Forest fight over climate change

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2008
Forest fight over climate change

Scientists believe trees could hold the key to tackling climate change .. but can't
agree whether the planet benefits from leaving them in the ground or chopping them down.

Conservationists and the forestry industry have gone head-to-head over how Australia's
native forests can best be used to fight global warming.

Both sides agree that forests .. which consume carbon when they grow .. could be central
to Australia's efforts to cut carbon emissions.

Conservationists say native forests should be left in the ground .. locking up carbon.

But the industry says logging native forests then replanting them will do more to fight
climate change.

Greens leader BOB BROWN disagrees .. saying the climate benefits from new plantations
is nowhere near the destruction that cutting down native forests is wreaking day by day
in the forests of Australia.

AAP RTV ca/srp/cjh/bwl/wz/fdf

KEYWORD: CLIMATE (CANBERRA)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.