Sustainable Uses of Forests
Environment
The rich countries have decimated their forests long ago and yet they are telling poor countries not to do the same. Timber demands by rich countries mean unprecedented forest destruction and an associated loss of biodiversity in the tropics, whilst ancient forests in countries like Russia are also being decimated. We are mining virgin forests without adequately understanding the consequences, and we often replace them with monocultures that are highly unsustainable.
What needs to be done to ensure a wider understanding of the value of forest biodiversity? How can we assure sustainable global timber supplies? How far can tree plantations take the pressure off virgin forest? Can we curtail our demand for timber and paper to reduce pressure on forests? Can forests play a role in carbon sequestration in an age of climate change?
