By DemocracyRules
Environmentalists bewail the loss of tropical rain forests. It turns out their concerns are misplaced.
Dr Alan Grainger, a researcher at the University of Leeds, has examined the evidence, published Jan 8, 2008 in the Proceedings of the US National Academy of Sciences. He concludes that forest loss may or may not be occurring. He could not find enough evidence to tell, even when he used the best data he could find. This applies to temperate, tropical, and dry forests. UN data (from the FAO) does not show a net decline in forests.
“The picture is far more complicated than previously thought... If there is no long-term net decline it suggests that deforestation is being accompanied by a lot of natural reforestation that we have not spotted.”
"What is happening to the tropical forests is so important, both to the peoples of tropical countries and to future trends in biodiversity and global climate, that we can no longer put off investing in an independent scientific monitoring programme that can combine satellite and ground data to give a reliable picture,” he said.
Dr. Grainger’s study will probably have influence because he is a well-known expert on tropical deforestation. Previous studies have also shown complex trends in deforestation and forestation.
Dr. Grainger’s findings will also influence global warming research, because growing forests soak up carbon dioxide.
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