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In Somalia a UN project aims to restore forests that have been devastated by years of illegal logging. Photo: Vladimir Lysenko Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Vladimir Lysenko Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

After decades of deforestation and drought, Somalia tries to change its course

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In Somalia, the illegal charcoal trade has encouraged deforestation and drought. A U.N. initiative now aims to restore degraded land. But food crisis remains a threat
In a century and a half, forests in the U.S. Midwest have lost the biomass accumulated over 8,000 years. Photo: Tony Webster Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Photo: Tony Webster Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

US Midwest forests have lost 8,000 years of stockpiled biomass

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Since the end of the last ice age, forest growth in the west-central United States has contributed to the sequestration of 1.8 billion tons of organic carbon. The accumulated biomass has been destroyed in just 150 years
Mangroves on Ubin Island, Singapore. The city-state wants to complete a massive reforestation campaign by 2030. Photo: Eustaquio Santimano Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)Eustaquio Santimano Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Singapore wants to plant one million trees by 2030

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The project launched two years ago aims to restore Singapore's mangroves. The trees, which have been drastically reduced over the years, are a crucial resource for climate, biodiversity and soil
The strong growth of tourism in the Philippines is associated with the expansion of hotel construction and the demand for timber. Photo: André Héroux Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)Photo: André Héroux Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Booming tourism is fueling deforestation in the Philippines

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The trend is associated with the expansion of construction of hotels and demand for timber. The repression toll is tragic as 29 environmental activists have been killed in 2020
The logging industry allegedly inspired the attempt to weaken anti-deforestation proposed rules in Europe. Photo: Hannes Knapp © European Wilderness Society CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Photo: Hannes Knapp © European Wilderness Society CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Europe takes one more step back on anti-deforestation rules

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The EU chooses a weak definition of "degradation" in areas affected by deforestation. Scientists are worried, The Guardian says. This choice is a result of lobbying campaign by logging industry, Greenpeace remarks
A cocoa plant in Côte d'Ivoire. In this country, which is the world leading producer, the exploitation of this plant is driving illegal deforestation Image: jbdodane Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)jbdodane Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Cocoa harvest and organized crime fuel Côte d’Ivoire’s deforestation

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In Côte d'Ivoire, says the Institute for Security Studies, land exploitation by cocoa sector crosses over with illegal timber market. As a result, forest destruction increases along with climate change and biodiversity loss
La siccità è favorita dal cambiamento climatico e contribuisce essa stessa ad alimentare ulteriormente il fenomeno. Foto: Pixabay License Libera per usi commerciali Attribuzione non richiesta

Drought, invertebrates, and carbon: the vicious cycle affecting soil and climate

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Drought limits the action of invertebrates and their ability to store organic carbon in soil, according to research from Switzerland. A finding with obvious implications for climate change
Total emissions from the agricultural sector in Europe fell by 20.7 percent between 1990 and 2020. Photo: CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution requiredCC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

Agriculture and soil contributed to declining emissions in Europe

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Between 1990 and 2020, annual CO2 equivalent emissions fell from 5.65 billion tons to 3.7 billion tons. Reductions in fertilizer use and livestock population have made an important contribution. While in soil, absorbed carbon exceeds the amount emitted
Quasi il 98% delle segnalazioni relative a pratiche di deforestazione illegale nell’Amazzonia brasiliana non è stato oggetto di indagine. Foto: Kate Evans/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Deforestation unpunished in Brazil as the government ignores almost every alert

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Between 2019 and 2020, about 98 percent of reports of deforestation did not lead to formal action in Brazil, a research has found. The country's environmental policy is under fire. As Amazon destruction has reached the highest rate in 15 years
Some companies are developing virtual reality programs to raise awareness of deforestation. Photo: Vu Hoang Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Vu Hoang Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

It takes a little empathy to fight deforestation

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Sustainability Times: deforestation is perceived by many as a distant and uninvolving issue. The solution? Building empathy through the digital experience provided by virtual reality

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