Skip to content

Nature

Developing nations are exporting deforestation, scientists warn ahead of Cancun

by David Hewitt 24 Nov 2010
Developing nations are exporting deforestation, scientists warn ahead of Cancun

Developing countries engaging in forest restoration projects are looking elsewhere for timber, prompting an increase in deforestation rates in other nations.

That is according to the findings of new research carried out by a multinational team of scientists, who fear that, while many developing nations may have launched high-profile and much-praised restoration schemes over recent years, looked at on a global scale, the problem of deforestation is as acute as ever.

The team of researchers, which was composed of members of Stanford University in California and Belgium's University of Louvain, looked into the possible relationship between domestic reforestation rates and international trade in timber and other agricultural products between the years of 1961 and 2007, focusing in particular on six developing countries in different parts of the world.

Significantly, in China, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Vietnam, the gradual movement towards ensuring the return of native forests was found to have been accompanied by falling domestic timber harvest, thereby fuelling stronger demand for imported timber and agricultural products.

Only in India was this not the case. Doing the sums, the team concluded that, for every one acre of reforested land in these developing countries, a half-acre of land was used elsewhere – for example in Brazil or Indonesia – in order to satisfy domestic demand for wood.

Commenting, study co-author, Stanford's Eric Lambin, warned that should forest protection measures merely shift localised forest-conversion pressures to elsewhere in the world, the global 'net gain' for forests will inevitably be placed in jeopardy, with all the consequences this entails.

However, on a more positive note, he added in the paper published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: "This study does not imply that the efforts of these countries to protect their forests was useless, but that international trade in wood and agricultural products can decrease the global environmental benefits of national forest-protection policies. The glass is half full, not just half empty."

Unfortunately, this is far from the only issue likely to trouble world leaders set to meet at the upcoming UN Collaborative Initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) summit, due to take place on December 5th in Cancun, Mexico. The run-up to the talks has also seen Greenpeace International claim that Indonesia is looking at claiming REDD funding for replacing large areas of its remaining natural forests with potentially-lucrative palm oil trees and biofuel crops.

According to the campaigning charity, as much as 37 million hectares of natural forest, including around 50 per cent of the country's remaining orangutan habitat, is being considered for such redeployment over the next 20 years, with the Jakarta government ready to class it as "degraded land" in order to be eligible for up to $1 billion worth of climate change funding.

As both these newly-published papers show, delegates at the Cancun talks will be tasked with not just ensuring nations commit to individual, domestic, reforestation targets, but to ensure that loopholes that allow for the exportation of deforestation or for natural forests to be replaced with palm oil plantations in the name of guarding against climate change are closed.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping