Why people rally around a rainforest – in England
Save rainforests? People are thinking temperate, not just tropical. The Christian Science Monitor
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Temperate Rainforests: A Key Pillar in Sustainable Development
Temperate rainforests, once abundant in Britain, now only cover 1% of the landscape due to logging, development, and land conversion. However, these forests play a crucial role in combating climate change and biodiversity loss. Unlike tropical rainforests, temperate forests have nutrient-rich soils.
The Significance of Temperate Rainforests
While tropical rainforests often steal the spotlight, temperate rainforests are gaining attention for their global benefits. Efforts to protect and expand these forests are growing, with initiatives like the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest and the South West Rainforest Alliance in England. Aviva, an insurance company, has also donated funds to establish new areas of temperate rainforest.
Exploring the Beauty and Importance of Temperate Rainforests
Stepping into a temperate rainforest feels like entering another world. These forests have inspired authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and hold cultural significance. Despite their beauty, only 1% of Britain’s land surface is covered by temperate rainforest due to centuries of logging and development.
However, these forests are not just about nostalgia and cultural heritage. They also play a vital role in fighting climate change and preserving biodiversity. Temperate rainforests are home to unique species of lichens and mosses, and they have a higher carbon storage capacity compared to tropical rainforests.
The Urgency to Protect and Restore Temperate Rainforests
It is crucial to scale up protection and restoration efforts in temperate rainforests to prevent catastrophic climate and biodiversity losses. The Tongass National Forest in Alaska, the world’s largest remaining temperate rainforest, serves as a hopeful example. In Scotland and England, alliances have formed to protect and expand pockets of remaining temperate rainforest.
Efforts to establish new tracts of rainforest are part of a three-pronged strategy to address the decline of these ecosystems. This strategy includes protecting existing forests, restoring them to optimal conditions, and advocating for their legal protections. Overgrazing and invasive species are among the challenges that need to be addressed.
Climate change poses a significant threat to temperate rainforests. Stabilizing global temperatures through emissions reduction is crucial for their survival. These woodlands are part of our natural heritage and should be valued as essential resources for future generations.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
- Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
- Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing states
The article highlights the role of temperate rainforests in the fight against climate change, emphasizing their carbon storage capacity. Efforts to protect and expand these forests contribute to SDG 13 by strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards and integrating climate change measures into national policies.
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SDG 15: Life on Land
- Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services
- Target 15.2: Promote the sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
- Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
The article emphasizes the importance of temperate rainforests in biodiversity conservation and restoration. Efforts to protect and expand these forests contribute to SDG 15 by promoting the sustainable management of forests, halting deforestation, and protecting threatened species.
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters | Efforts to protect and expand temperate rainforests contribute to strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards. |
| Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | Efforts to protect and expand temperate rainforests contribute to integrating climate change measures into national policies. | |
| Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning | The article raises awareness about the importance of temperate rainforests in the fight against climate change. | |
| Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing states | The article mentions organizations and alliances working to protect and expand temperate rainforests in specific regions. | |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services | Efforts to protect and expand temperate rainforests contribute to the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems. |
| Target 15.2: Promote the sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally | Efforts to protect and expand temperate rainforests contribute to promoting the sustainable management of forests and halting deforestation. | |
| Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species | The article highlights the importance of temperate rainforests in biodiversity conservation and protection of threatened species. |
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Source: csmonitor.com
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