Satellites and cellphones expose illegal logging and protect tropical forests

January 29, 2018
Category: Today's Takeaway

Amid the plunder of tropical forests, satellites and cellphones offer a ray of hope. A Globe and Mail exposé shows how satellites are capturing the disappearance of Brazil’s forests in real time and have reduced deforestation by 82 per cent. Meanwhile, a New York Times feature speaks to how cellphones can can help with illegal logging, offering traceability from the forest to the big box store. 

Closer to home: the PPWC (formerly Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada, now the Public and Private Workers of Canada) says status quo in forestry in BC is a non-starter; Bob William’s report on the case for regional forest management continues to get press; the emerald ash borer has killed tens of thousands of trees in Ottawa; pressure mounts on Congress to restore Alaska’s roadless rule exemption; and a Q&A with USFS Chief Tony Took addresses funding for fire-fighting.

Finally, Canada and Mexico are applying pressure on the US on a day that may or be key for NAFTA.

— Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor

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