In Defence Of Ancient Rain Forests
Tasmania is Australia's southern island with far stretching wild lands. On the Eastern border of the South West World Heritage Area is the vast and wild Southern Forests. What does remain of the Southern Forests is ecologically and culturally valuable to the Western Tasmanian wilderness area. Here in this wild country are valleys of ancient landscapes, tall eucalypt rainforest, untamed rivers, karst systems, diverse plant and animal life in a spectacular setting of glaciated highland peaks and lakes.
Currently unprotected and being devastated by shocking industrial forestry practices that clearfell, burn and poison large areas, the Southern Forests, are being lost.
What Has That Got to do with Climate Change?
Like a giant safe-deposit box, old growth forests lock in vast amounts of carbon. As trees and undergrowth grow they draw in carbon dioxide. Over centuries, this carbon is slowly cycled into woody debris and forest soils. Ancient old growth trees, can store tonnes of carbon. After hundreds of years, old growth forests can contain over 1200 tonnes of carbon per hectare.
Unfortunately much of Tasmania’s remaining old growth forest is threatened by logging. Research shows that it is better, for climate change, to leave old growth forests in the ground rather than logging them and converting them to regrowth or plantations. As forests age, they build up a larger capacity to store carbon in wood, soil and woody debris. Logging undermines this capacity.
More information about the campaign ( downloadable PDF )
http://www.carbontradewatch.org/pubs/carbon_neutral_myth.pdf The Carbon Neutral Myth from Carbon Trade Watch - Why trading in carobon credits has led to the destruction of rainforests, displacement of people, widespread fraud and is no good for the climate. There is a lot of corporate backing behind the greenwash that carbon tradiung saves rainforests.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/5-green-myths5.htm Green Myths: Planting Trees will combat climate change. A little bit of science to cut through the bullshit.
http://www.thecornerhouse.org.uk/summary.shtml?x=556365 Larry Lohman ( Cornerhouse ) on Carbon Trading and the World Rainforest Movement and The Shady World of Carbon Laundering
Carbon trading and Global land Grabs ( a few articles om emerging thefts/trends)
More info: Tasmanian Ancient Forest Defence
http://www.huon.org/
http://www.stillwildstillthreatened.org/
Forests & Climate Change:
http://www.coolforests.org/
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/