permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lflj@intrex.net>]

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7503304.stm>
Page last updated at 23:04 GMT, Sunday, 13 July 2008 00:04 UK
Forests to fall for food and fuel
By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website

Biodiesel pump
Demand for biofuels will add to pressure on forests, the report warns

Demand for land to grow food, fuel crops and wood is set to outstrip supply, leading to the probable destruction of 
forests, a report warns.

The Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) says only half of the extra land needed by 2030 is available without eating 
into tropical forested areas.

A companion report documents poor progress in reforming land ownership and 
governance in developing countries.

Both reports will be launched on Monday in UK government offices in London.

Supporters of RRI include the UK's Department of International Development (DfID) and its equivalents in Sweden and 
Switzerland.
        
The dual crises of fuel and food are attracting significant land speculation
Andy White, RRI

"Arguably, we are on the verge of a last great global land grab," said RRI's Andy White, co-author of the major report, 
Seeing People through the Trees.

"It will mean more deforestation, more conflict, more carbon emissions, more climate change and less prosperity for 
everyone."

Rising demand for food, biofuels and wood for paper, building and industry means that 515 million hectares of extra land 
will be needed for growing crops and trees by 2030, RRI calculates.

But only 200 million hectares will be available without dipping into tropical 
forests.

Forest focus

The report foresees demand increasing further into the century.
        
Market stall selling food in Senegal

'New crops needed' to avoid famine

It cites studies suggesting that "...if the current plateau in productivity continues, the amount of additional 
agricultural land required just to meet the world's projected food demand in 2050 would be about three billion hectares, 
nearly all of which would be required in developing countries."

According to UN figures, the world currently has about 1.4 billion hectares of arable land and about 3.4 billion 
hectares of pasture.

Some academics place their hopes in agricultural technologies including 
genetic engineering to boost crop yields.

But since the spectacular successes of the Green Revolution, advances have been slow. In some areas, yields are falling 
- a trend which is likely to be exacerbated by climate change.

However, eating into tropical forests to create extra agricultural land would, in turn, exacerbate climate change, with 
deforestation currently accounting for about 20% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Reform call

One of RRI's key conclusions is that reform of land ownership is crucial, if large-scale pillage of tropical forests is 
to be avoided.

The conclusion is supported by DfID, whose minister Gareth Thomas will be 
speaking at the launch event.

"These new studies should strengthen global resolve to protect the property rights of indigenous and local communities 
who play a vital role in protecting one the most outstanding natural wonders of the world," he said.

DfID runs programmes in West Africa aimed at helping forest dwellers acquire 
the legal right to manage their land.
Drawing maps of forest areas in mud in Bandundu Province, DRC
Many indigenous peoples need help in acquiring rights to the land they live on

"It is clear that the dual crises of fuel and food are attracting significant new investments and great land 
speculation," said Andy White.

"Only by protecting the rights of the people who live in and around the world's most vulnerable forests can we prevent 
the devastation these forces will wreak on the poor."

But the second RRI report - From Exclusion to Ownership? - says progress in reforming ownership has been slow, with only 
a few countries such as Brazil, Cameroon and Tanzania handing over significant tracts to local communities.

Moves to curb climate change by preserving forests in developing countries could help, RRI concludes. But it also raises 
the question of who owns rights to the trees - the rich Western countries that want to fund carbon sequestration, or the 
people who live in the forest areas?

Sorting out ownership could not only help on the environmental front, but also remove reasons for conflict. RRI 
calculates that about two-thirds of the world's current violent conflicts are driven by land tenure issues.

Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk

FOOD PRICE CRISIS

KEY STORIES
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FEATURES
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Malnutrition worsens with rising prices in India
Biofuel: Hero to zero?
Ethiopia's 'green' drought
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Could GM crops help feed Africa?
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Challenges for the food summit
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Q&A: Rising world food prices

PERSONAL STORIES
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HAVE YOUR SAY
Should we try to waste less food?

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