrizzledlangur.IMG_4246.150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>A significant population of the rarely seen, little-known Miller's grizzled langurs (Presbytis hosei canicrus) has been discovered in Indonesian Borneo according to a new paper published in the American Journal of Primatology. Feared extinct by some and dubbed one of the world's 25 most threatened primates in 2005 by Conservation International (CI), the langur surprised researchers by showing up on camera trap in a region of Borneo it was never supposed to be. The discovery provides new hope for the elusive monkey and expands its known range, but conservationists warn the species is not out of the woods yet. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89832012-01-19T20:51:00Z2012-01-19T22:03:57ZNational Association of Music Merchants does 'disservice' to members by misleading them on illegal logging law, says letter<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/12/0119madagascar_3998_150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>The National Association of Music Merchants is doing a 'disservice' to its members by misrepresenting the provisions and spirit of the Lacey Act, a law that aims to curb illegal logging abroad, states a letter published by a coalition of environmental groups. The letter, issued Thursday, urges the National Association of Music Merchants to reconsider its support for the RELIEF Act (HR 3210), introduced by Representatives Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), and Jim Cooper (D-TN) last October. The RELIEF Act would weaken key provisions of the Lacey Act aimed to ensure that illegally sourced wood products aren't imported into the United States.
Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89752012-01-19T02:02:00Z2012-01-19T03:26:40ZDeforestation, climate change threaten the ecological resilience of the Amazon rainforest The combination of deforestation, forest degradation, and the effects of climate change are weakening the resilience of the Amazon rainforest ecosystem, potentially leading to loss of carbon storage and changes in rainfall patterns and river discharge, finds a comprehensive review published in the journal <i>Nature</i>.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89642012-01-17T19:49:00Z2012-02-07T05:18:40ZLevi's new forest policy excludes fiber from suppliers linked to deforestationLevi Strauss & Company had issued a new policy that will exclude fiber from controversial sources from its products. The move will effectively bar Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) as a supplier, according to the Rainforest Action Network, a green group that is campaigning to reform APP's sourcing practices, which the NGO says come at the expense of rainforests in Sumatra.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89622012-01-17T18:39:00Z2012-01-17T18:55:34ZFeatured video: plight of orangutans highlighted with new rock songAn Indonesian rock band, Navicula, is highlighting the plight of orangutans in their native country through a new song entitled, aptly, "Orangutan." The band has created a music video for the song, including footage of a documentary, Green: The Film that follows a starving female orangutan named Green. The band "dedicated the song to encourage people to do more in orangutan conservation, to protect this endangered species." Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89522012-01-12T19:32:00Z2012-01-12T19:39:25ZNew frog trumps miniscule fish for title of 'world's smallest vertebrate'<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/j/smallestvertebrate.dime.150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>How small can you be and still have a spine? Scientists are continually surprised by the answer. Researchers have discovered a new species of frog in Papua New Guinea that is smaller than many insects and dwarfed by a dime. The frog trumps the previously known smallest vertebrate—a tiny fish—by nearly 1 millimeter. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89482012-01-12T18:22:00Z2012-01-12T18:54:46ZIndonesia could earn billions from well-designed deforestation-reduction program, finds studyIndonesia could have earned $5 billion in revenue and avoided 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions between 2000 and 2005 had a reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+) program been in place, reports an assessment published in the journal <i>Proceedings of the National Academy of Science</i>.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89462012-01-11T22:57:00Z2012-01-11T22:57:20ZPeruvian smugglers traffic illegal rainforest timber from Brazil to AmericaAn investigation by Brazil's Federal Police has detailed a significant trade of illegally logged rainforest wood by Peruvian nationals making its way from northern Brazil to the U.S. and Mexico, reports O Globo. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89442012-01-11T21:16:00Z2012-01-12T22:17:03ZBorneo's most elusive feline photographed at unexpected elevation<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g94/troufs/Bay_cat_001-1.