2/3 of Tropical Rainforests Destroyed or Damaged by Logging, Farming – The Energy Mix: While more than 50% of the impact on tropical rainforests since 2002 has occurred in the Amazon, Indonesian forests have also been ravaged,
with palm oil plantations the chief culprit. Ranking third for
rainforest destruction is Central Africa, with the Congo River Basin
suffering particularly from the incursions of farming (both traditional
and industrial), as well as logging.

As dense tropical forest vegetation constitutes the planet’s “largest living reservoir of carbon,” all of this activity could increase the potential for climate change, Reuters notes.

“It’s a terrifying cycle,” said report author and tropical forest
researcher Anders Krogh. He explained that more rainforest destruction
means less carbon stored, which in turn means rising global temperatures
that further weaken the forests that remain—all coming together to
create an accelerating feedback loop.

2/3 of Tropical Rainforests Destroyed or Damaged by Logging, Farming – The Energy Mix: While more than 50% of the impact on tropical rainforests since 2002 has occurred in the Amazon, Indonesian forests have also been ravaged,
with palm oil plantations the chief culprit. Ranking third for
rainforest destruction is Central Africa, with the Congo River Basin
suffering particularly from the incursions of farming (both traditional
and industrial), as well as logging.As dense tropical forest vegetation constitutes the planet’s “largest living reservoir of carbon,” all of this activity could increase the potential for climate change, Reuters notes.“It’s a terrifying cycle,” said report author and tropical forest
researcher Anders Krogh. He explained that more rainforest destruction
means less carbon stored, which in turn means rising global temperatures
that further weaken the forests that remain—all coming together to
create an accelerating feedback loop.Read More

Consultations Will Let Albertans Say ‘No’ to Rocky Mountain Coal Mining, Minister Promises: If the government wanted to assure Albertans its mind was really open
on the issue, it could start by stopping any further work on
exploration leases already sold, Katie Morrison of the Canadian Parks
and Wilderness Society told CP’s Bob Weber.

“I would have more confidence if they cancelled the exploration
permits…pending the outcome of these consultations,” she said in an
email.

“If they really have no predetermined outcomes, then companies should
not be able to continue to damage these landscapes and incur costs that
could be subject to compensation from Albertans later.”

Morrison said the further along coal companies get, the harder it
will be to implement land use plans and the more expensive it will be to
reclaim damage caused by exploration activities such as drilling and
road-building.

Consultations Will Let Albertans Say ‘No’ to Rocky Mountain Coal Mining, Minister Promises: If the government wanted to assure Albertans its mind was really open
on the issue, it could start by stopping any further work on
exploration leases already sold, Katie Morrison of the Canadian Parks
and Wilderness Society told CP’s Bob Weber.“I would have more confidence if they cancelled the exploration
permits…pending the outcome of these consultations,” she said in an
email.“If they really have no predetermined outcomes, then companies should
not be able to continue to damage these landscapes and incur costs that
could be subject to compensation from Albertans later.”Morrison said the further along coal companies get, the harder it
will be to implement land use plans and the more expensive it will be to
reclaim damage caused by exploration activities such as drilling and
road-building.Read More