[Mb-civic] Fw: Earth Policy News - World's Forests Continue to Shrink

[Harold Sifton]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joseph Florence" <jflorence at earthpolicy.org>
To: <harry.sifton at sympatico.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 12:54 PM
Subject: Earth Policy News - World's Forests Continue to Shrink


> Earth Policy News - World's Forests Continue to Shrink
>
> Eco-Economy Indicator - FOREST COVER
> April 4, 2006
>
> Eco-Economy Indicators are the twelve trends the Earth Policy Institute
> tracks to measure progress in building an eco-economy. Forest cover is one
> of the best single indicators of changing land use.
>
> WORLD'S FORESTS CONTINUE TO SHRINK
> Elizabeth Mygatt
>
> A healthy planet needs healthy forests. Thriving forests regulate the
> water cycle and stabilize soils. Forests also help moderate climate by
> soaking up and storing carbon dioxide. In addition to these ecosystem
> services, forests provide habitat for diverse flora and fauna, offer
> cultural, spiritual, and recreational opportunities, and provide a variety
> of food, medicines, and wood.
>
> Nearly 4 billion hectares of forest cover the earth's surface, roughly 30
> percent of its total land area. Though extensive, the world's forests have
> shrunk by some 40 percent since agriculture began 11,000 years ago. Three
> quarters of this loss occurred in the last two centuries as land was
> cleared to make way for farms and to meet demand for wood.
>
> Over the last five years, the world suffered a net loss of some 37 million
> hectares (91 million acres) of forest, according to data from the United
> Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
>
>
> For entire text see http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/Forest/2006.htm
> For data see http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/Forest/2006_data.htm
>
> For an index of Earth Policy Institute resources related to Forest Cover
> see http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/Forest/index.htm
>
> And for more information on restoring the world's forests, see Chapter 8,
> "Restoring the Earth," in PLAN B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a
> Civilization in Trouble by Lester R. Brown (New York: W.W. Norton &
> Company, 2006), posted at http://www.earthpolicy.org/Books/PB2/index.htm
>
>
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