June 2006
Taiga Rescue Network
www.taigarescue.org/conference2006
Taiga Rescue Network (TRN) is working to support local struggles and strengthen the cooperation between individuals, NGOs and indigenous peoples and nations concerned with the protection, restoration and sustainable use of the world's boreal forests by means that ensure the integrity of natural processes and dynamics.
About the Boreal/Taiga
The Taiga - or Boreal Forest - is a belt of coniferous dominated
forest encircling the Northern hemisphere and making up one third of the world's total
forest area, much of it still largely undisturbed. It represents the single largest
terrestrial ecosystem on the planet, covering the far Northern regions of North America,
Russia and Europe.
The forest of the North is home to hundreds of indigenous peoples with separate and
distinct cultures. It contains rare plant and animal species and helps to control global
warming.
Threats to the Taiga
Although it still contains huge areas of pristine habitat, and one of the lowest human
populations in the world, the region is currently facing massive change and degradation.
Large-scale exploitation
Large-scale industrial forestry is by far the most important threat affecting boreal
forests today. In Scandinavia large-scale exploitation of the forests has transformed
virtually all forest land into intensively managed secondary forests. In Siberia and parts
of Alaska and Canada most of the primary forest is still intact, but forestry is
continuously moving into previously untouched areas. The taiga is being increasingly used
as a mere "pulp factory" providing the raw material for the production of pulp
and paper.
Unsustainable forest management
Intensive forestry methods such as large scale clear-cutting, plantation forestry, the
introduction of exotic tree species, soil scarification and ditching and the use of
pesticides/herbicides characterize forestry throughout the boreal region, leading to a
simplification of the ecosystem and an unprecedented loss of habitat.
Wasteful consumption
The major force behind these developments is the wasteful and ever growing consumption of
wood products - above all paper - in the industrialized world. Paper consumption has
increased twenty fold during the 20th century and is expected to increase by another 80%
by 2010 (from 1993 levels). Such a scenario would be a disaster for the taiga.
Other threats
Other pressures include oil and gas exploration, road building, mining, human induced
forest fires, climate change as well as illegal activities such as poaching and logging.
TRN International Coordination Centre
:Box 116 Ajtte
SE-96223 Jokkmokk
Sweden
tel + 46 971 17039
fax + 46 971 12057
Staff
Janet Alexandersson
International Coordinator
janet@taigarescue.org
Leontien Krul
EU Forestry Policy Co-ordinator
Joint TRN-FERN
leontien@fern.org
Birthe Weijola
Information Coordinator
birthe@taigarescue.org
Sandra van Slooten
TRN Intern
sandra@taigarescue.org
Anna Zubko
English-Russian Web Content Review
Volunteer
anna@taigarescue.org
SAVE THE DATE!!
Taiga Rescue Network 8th Biennial Conference
The Global Importance of the Boreal Forest:
Migratory Birds and the Paper Industry
10 - 13 September 2006
Clare College, Cambridge, UK
The conference will feature:
Industry NGO government science discussions to promote cross-sectoral collaboration and/or communication, build relationships and increase mutual understanding
In-depth discussions of the worlds impacts on boreal ecosystems, especially in relation to migratory birds
The latest campaign news from around the boreal forest
Release of the State of the Paper Industry and the Environment by the Environmental Paper Network
Unveiling of new tools and information to help papermakers and major paper buyers improve environmental performance
Attendees will include those from the following cross section of industries:
Paper industry and boreal forest products industry representative
NGOs working on paper issues, boreal forests, and related
Indigenous peoples groups and local community organizations throughout the boreal region
Academics Scientists Researchers interested in boreal forests, migratory birds and the paper industry worldwide
Government agencies and development agencies
Financial institutions, especially those affected by or invested in boreal regions and the paper industry
Additional meetings of Birdlife International's Forest Task Force, the Taiga Rescue Network and the Environmental Paper will be held following the conference by invitation. Additional workshop information will be made available.
Contact: Jim Ford,
jim@taigarescue.orgSave the date in your diary and be sure to check back at:
www.taigarescue.org/conference2006
for more details as they become available.
An email reminder will be sent.
Co-hosts are the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Birdlife International, Boreal Birdsong Initiative, ForestEthics, and UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre with support from the Environmental Paper Network, Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund and others.
www.taigarescue.org/conference2006,
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Taiga Rescue
Conference on Boreal Forests - Migratory Birds and Paper Industry
Attachment: Cambridgemeeting_programme.pdf (0.22 MB) www.taigarescue.org/conference2006"Veronika Ferdinandova" veronika.ferdinandova@bspb.org
Thursday, June 15, 2006