Natural Resources and Rainforests
Tropical Forest Conservation seen from a new Perspective
The tropics are real treasure chests. Source: KfW Picture Archive
The forests of the world are still under threat: between 13 and 15 million hectares are lost annually in the developing countries. Only a small area is left of the primeval forest that originally covered large parts of the earth; it can be found mainly in South America, in the Congo, in parts of Asia and in Russia and Canada. Some studies already describe the tropical rainforest of the Amazon, the largest continuous forested area on earth, as "Swiss cheese", because humankind has bored and sawn so many holes in it.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel: while in Indonesia and Brazil more and more gaps are still being cut into the dense vegetation, China and India have reported modest progress - the area of forest there is growing once again. Another positive sign is that, nowadays, appropriate methods are known and we are far more aware of how to stop deforestation and encourage forestation. Protection areas for fauna and humans, i.e. for the indigenous population, have in some places already worked wonders.
Home to Many Species
Protection of species and rainforest conservation go hand in hand. There cannot be one without the other. The tropics are real treasure chests as they are home to the greatest variety of species on the planet. Millions of animal and plant species (around two-thirds of all organisms found on land) are native to the equatorial rainforests, where it is not uncommon to find several hundred species of tree on just one hectare of land.
Moreover, conservation of the tropical rainforests helps the climate, as deforestation is - after energy generation - the most important source of greenhouse gas emissions and is thus very significant for climate protection. Initiatives to protect the forests are proven measures to counter the threat of imminent climate disaster, particularly when such projects are powered by trade in emissions and national tropical rainforest conservation funds.
Ecosystems
At the same time, efficient protection of ecosystems targets "traditional protected areas" and the sustainable use of areas that are not protected, but which are of great ecological value. In order to conserve natural ecosystems long-term, we have to see the big picture: in some cases interdisciplinary approaches or intervention in affected sectors (such as agriculture and infrastructure) may be needed even more urgently than purely protective measures.
Further Information
- REDD Professional Dialogue 3 (2012): REDD and Indigenous Peoples (PDF, 564 KB, non-accessible)
- KfW (2011): National REDD Registries: An Overview of Issues and Design Options (PDF, 1,0 MB, non-accessible)
- REDD Professional Dialogue 2 (2011): REDD benefit sharing between sub-national and national level (PDF, 245 KB, non-accessible)
- REDD Professional Dialogue 1 (2011): REDD Innovative Forest Protection (PDF, 806 KB, non-accessible)
Last updated: January 2012
