Read at : Earth Negotiations Bulletin <enb@iisd.org>

Linkages Update - Thursday, 6 March 2008

http://www.iisd.ca/media/forests_deserts_land.htm#deforestation

DEFORESTATION IN SUMATRA FOR PULP AND PALM OIL CAUSES GLOBAL CLIMATE IMPACT AND LOCAL WILDLIFE LOSSES

A recent study by WWF and partners has found that 4.2 million hectares of tropical forests and peatlands have been cleared in the last 25 years in a central Sumatran province. The land conversion, mostly for industrial palm oil and pulp and paper production, released annual carbon emissions equivalent to 58 percent of Australia’s annual emissions. Concurrent to the loss of 65% of the province’s forest cover, elephant populations declined by 84%, and tiger populations by 70%.

Link to further information
WWF Media Release, 26 February 2008