http://uk.oneworld.net/article/archive/1953 en_GB_uk OneWorld UK - UK/English/Topics/Environment/Forests US pilots initiative on wood imports http://uk.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/85167 The US has flipped the switch on its new declaration system for plant product imports, a groundbreaking initiative established to collect information on what wood products are coming into the country and from where they are harvested. + Honey project 'symbolises commitment to sustainable use of forest resources' The decadence of chewing gum removal http://uk.oneworld.net/article/view/162303/1/1953 In Costa Rica, municipal authorities compete with each other to plant the most trees. UK cities seem to be more concerned about removal of chewing gum from the pavements. Does this reflect cultural diversity or just muddled priorities? Carbon Trading Blasted by Indigenous Groups http://us.oneworld.net/article/view/160386/1/1953 UNITED NATIONS, May 5 (OneWorld) - The United Nations is facing scathing criticism from the world's indigenous communities for its attempts to promote carbon trading as a tool to address climate change concerns. Love for bushmeat: India's rare species at risk http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/159631/1/1953 Despite the ban on hunting since 1991, rampant corruption and poor law enforcement have made it possible for poachers and forest dwellers to feast on some of India's endangered species. The craze for bushmeat is leading many creatures to near-extinction, says Shruti Ravindran Congo Villagers Use Satellites to Save Forests http://uk.oneworld.net/article/view/159555/1/1953 Hundreds of Cogolese villagers - mostly hunter-gatherers or subsistence farmers - will use high-tech GPS (Global Positioning System) devices to produce digital maps to prove their existence to the government and to loggers. Tribal women leaders interface with civil society http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/159278/1/1953 A state level tribal women leader’s summit was organised by Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD) at Bhubanewar, Orissa in eastern India. Several women tribal leaders and stakeholders representing government and civil society emphasised the need to empower tribal women with decision-making and elevate their social status. Global photo contest on mountains and its people http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/159275/1/1953 To mark its 25th anniversary, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) along with Mountain Forum, is organising a Global Digital Photo Contest on the theme ‘For Mountains and People’. The deadline for submission of entries is May 9, 2008. Local Control Saves Forests - Report http://us.oneworld.net/article/view/159182/1/1953 NEW YORK, Mar 27 (OneWorld) - There will likely be fewer wildfires and more trees for future generations if loggers abide by a set of international rules on forest management, says a new study by independent environmentalists. Call to defer implementation of forest rights Act http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/159085/1/1953 Concerned citizens in India feel that many will not be able to claim their rights in the tribal dominated Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, if a forest rights related Act is implemented under present circumstances. Violence perpetrated by Maoist and Salwa Judum activists have forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. No more SEZs in Goa http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/158197/1/1953 Struggles against Special Economic Zones are labeled as ‘anti-development’ by middle class India. Yet Goa’s recent anti-SEZ campaign was led by educated professionals, activists, the church and media, forcing the state government to backtrack. The SEZ is an independent foreign territory with no local or government control, say Goa’s champion campaigners. Gaining fortunes from herbs http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/157942/1/1953 A young tribal has helped the women in his village become successful entrepreneurs by realising the true potential of traditional medicines. Haribol is an all-women self-help group in Chhattisgarh in central India that profits from the state’s abundance of herbs and medicinal plants. Bird watching to save habitats http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/157880/1/1953 An unusual corporate environmental programme by a global bank draws over a hundred bird enthusiasts each year in India. The annual bird races promote awareness of natural habitats and help collect data. The last race at Bangalore spotted 277 bird species – a quarter of all birds found on the Indian subcontinent. South Asia nations to work together on wildlife trade http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/157705/1/1953 Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed to work together to crack down on illegal wildlife trade in the region. South Asia, home to rare and prized species, is one of the prime operating areas of international organised wildlife crime networks. Impoverished Timber Workers Accuse Employer http://www.oneworld.net/article/view/157352/1/1953 PUCALLPA, Peru, Jan 30 (IPS) - Residents of the Amazon jungle town of Orellana in Peru have filed a complaint against a logging company for using their identity documents to commit tax fraud in illegal timber sales worth more than $200,000. Survivor on the fringes of the forest http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/156754/1/1953 Habitat destructions in India are forcing the shy, solitary leopard into closer proximity to humans, leading to deadly conflicts. Persecuted and feared by people and cursed by its beauty, nature’s most elusive predator has precious little to help protect itself, writes Prerna Singh Bindra.