Our planet lost nearly 10 hectares of forest per minute

A recent FAO study suggests the new figure on deforestation. The study also found that the net loss in forest area between 1990 and 2005 was not as great as previously believed, since gains in forest areas are larger than previously estimated.  The survey was based on a single source of data for all three points in time — 1990, 2000 and 2005.

FAO employed new sattelite based survey to providea more accurate picture of changes in the world’s forests. The main finding of this survey is world’s total forest area in 2005 was 3.69 billion hectares, or 30 percent of the global land area.

Some summarized points:

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Poverty and climate change

Some data show that poverty raised in the countries where it endowed abundant natural resources.  But the abundance isn’t key factor.  The recent factor discussed by experts is climate change.

Climate change may increase the number of poor people in developing countries. In this countries, they have less resources to adapt and mitigate climate change probles. That’s way, the most affected people by climate change is poor people.

In Indonesia, most poor people rely on agricultural sectors. They live in rural areas that closed to forests and other remote areas.  NGO’s and International development agencies should address this issue in right place. Some of them have been working for years and contribute good result.

Blog Action Day is an outsanting action to leverage athmosperic poverty eradiction. As the world become more parrallel, we need more breakthoroughs to make our world better.

Fueling forest for food

Debating biofuel as promising commodity has been months. Some scientits argued that biofuel is not eco-friendly as alternative fuel. Inline with this, recent news of BBC talks about doubt of leaders on biofuel development.

The leaders are Bolivian President Evo Morales and President Alan Garcia of Peru. They warned biofuel development could harmed poor people. In the other hand, UK Prime Minister said that “UK should be more selective in our support for biofuel”

Biofuel development threats forest in tropical area, such Indonesia. Studies link oil palm plantation expansion with deforestation. In fact, it happened in Sumatra and Kalimantan mineral soil, as well as the peat soil. However, producing biodiesel from unsustainable oil palm plantation is unfavorable. (more…)