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>Although known to science for 138 years, almost nothing is actually known about the bay cat (Pardofelis badia). This reddish-brown wild feline, endemic to the island of Borneo, has entirely eluded researchers and conservationists. The first photo of the cat wasn't taken until 1998 and the first video was shot just two years ago, but basic information remains lacking. A new camera trap study, however, in the Kelabit Highlands of the Malaysian state of Sarawak has added to the little knowledge we have by photographing a bay cat at never before seen altitudes. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89352012-01-10T17:24:00Z2012-01-10T18:09:34ZCamera traps snap first ever photo of Myanmar snub-nosed monkey<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/j/Snub-nosed-monkey-low-res.150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>In 2010 researchers described a new species of primate that reportedly sneezes when it rains. Unfortunately, the new species was only known from a carcass killed by a local hunter. Now, however, remote camera traps have taken the first ever photo of the elusive, and likely very rare, Myanmar snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri), known to locals as mey nwoah, or 'monkey with an upturned face'. Locals say the monkeys are easy to locate when it rains, because the rain catches on their upturned noses causing them to sneeze.Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89312012-01-09T23:27:00Z2012-01-17T01:55:08ZExtreme mouth-sewing protest in Indonesia leads to logging inquiryA protest in which 28 Indonesian sewed their mouths shut has led to an inquiry into a logging concession on Padang Island. The Ministry of Forestry has formed a mediation team to look into the controversial concession, reports Kompas. Around a hundred natives of Padang Island rallied for weeks against the logging concession held by PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP), which covers 37 percent of the island's total land. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89272012-01-09T15:08:00Z2012-01-23T21:16:59ZHow lemurs fight climate change<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/j/Searching-for-elusive-lemurs,-SE-Madagascar.-Photo-by-Daniel-Austin.150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>Kara Moses may have never become a biologist if not for a coin toss. The coin, which came up heads and decided Moses' direction in college, has led her on a sinuous path from studying lemurs in captivity to environmental writing, and back to lemurs, only this time tracking them in their natural habitat. Her recent research on ruffed lemurs is attracting attention for documenting the seed dispersal capabilities of Critically Endangered ruffed lemurs as well as theorizing connections between Madagascar's lemurs and the carbon storage capacity of its forests. Focusing on the black-and-white ruffed lemur's (Varecia variegata) ecological role as a seed disperser—animals that play a major role in spreading a plant's seeds far-and-wide—Moses suggests that not only do the lemurs disperse key tree species, but they could be instrumental in dispersing big species that store large amounts of carbon. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/89142012-01-02T19:29:00Z2012-01-02T19:30:45ZSmall town rises up against deforestation in Pakistan The town of Ayun, home to 16,000 people in the Chitral district of Pakistan, has been rocked by large-scale protests and mass arrests over the issue of corruption and deforestation in recent days. Villagers are protesting forest destruction in the Kalasha Valleys, the home of the indigenous Kalash people.Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/88992011-12-28T18:08:00Z2011-12-28T18:44:01ZThe year in review for rainforests<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://mongabay.s3.amazonaws.com/colombia/150/colombia_3765.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>2011 was designated as "Year of the Forests" by the United Nations. While there was relatively little progress on intergovernmental forest protection programs during the year, a lot happened elsewhere. Below is a look at some of the biggest tropical forest-related news stories for 2011. We at mongabay readily acknowledge there were a number of important temperate and boreal forest developments, including Britain's decision not to privatize its forests and the severe drought in Texas, but this article will cover only tropical forest news.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/88942011-12-23T17:51:00Z2012-01-19T06:41:13ZCI refutes Cambodian logging storyConservation International (CI) issued a sharp rebuke of a <i>Phnom Pehn Post</i> story that alleged involvement in illegal rosewood logging in Cambodia's Central Cardamom Protected Forest.