|
Over 9 hectares of forests lost per minute: UN
report
Thursday December 01, 2011 03:06:46 PM,
IANS
|
|
Rome:
More than nine hectares of forests were lost per minute between
1990 and 2005, a period when the world's deforestation rate
accelerated, a UN survey shows.
The net loss of forests -- deforestation offset by afforestation
or natural expansion -- totaled 72.9 million hectares during the
15-year period, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO).
In other words, the net loss averaged 4.9 million hectares per
year, or 9.3 hectares of forests per minute over the 15 years,
Xinhua reported.
The new data also shows that the net loss of forests increased
from 4.1 million hectares per year between 1990 and 2000 to 6.4
million hectares between 2000 and 2005.
The survey also shows that the worldwide net loss in forest area
between 1990 and 2005 was not as great as previously believed,
since gains in forest areas are larger than previously estimated.
The net loss was only two thirds of the previous figure of 107.4
million hectares, according to the survey.
The world's deforestation averaged 14.5 million hectares per year,
consistent with previous estimates.
Deforestation, which occurred mainly in the tropics, may be
attributed to the conversion of forests to farmland.
"Deforestation is depriving millions of people of forest goods and
services that are crucial to rural livelihoods, economic
well-being and environmental health," said Eduardo Rojas-Briales,
FAO assistant director-general for forestry.
The satellite imagery-based survey shows that the world was
covered by 3.69 billion hectares of forests in 2005, or 30 percent
of the global land area.
|
|
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
 Cong, opposition fight over FDI continues; traders call nationwide
protests
The war over allowing foreign equity
in Indian retail market intensified Wednesday with the
»
PM firm on FDI decision, says it is pro-people
Stop
politicising FDI in retail, look for bigger benefits: CII |
|
|
|
Most Read |
|
Police bias against Muslims issue of great
concern: Teesta
“Institutionalized prejudices and
negative attitudes of the security forces and police against
Muslims are issues of great concern”, said the eminent social
worker and human right activist
»
|
|
Gujarat should distance itself from law abusers, apex court told
Senior counsel Gopal Subramanium, appointed by the court for its
assistance, said this during the hearing on a petition by the
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking the transfer of
trial outside Gujarat in the abduction and staged shootout killing
of Sohrabuddin Sheikh
»
|
|
|
|
News Pick |
|
 Enough is enough, says Pakistan on spilling citizens' blood
Pakistan
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar Wednesday said NATO forces
»
Pakistan sends notice to US to vacate airbase
|
|
 Petrol prices lowered by 65 paise a litre
A fortnight
after giving consumers relief for the first time in almost three
years, India's fuel retailers again cut petrol prices Wednesday --
by 65 paise a litre, excluding state
» |
|
Millions vote in by-polls in six states
Polling
between 60 percent to as high as 80 percent was recorded in byelections held Wednesday to eight assembly constituencies in six
states. Around 50 percent voter turnout was registered in the
Kolkata South
»
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day |
|
 |
|
The Prime
Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Emeritus Senior Minister,
Mr. Goh Chok Tong, unveiled the bust and the Marker of Pt.
Jawaharlal Nehru, at Asian Civilizations Museum, in Singapore
on November 20, 2011.
(Photo: M.
Asokan ) |
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
Quick links