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Help Rendered: Awareness Groups

I think that there is only one awareness group worth highlighting in this section. We will look into 2 of the projects that they have started to help this earth look better. That awareness group is none other than the WWF ( World Wildlife Fund ). The Forests for Life campaign is one of the 4 main projects that the WWF is funding and looking into. There are 2 targets for the WWF, firstly, Protected Areas to be achieved, secondly, the independent certification of 25 million hectares by the year 2001.

Protected Areas

The establishment and practical realisation of an ecologically representative network of protected areas, covering at least 10 per cent of each of the world's forest types by the year 2000, demonstrating a range of socially and ecologically appropriate
models.

The primary focus for achieving an increase in forest protected areas is through governments. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, WWF's international president (emeritus) has written to over 50 heads of government asking them to make a pledge to establish an ecologically representative network of protected areas covering a minimum of 10 per cent of each forest type in their respective countries.

BACKGROUND:                                                                                            
Recent research shows that 94% of the world's remaining forests are unprotected. Worldwide, more than half of the world's forests have already been lost. Deforestation was most severe in Europe and North America, but in recent decades the rate of deforestation in Latin America, Africa and Asia-Pacific has massively increased. Details of threats to the world's forests can be found in the WWF/IUCN Forest Policy Book.

When forest is lost, so is much of its biological wealth. As 90 per cent of the world's species are found in forested areas, loss of forest has a serious impact on the world's ecology.

WWF is campaigning to ensure that an ecologically representative network of protected areas, covering a minimum of 10 per cent of the world's forests is established by the year 2000, demonstrating a range of ecologically and socially appropriate models.

Independent Certification

Forest certification is a new and innovative tool which is already having impacts on forests around the world by providing a market incentive for improved management.

Certification is one of the most rapidly developing 'soft policy tools' (i.e non-regulatory instruments) which can be used to help the forest sector move into line with the principles of sustainable development.

As forest certification is a market-based initiative WWF is targeting business to deliver the 25 million hectare by the year 2001. Development of national Buyers' Groups is being actively promoted by WWF in a number of key timber consuming countries to help encourage producers and manufacturers to switch to timber from independently certified well-managed forests, labelled with the FSC logo. These groups, made up of consuming and retailing companies, should provide the necessary market incentive to persuade logging companies that certification is not only viable but is, ultimately, a positive marketing tool.

The WWF Logo

Forest Stewardship Council

Buyers Groups