Destruction of old-growth or primary forests looms large in discussions in Copenhagen over a scheme to compensate tropical countries for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). Some environmental groups…
Rising demand for timber and agricultural products could work against a proposed initiative to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD), warns a new report from the Environmental Investigation Agency…
Policy-makers designing a climate change mitigation mechanism that will reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) aren't doing enough to ensure that the scheme protects biodiversity outside carbon-dense ecosystems, argues…
Important safeguards to protect natural forests are still lacking in negotiating text on REDD, a proposed mechanism for mitigating climate change by paying developing countries to keep trees standing, reports…
The elimination of a key provision from the negotiating text for the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in developing countries (REDD) mechanism could turn the proposed climate change mitigation…
With the world facing global warming and a biodiversity crisis, a new study in Conservation Biology shows that within 15 years logged forests—considered by many to be 'degraded'—can be managed…
Chainsaws, bulldozers, and fires are tools of rainforest destruction, but roads are enablers. Roads link markets to resources, enabling loggers, farmers, ranchers, miners, and land speculators to convert remote forests…
The weak definition of what constitutes forest under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) puts the effectiveness of a proposed mechanism for reducing emissions from deforestation and…
Old growth forests in the Amazon store nearly 10 billion tons of carbon in dead trees and branches, a total greater than global annual emissions from fossil fuel combustion, according…
Emissions from Amazon deforestation are growing as developers move deeper into old-growth forest areas where carbon density is higher, report scientists writing in Geophysical Research Letters. Analyzing deforestation data from…
Until now saving rainforests seemed like an impossible mission. But the world is now warming to the idea that a proposed solution to help address climate change could offer a…
Temperate forests trump rainforests when it comes to storing carbon, reports a new assessment of global forest carbon stocks published July 14th in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences…
A global framework on climate change must immediately halt deforestation and industrial logging of the world's old-growth forests, while protecting the rights of forest communities and indigenous groups, said a…
Nearly one quarter of Papua New Guinea's rainforests were damaged or destroyed between 1972 and 2002, report researchers writing in the journal Biotopica. The results, which were published in a…
“I want to convince you we need to go beyond primary forests to preserve biodiversity”, Robin Chazdon told an audience at the National Natural History Museum during a symposium on…
An overview of the Smithsonian’s Symposium: “Will the rainforests survive? New Threats and Realities in the Tropical Extinction Crisis”
Renowned scientists discuss threats to rainforests at symposium
Rainforest conversion to oil palm causes 83% of wildlife to disappear Rainforest conversion to oil palm causes 83% of wildlife to disappear mongabay.com September 15, 2008 Conversion of primary rainforest…
Old growth forests are carbon sinks for centuries, helping offset emissions Old growth forests are carbon sinks for centuries, helping offset emissions Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com September 11, 2008 Old…
In the Amazon, primary forest biodiversity tops that of secondary forest, plantations In the Amazon, primary forest biodiversity tops that of secondary forest, plantations Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com November 12,…
Primary rainforest richer in species than plantations, secondary forests Forest disturbance reduces biodiversity in the Amazon rainforest Primary rainforest richer in species than plantations, secondary forests Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com…
An Interview with Dr. Peter Raven, director of the Missouri Botanical Garden Jump to Interview What do tigers in India, chameleons in Madagascar, redwood trees in California, and tube worms…