Forests are under the spotlight as never before. They are globally important in regulating climate and locally important in sustaining communities and supporting biodiversity. But with unsustainable logging, and agriculture and biofuel producers competing for land, forests, and the people who depend on them, are under increasing pressure.
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CEC Chair speaks on media messages at Asia-Pacific Forestry Week
CEC's Keith Wheeler and Frits Hesselink added an interactive element to a plenary session on communicating forestry at the APFW in Beijing. …
14 Dec 2011 | News story
Guatemala advances with REDD+, says IUCN
Durban, South Africa, 8 December 2011 (IUCN) — Guatemala’s National Forest Service (INAB) has recognized wider land rights for indigenous peoples and local communities, making it possible for these groups to access benefits and payments from Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, known as REDD+, according to IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). … | French | Spanish
08 Dec 2011 | Media statement
Protecting nature makes sense: IUCN and Rio Tinto assess conservation’s costs and benefits
A new study by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) finds that by financing the restoration or protection of natural areas, companies can offset the negative impacts of their operations and generate significant economic benefits, but the needs of local communities must be properly addressed. … | French | Spanish
07 Dec 2011 | News story
New brief on findings from national forest governance assessments
Between 2005 and 2009, the IUCN project Strengthening Voices for Better Choices (SVBC) sought to improve the effectiveness of forest governance in six key tropical forest countries: Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Ghana, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Viet Nam. …
07 Dec 2011 | News story
Forest Day: the face of forests at UN climate change negotiations
Forest Day has become something of a tradition at the annual UN climate change conference, the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP). Here at COP17 in Durban, Forest Day 5 was held on 4 December, bringing together over 1000 people who work on – and are passionate about – forestry issues, including more than 200 official climate change negotiators. …
06 Dec 2011 | News story
Gender key to sustainable forests
Durban, South Africa, 4 December 2011 (IUCN) – If the forestry sector ignores gender issues it will miss a huge opportunity to reduce poverty, conserve biodiversity and bolster sustainable development. This new information is the conclusion of an IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) book, Gender and Forests, launched today – the first ever book of its kind. … | French | Spanish
04 Dec 2011 | Media statement
It's time for action on adaptation
One of IUCN's rallying cries at UNFCCC COP17 in Durban is "Time for action on adaptation". Ed Barrow, Head of IUCN's Ecosystem Based Adaptation Programme, goes in to more detail on this key message, starting by explaining IUCN's understanding of adaptation. …
03 Dec 2011 | News story
Climate awareness at 30,000 feet: IUCN and South African Airways team up
Durban, South Africa, 2 December 2011 (IUCN) – Africa’s most awarded airline, South African Airways, and the world’s largest environmental union, IUCN, have teamed up to launch a unique climate change awareness campaign to coincide with the start of the UN’s Climate Change Summit in Durban. …
02 Dec 2011 | Media statement
New guidelines for reforestation in Lebanon
An IUCN guide to the cultivation of 30 native tree species in Lebanon was launched on 30 November at the Lebanese University’s Department of Agronomy as part of a major reforestation effort in the country. …
02 Dec 2011 | News story
Protected, naturally
More than 180,000 protected areas—national parks, nature reserves and so on—now cover over 12% of the world’s land area and 7.2% of coastal waters. They play an important role in reducing carbon emissions and helping people adapt to the impacts of climate change. These are the findings of a newly-published paper in the journal Solutions. …
28 Nov 2011 | News story
