Australia’s native forests have long been a stage for adversarial confrontations between loggers and protesters who engage in blockades and who are willing to lock on to equipment in order to immobilise it. They represent two divergent polarised viewpoints: one reductionist outlook that sees trees as a resource to be harvested, and another holistic perspective that views them as part of an ecological whole and a home to biodiversity.
Recently scientists and some of the media have been emphasising the role of the world’s forests in connection with climate change. Intact tropical forests are carbon sinks, although if they degrade they can become net carbon sources and pose an additional threat to a stable climate. The logging of forests contributes to climate change due to the release of the carbon they are storing, the loss of their carbon sink, and carbon generated from disturbed forest soils. Logging in peat-rich areas, often tropical, further multiplies climate impacts. This usually involves draining carbon-rich peat, and releases methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more powerful than CO2. In jurisdictions with a carbon price, there is also an economic value in leaving forests standing.
Deforestation and the illegal logging problem
Due to their high biodiversity, tropical forests generally have a greater ecological value than those in other parts of the world, but they are tragically being lost. Some of this is linked to timber harvesting for timber or paper, although much is tied to other commodities such as beef, soya, rubber, leather, palm oil, chocolate and coffee.
Esta historia es de la edición Issue 187 de WellBeing.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición Issue 187 de WellBeing.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Avoid the Beauty Hype
Save money, improve your health and contribute to environmental sustainability by creating your own beauty products at home.
Fill your life with delicious scents
Fill your garden with scents and enjoy the sense of tranquillity and quiet joy that comes with them.
Protein - the building blocks of beauty
Chicken, turkey, beef, pork, lamb and organ meats such as pâté are all rich sources of high-quality protein.
Skincare that really cares
We put Sanctum's most popular products to the test and see why they're loved and adored by all.
Chelsea Pottenger - CARING FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Chelsea Pottenger, a mother, ambassador, keynote speaker and the founder and director of EQ Minds, is dedicated to reshaping the corporate landscape of mental health.
Green Beat
All the latest in environmental issues
Community-based prepping
Is the future going to look like it does at the present? Or might there be unexpected challenges? The answer is that challenges are likely and if not now, then soon. The real question becomes how we will respond to that disruption and achieve sustainable positive outcomes as a result.
Rest, roll and recover
Your body requires proper care and attention to function at its best. Just as you fuel your body with nutritious food, you must also provide it with adequate rest and recovery to maintain optimal health.
THE IMPORTANCE OF STILLNESS
In a busy world we say, \"Who has time for stillness?\" But the question should be: \"What are we really missing out on by not prioritising silent and soulful solitude?\"
Cucumbers
Cucumbers hydrate you and have potential antidiabetic, lipid lowering and antioxidant activity.