In Virginia, 373,600 family forest landowners control 75 percent of Virginia’s timber supply. A half a million acres are in forest, he said, but “the forestland base is decreasing.” There is “a long term trend of losing a lot of acres of forest,” mainly in northern Virginia, he said.
Almost half – 47 percent – of Virginia’s forest – is on lots averaging 27 acres, and that is considered small scale. “Think of how hard it’s going to be to get a logger out to their place if there’s only 27 acres,” he said.
Keeping property in forest, intact and in the family is a goal many families have, “but for some people, the land is an investment,” he said. That’s why the state created an Easement Program, to offer financial incentives to keep existing forestland intact. Read more...
Almost half – 47 percent – of Virginia’s forest – is on lots averaging 27 acres, and that is considered small scale. “Think of how hard it’s going to be to get a logger out to their place if there’s only 27 acres,” he said.
Keeping property in forest, intact and in the family is a goal many families have, “but for some people, the land is an investment,” he said. That’s why the state created an Easement Program, to offer financial incentives to keep existing forestland intact. Read more...
Israel to Reintroduce Syrian Goats to Its Forests. A ban by Israel on herding black goats – on the pretext they cause environmental damage – is to be repealed after nearly seven decades of enforcement that has decimated the pastoral traditions of Palestinian communities.
The Israeli government appears to have finally conceded that, in an age of climate change, the threat of forest fires to Israeli communities is rapidly growing in the goats’ absence.
The goats traditionally cleared undergrowth, which has become a tinderbox as Israel experiences ever longer and hotter summer droughts. Exactly a year ago, Israel was hit by more than 1,500 fires that caused widespread damage. Read more...
The Israeli government appears to have finally conceded that, in an age of climate change, the threat of forest fires to Israeli communities is rapidly growing in the goats’ absence.
The goats traditionally cleared undergrowth, which has become a tinderbox as Israel experiences ever longer and hotter summer droughts. Exactly a year ago, Israel was hit by more than 1,500 fires that caused widespread damage. Read more...
In India, Social forestry growers, who have been agitating for a remunerative price, now have a reason to smile as the State government has conceded a majority of their demands.
“We have been agitating for fixing a uniform purchase price across the State for subabul and eucalpytus logs and also allow traders to compete with paper mills within the State and outside to create buoyancy in the market. It is heartening that the government has agreed to both the demands,” Prakasam District Development Forum president Ch. Ranga Rao says.
“We are thankful to the government for giving a listening ear also to our demand for a periodic review of the prices offered by paper mills and traders,” Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangam District Secretary Vadde Hanuma Reddy says, adding that the paper mills were allegedly bypassing the Agriculture Market Committees (AMCs) and purchasing logs at a lesser price through brokers from farmers. Read more ...
“We have been agitating for fixing a uniform purchase price across the State for subabul and eucalpytus logs and also allow traders to compete with paper mills within the State and outside to create buoyancy in the market. It is heartening that the government has agreed to both the demands,” Prakasam District Development Forum president Ch. Ranga Rao says.
“We are thankful to the government for giving a listening ear also to our demand for a periodic review of the prices offered by paper mills and traders,” Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangam District Secretary Vadde Hanuma Reddy says, adding that the paper mills were allegedly bypassing the Agriculture Market Committees (AMCs) and purchasing logs at a lesser price through brokers from farmers. Read more ...
In Ireland, farmers will be paid more as forestry rules changed so environmental restrictions on the area of land eligible for payment have now been eased.
Changes to the rules on biodiversity areas within forestry plantations will result in an increase in the area for which farmers can get paid.
Minister of state for food, forestry and horticulture Andrew Doyle has made changes which mean the land farmers are obliged to set aside for environment enhancement and protection should not exceed the 15% Area of Biodiversity Enhancement (ABE) payable under the Afforestation Scheme. The changes apply to all grant-aided plantations established after 1 November 2017. Read more...
Changes to the rules on biodiversity areas within forestry plantations will result in an increase in the area for which farmers can get paid.
Minister of state for food, forestry and horticulture Andrew Doyle has made changes which mean the land farmers are obliged to set aside for environment enhancement and protection should not exceed the 15% Area of Biodiversity Enhancement (ABE) payable under the Afforestation Scheme. The changes apply to all grant-aided plantations established after 1 November 2017. Read more...
In England, a new forest spanning the equivalent of 650 football pitches has received the green light. More than 600,000 trees, a mixture of broadleaf and conifers consisting mainly of spruce, birch, pine and oak, will be planted at Doddington North Moor, near Wooler, Northumberland, over the next two years.
The 350-hectare (860-acre) forest will be the largest of its kind planted in England for more than 30 years, and has been given the go-ahead by the Forestry Commission. The scheme, developed with the help of Government funding will receive grants for planting, and will store 120,000 tonnes of carbon, help manage flood risk and boost timber industry businesses and jobs. Read more...
The 350-hectare (860-acre) forest will be the largest of its kind planted in England for more than 30 years, and has been given the go-ahead by the Forestry Commission. The scheme, developed with the help of Government funding will receive grants for planting, and will store 120,000 tonnes of carbon, help manage flood risk and boost timber industry businesses and jobs. Read more...
The forest area in Sindh, Pakistan has been decreased by 80 per cent since 1971, i.e. from 500,000 to 100,000 acres.
Commenting on the matter, Nizamani remarked that massive harvesting happens everywhere but actions should be taken to protect the forests.
He also shared that this is not the problem just in Pakistan, but across the globe. “Foresters worldwide have been ambitious regarding chopping down forests."
Forest Secretary Syed Asif Haider Shah had said that the forest department remained indifferent, saying that the mode of taking over state land gradually changed from surreptitious to blatant.
He said the encroached land should be reclaimed through agro-forestry auction with strict lease term of growing 50 per cent of forest on land granted on lease. Read more...
Commenting on the matter, Nizamani remarked that massive harvesting happens everywhere but actions should be taken to protect the forests.
He also shared that this is not the problem just in Pakistan, but across the globe. “Foresters worldwide have been ambitious regarding chopping down forests."
Forest Secretary Syed Asif Haider Shah had said that the forest department remained indifferent, saying that the mode of taking over state land gradually changed from surreptitious to blatant.
He said the encroached land should be reclaimed through agro-forestry auction with strict lease term of growing 50 per cent of forest on land granted on lease. Read more...