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/88812011-12-21T01:58:00Z2011-12-21T02:49:59ZIndonesia grants exemption from logging moratorium for 3.6m ha of forest<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/11/1221tripa150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>Indonesia exempted 3.6 million hectares of forests and peatlands from protected status under its two-year moratorium on forest concessions, according to a revised version of its moratorium map released near the end of climate talks in Durban. The new Indicative Map includes 10.7 million hectares of peatlands, down from 15.5 million hectares in the previous version of the map that defines areas off-limits for new concessions. Some 1.2 million hectares of previously unprotected "primary forest" has been added to the moratorium area, resulted in a net decline of 3.6 million hectares under the moratorium, according to analysis by Daemeter Consulting, an Indonesia-based forestry consultancy.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/88692011-12-19T17:02:00Z2011-12-19T17:45:20ZFeatured video: documentary on logging mafia A new documentary, The Real Chainsaw Massacre, follows the corrupt and violent black market of illegal timber trading in Vietnam. The documentary highlights the efforts of undercover investigators with the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) working to expose the lucrative trade of illegal logging from Laos to Vietnam. A trade that is not only decimating forests in Southeast Asia, but is imperiling biodiversity, harming locals, and often coupled with other illegal activities. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/88662011-12-19T14:48:00Z2011-12-19T17:29:53ZIs the Russian Forest Code a warning for Brazil?<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://travel.mongabay.com/brazil/150/brazil_0560.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>Brazil, which last week moved to reform its Forest Code, may find lessons in Russia's revision of its forest law in 2007, say a pair of Russian scientists. The Brazilian Senate last week passed a bill that would relax some of forest provisions imposed on landowners. Environmentalists blasted the move, arguing that the new Forest Code — provided it is not vetoed by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff next year — could undermine the country's progress in reducing deforestation.Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/88632011-12-16T19:28:00Z2011-12-18T02:46:02ZWWF: Asia Pulp & Paper misleads public about its role in destroying Indonesia's rainforests<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/11/1216wwfreport150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) continues to mislead the public about its role in destroying rainforests and critical tiger habitat across the Indonesian island of Sumatra, alleges a new report from Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of Indonesian environmental groups including WWF-Indonesia. The report, titled The truth behind APP’s Greenwash, is based on analysis of satellite imagery as well as public and private documentation of forest cleared by logging companies that supply APP, which is owned by the Indonesian conglomerate, Sinar Mas Group (SMG). The report concludes APP's fiber suppliers have destroyed 2 million hectares of forest in Sumatra since 1984.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/88612011-12-16T02:44:00Z2011-12-16T02:46:37ZEnvironmental groups to Japan: stop importing illegally logged timberA coalition of environmental NGOs have called upon Japan to adopt stronger measures to block illicit timber imports, alleging that Japanese companies are buying illegally logged wood from Samling Global, a Malaysian logging company.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/88422011-12-13T20:15:00Z2011-12-13T20:44:21ZPaper commitments for the Indonesian industry<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/10/1130wwf_sumatra_1985_2010_150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>The Indonesian group Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) has been the target of many NGOs for years due to its alleged negative impacts on tropical forests. This culminated in a spectacular campaign launched by Greenpeace in 2011 based on Ken "dumping" Barbie. The rationale was that toy brand Mattel was accused of using APP paper products linked to the clear-cutting of natural forests in the Indonesian archipelago. APP organized a counter-attack in the media with the daily publication of advertisements promoting its sustainable development practices. Journalists from all over the world were also invited to attend guided tours of APP concessions to demonstrate their conservation efforts, and a number of articles were subsequently written.Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/88392011-12-13T17:04:00Z2011-12-13T17:08:12ZLarge tract of old growth redwood forest protected in the San Francisco Bay Area8,532 acres of redwood forest and wildlife habitat in the Santa Cruz mountains will be protected after a coalition of San Francisco Bay Area conservation groups bought the land — the largest private landholding in in Santa Cruz County — for $30 million from building materials giant CEMEX, reports the <i>San Jose Mercury News</i>.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/88362011-12-12T22:25:00Z2011-12-12T22:46:52ZNGOs call for arrest of Malaysian leader for corruption, money launderingA coalition of Malaysian and international NGOs are calling for the arrest of Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and 14 family members for alleged abused of power, corruption, and money laundering, reports the Bruno Manser Fund, a group that has signed the letter urging action.