The Forest Wedges

Deforestation and Reforestation Platform

Deforestation accounts for about 20% of all anthropogenic CO2 emissions. A plan to quickly phase-out the destruction of mature forests is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways to make a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, with the added benefit that for every mature tree saved, that is about 20 seedlings that won't have to be planted. While I have read that reforestation and curbing deforestation are often discussed at international climate meetings, I have yet to find any organizations specifically calling for the creation of Global Forest Preserves. The closest I've seen is the REDD program from the UCS (see link below). I also have been unsuccessful in finding anyone lobbying for tree planting as part of a "green" economic stimulus, but what could be greener than planting millions and millions of trees?

While many of the solutions below are more idealistic than realistic, if you find any groups rallying around any of these strategies, please let me know. What is politically impossible now may not be in the coming years. The Boreal Songbird Initiative, while not specifically oriented toward climate change, does have protection of the Boreal as the primary goal. Other groups working to save mature forests are FERN and the World Rainforest Movement. SinksWatch does the important work of publicizing abuse of tree planting carbon sink schemes, as many have been monocrop plantations that are social and environmental disasters. And the Turkish group TEMA has a "Plant 10 Billion Acorns" project!


International
Insist that there be language in the treaty to be signed this December at the international climate meeting in Denmark that:

• Agrees to a goal of stopping the CO2 level before it hits 400 ppm, then reducing GHG emissions to a CO2 equivalent of 350 ppm by 2080. Emphasize that this agreement cannot be diluted with “market” solutions.

• Sets up an international fund that creates a system of Global Forest Preserves that are stewarded by the indigenous tribes of the region, and belong to all of humanity, that will pay the nations with tropical forests to not clear any more forest, and pays them more to reforest land that has been clear-cut. The Union of Concerned Scientists has done a study of the costs of reducing deforestation, and when compared to the recent financial bail-outs, it is a pittance; effective immediately (January, 2010).

• Bans clear-cutting of forests worldwide. China actually did this a few years ago, and primarily for economic benefits, they have a ban on deforestation still.

• Agrees to implementing programs within the next two years that encourage or reward planting of native (or appropriate non-native) trees on a massive scale. [Green New Deal, unemployed get trained as land stewards and paid to grow out and plant trees]

In Your Country
Pressure your elected officials to adopt:

• the international policies above.

• A Green New Deal plan that heavily favors low-tech, human-scale, and local projects, particularly restoration of endangered habitat and riparian and wildlife corridors.

This Green New Deal program should train persons according to interests when possible, but the options will be determined by the locale. Examples include: greenhouse construction, greenhouse production/propagation, silviculture, bioregional ecology, land restoration, picking up litter, bicycle restoration and repair, installation of storm windows and other energy efficient products, bus driving, high-speed rail construction, solar cookers, solar air and space heating, small-scale biointensive agriculture, permaculture, etc.

• A moratorium on logging, until a national land stewardship code is in place, and ensure that this code follows as closely as possible the traditional techniques of North America's first people, who managed North American forests sustainably for 10,000 years. It should be illegal to cut healthy mature trees or to use poisons for weed control.

• Local ordinances that address climate change and biodiversity loss. For example: local building code that encourages the use of local materials, puts a limit on house size (or at least taxes that increase exponentially if new construction exceeds 1200 square feet for houses), increase development taxes for all new construction, puts a moratorium on the sale of old-growth lumber (unless it is salvaged), etc. Repeating an earlier idea: Start a non-cyber global warming action group in your neighborhood or town. Organize to put pressure on local governments to reframe all local ordinances with climate change and biotic diversity as focal points (a mature forest has far more value to the planet—therefore us—than any amount of money a few corporations could make from its despoiling).

Easy (or maybe not-so-easy?) Lifestyle Changes that Affect this Wedge
• Stop all subscriptions to magazines and newspapers that don’t directly inspire you to protect the planet
• Stop buying paper towels and napkins and tissues; use cloth instead
• Re-use all one-sided paper
• If you have to buy paper products, find ones made from 100% post-consumer recycled content, this includes toilet paper
• Don’t use paper plates or buy drinks or take-out food in boxes; take your own mug/bottle and reusable food containers
• Use salvage lumber instead of buying new; if you must buy new, try to find FSC lumber
• Don’t buy any books or other paper-intensive products that don’t have any truly meaningful value to you
• Don’t buy wrapping paper for gifts; if you must wrap, use salvage paper or reusable cloth
• Take your own cloth bags when shopping
• Eat less beef and less soy, unless you already get those from local sources
• Don’t buy new furniture or flooring or other wood-intensive products that aren’t necessary; second-hand stores and salvage yards may have what you need
• If you buy biofuels, buy only from sources that make them from waste vegetable oil
• Urge not only governments, but also wealthy individuals to fund the reforestation of vast areas. UNEP has a “Plant a Billion Trees” program. Join it and/or fund it.
• Support and fund as many groups as you can that have preservation of forests and vast areas of wilderness as their primary function. See the five above and also consider The Foundation for Deep Ecology.