U.N. reports world rate of deforestation may be slowing

August 9, 2000
Web posted at: 2:54 PM EDT (1854 GMT)

ROME (Reuters) -- The destruction of the world's forests appears to be slowing, a preliminary study by the United Nation's food agency revealed on Tuesday

The rate of deforestation, which has been denounced by environmental activists for decades, declined by as much as 10 percent over the 1990s from the 1980s in some areas, according to the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

But the FAO said that despite the good news the worldwide destruction of trees continued and better forestry practices still needed to be developed.

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"These preliminary results do not mean that the battle against deforestation is over, and a reduction in deforestation must not be used as an excuse for unsustainable forest practices," Hosny El-Lakany, assistant director-general of FAO's Forestry Department, said in a statement.

He also said the long-term efforts of FAO and other environmental groups to build awareness of sustainable forest management were worthwhile and should be reinforced.

Preliminary analysis of more than 300 satellite images showed the rate of deforestation slowing quickest in the tropics. Destruction is worst in the developing world.

Of the 300 images, half showed a reduced rate of destruction and 20 percent an increase.

The study was preliminary. The FAO's full Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 report is planned by the end of the year. A 1995 study showed there were 3.5 billion hectares (8.6 billion acres) of forest in the world, about 55 percent in the developing world.

The major causes of deforestation include the over-rapid expansion of subsistence agriculture, particularly in Africa and Asia, and large development and infrastructure programmes which lead to resettlement, as seen in Asia, particularly China.

Over harvesting, over grazing, fire, insects, storms and pollution also contribute to or exacerbate degradation.

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