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/87942011-12-04T23:45:00Z2011-12-05T00:16:59ZSarawak ruler has acquired billions in 'illicit' assets, alleges investigationThe leader of the Malaysian state of Sarawak has acquired billions of dollars' worth of "illicit" assets, alleges a new investigation by the Bruno Manser Fund, which reveals holdings in over 400 companies across two dozen countries.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/87422011-11-27T23:59:00Z2011-11-28T00:05:55ZGreenpeace NZ: APP misrepresented test resultsAsia Pulp & Paper (APP) misled the public when the paper products giant claimed a paper testing company had found its fiber clear of rainforest fiber, says Greenpeace.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/87332011-11-23T21:38:00Z2011-11-29T02:12:06ZPeace accord reached in violent conflict between locals and Indonesian state plantation companyA peace accord has been announced to resolve a long-running conflict between a giant state-owned plantation company and local communities on the Indonesian island of Java.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/87322011-11-23T21:23:00Z2011-11-23T21:45:21ZPhotos: two dozen new beetles discovered in Papua New Guinea hotspot <table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/j/aseki.beetles.beetle.150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>Over the past two decades, at least 24 new beetles species have been discovered in a remote mountainous rainforest region of Papua New Guinea by Swedish entomologists Ulf Nylander. Described in the new book Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in Wallacea and New Guinea, the new beetles found in the Aseki Province are all ecologically linked to rotting wood. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/87272011-11-22T22:28:00Z2011-11-23T04:33:35ZReport questions legitimacy of Asia Pulp & Paper's conservation initiatives<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/07/sumatra_defor-150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>A new report by an Indonesian environmental group casts doubt on Asia Pulp & Paper's commitment to sustainability. In its corporate social responsibility reports and advertisements, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), one of Indonesia's largest pulp and paper suppliers, has touted several forest reserves as indicators of its commitment to environmental stewardship. APP has portrayed these as voluntary, goodwill efforts to conserve Sumatra's endangered wildlife. But in a new report, Greenomics-Indonesia, a Jakarta-based NGO, says that at best these projects represent compliance with existing Indonesian laws or are in areas where commercial exploitation isn't viable.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/87242011-11-22T16:10:00Z2011-11-22T16:11:42ZOne night only: new orchid species surprises scientists<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/j/Bulbophyllum_nocturnum_Schuiteman__03.150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>A mysterious new orchid blooms for one night only, opening around 10 PM and closing at 10 AM. Discovered on the island of New Britain near Papua New Guinea, the new species is the world's first orchid that flowers only at night. Scientists found the new flower, named <i>Bulbophyllum nocturnum</i>, in a logging concession on the tropical island. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/87012011-11-16T21:50:00Z2011-12-02T02:02:01ZWar of words between Greenpeace, Asia Pulp & Paper over deforestation allegations<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/11/1116app_v_gp150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>Greenpeace and Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), a giant global paper supplier, are locked in a heated battle over the activist group's allegations that APP products contain fiber sourced from the destruction of forests in Indonesia. At stake is APP's access to some of the world's most lucrative markets. Until APP provides solid evidence refuting Greenpeace's accusation that its pulp and paper production isn't coming at the expense of natural forests in Indonesia, APP will have a difficult time winning over critics.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/87002011-11-16T21:35:00Z2011-11-16T21:43:30ZPhotos: five wild cat species documented in Sumatran forest imperiled by logging<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/j/13_Sumatran-Tiger---Harimau-Sumatera---Panthera-tigris-sumatrae_Copyright-WWF-Indonesia---PHKA.150jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>A single forest corridor in Sumatra has yielded camera trap photos of five wild cats species, including the Critically Endangered Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae). Photos were also taken of the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi), the marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata), the Asian golden cat (Pardofelis temminckii), and the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). The five species were all filmed by a WWF camera trap survey in a single forest corridor linking the forest of Bukit Tigapuluh and the Rimbang Baling Wildlife Sanctuary in Riau Province. Unfortunately this forest remains unprotected. