Saving What Remains


 

Combatting Amazon Forest Fires

Forest fires have ravished the Amazon during the 1990s. Many of these fires - set by land clearers - spread accidentally into virgin rainforest. In its assessment of the 1998 fires (RisQue98), the Woods Hole Research Center put forth some suggestions on how to reduce burning in the Amazon.
1) Predict areas of high fire risk
2) Increase educational outreach
3) Undertake fire policy reform to require fire management and planning, prohibit burning at certain times, and require burning permits

The most fundamental step that needs to be taken in not just the Amazon, but all forests worldwide, is a new rural development model which restricts access to the majority of forests and creates a situation of land scarcity, resulting in higher land prices and increased investment in forest resources. Unfortunately this type of reform is difficult in regions where subsistence farmers create most of the damage because it does not solve their land problems or poverty. This reform is most effective where forest clearers are large commercial interests.

Woods Hole Research Center 1998

   

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Solutions Introduction
Sustainable Forest Products
Large-scale Forest Products
Medicinal Drugs
Logging
Logging (con't)
Oil
Conservation Priorities
Reserve Size & Valuation
Organization
Intergovernmental Institutions
Communication, Education
Indigenous people
- - - -
References (1)
References (3)
References (5)

Sustainable Dev - Agriculture
Eco-tourism
Foods & Genetic Diversity
Medicinal Drugs & Pesticides
Logging (con't)
Cattle
Increasing Productivity
Types of Reserves
Funding
Developing nations
NGOs
International Organizations
Conclusion
- - - -
References (2)
References (4)
References (6)

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