Bulletin Issue 124 - November 2007

Climate Change and the Expansion of Tree Plantations

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THE FOCUS OF THIS ISSUE: Climate Change and the Expansion of Tree Plantations

Climate change is not only already happening and impacting on the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, but is set to accelerate if actions to address the problem are not urgently implemented. The resulting extreme winds and temperatures, floods, droughts and rise in sea levels will affect increasing numbers of people, millions of which will be forced to migrate and become environmental refugees.

Within such dramatic scenario, governments have until now refused to focus on the real problem –fossil fuel emissions– and have centred their attention on cheap false solutions. Many of those “solutions” are linked to the promotion of tree plantations as either carbon sinks, as sources of biodiesel (oil palm) or aimed at the production of cellulosic ethanol (eucalyptus, poplars, willows, etc.). The biotechnology industry has also contributed to these plans with research on genetically engineered trees able to either store more carbon (with more lignin content) or produce more ethanol (more cellulose content).

To effectively counter those policies, it is important to learn about the different mechanisms used by governments for the promotion of tree plantations and about those used by local populations and organizations to oppose them. We hope that the information provided in this issue of the bulletin will serve that purpose.

WRM Bulletin
124
November 2007

OUR VIEWPOINT

GREEN DESERTS IN THE MAKING

BRAZIL: A FLAGSHIP CASE

AN EYE ON REGIONAL SCENARIOS