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/86992011-11-16T19:47:00Z2011-11-16T19:50:57ZFeatured video: world's only video of extinct 2-foot-long imperial woodpecker Newly-discovered video has brought the extinct imperial woodpecker (Campephilus imperialis) back to life—at least for a few seconds. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/86722011-11-10T16:08:00Z2011-11-11T06:51:48ZFirst ever survey shows Sumatran tiger hanging on as forests continue to vanish<table align="left"><tr><td><img src=" http://photos.mongabay.com/j/SumatraTiger-MLinkie-FFI.150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>The first-ever Sumatran-wide survey of the island's top predator, the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), proves that the great cat is holding on even as forests continue to vanish. The study, carried out by eight NGOs and the Indonesian government, shows that the tiger is still present in 70 percent of the forests surveyed, providing hope for the long-term survival of the subspecies if remaining forests are protected.Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/86672011-11-09T21:42:00Z2011-11-10T17:04:58ZMadagascar interim president: sell rosewood stocksMadagascar should sell its stocks of illegally logged rainforest timber, Madagascar's interim leader Andry Rajoelina told the BBC in an interview.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/86412011-11-05T06:19:00Z2011-11-06T15:58:40ZCooper-Blackburn bill seeks exemptions for illegal wood importsA proposed bill would gut the Lacey Act, undermining an amendment that bans import of illegally logging forest products, says a coalition of environmentalists and woodworkers in a letter addressed to members of Congress. The bill, introduced last month by Jim Cooper, Marsha Blackburn, and Mary Bono Mack, would grant an exemption to pulp and paper importers from Lacey Act requirements, while reducing fines for non-compliance to a pittance for "first time" offenders no matter the size of the infraction.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/86342011-11-02T18:54:00Z2011-11-02T19:15:16ZSaving Ghana's vanishing frogs<table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/j/Leptopeles-hyloides-Ankasa-bamboo-cathedral-1-a-550.150.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>Frogs need all the help they can get. With the IUCN Red List estimating that 41 percent of amphibians are endangered, frogs are currently the world's most imperiled animal family. Scientists estimate that around 200 amphibian species have been lost to extinction in recent decades to habitat loss, pollution, and a devastating fungal disease. Yet as the frog emergency worsens, there have been positive movements in conservation. The most recent comes from the small West African country of Ghana. Partnering with the enthusiastic US-based organization, SAVE THE FROGS!, two Ghanaian herpetologists, Gilbert Baase Adum and Caleb Ofori, have started a sister branch in their country: SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana. Jeremy Hancetag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/86202011-11-01T14:37:00Z2011-11-01T14:44:45ZToymaker Hasbro cuts deforestation from its supply chainHasbro, the second largest American toy company, today announced a new packaging policy that excludes the use of fiber produced via destruction of rainforests, reports Greenpeace.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/86052011-10-27T16:48:00Z2011-10-28T03:25:22ZLosing our pigs and our ancestors: threats to the livelihoods and environment of Papua New Guinea <table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://photos.mongabay.com/11/1027p.jpg" align="left"/></td></tr></table>In 1968, distinguished anthropologist Roy Rappaport wrote a seminal publication of human ecology: 'Pigs for the Ancestors: Rituals in the Ecology of a New Guinea People' which integrated cultural ritual with the necessity of maintaining pre-existing relationships with the environment. Documenting the behavior activities of the Tsembaga Maring tribe in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, Rappaport recognized how various activities of the tribe’s intrinsic culture was a direct product of that peoples’ relation with their natural environment.Rhett Butlertag:news.mongabay.com,2005:Article/85842011-10-23T15:09:00Z2011-10-23T18:44:07ZMalaysian sustainable timber certification fails Dutch standards <table align="left"><tr><td><img src="http://travel.mongabay.com/malaysia/150/borneo_2908.JPG" align="left"/></td></tr></table>An independent panel in the Netherlands has found that the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) falls short of Dutch standards for sustainable forestry. The final decision comes after a series of judgements and appeals with the latest panel concluding that MTCS still allows natural forest to be destroyed for monoculture plantation and that the scheme ignores the rights of indigenous people. Jeremy Hance