UN report: 'Decisive year' for world's forestry

The world's forests face a "decisive year" as nations prepare to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals and gather for key climate talks.

The removal of the world's tree cover remains a concern but deforestation rates are slowing, says the UN report

In a UN report on forests, senior official Jose Graziano da Silva called slowing deforestation rates "positive".

But he added that "this positive trend needs strengthening" as the report showed that an area the size of South Africa had been lost since 1990.

The report was published at the World Forestry Congress in South Africa.

"The contribution of forests to the wellbeing of humankind are extraordinarily vast and far-reach," said Mr Graziano da Silva, director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

"Forests play a fundamental role in combating rural poverty, ensuring food security and providing decent livelihoods."

He added that forests were also key components in the natural world's ability to provide environmental services, such as clean air and water, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

The UN's Global Forest Resource Assessment 2015, compiled and published by the FAO, reports that an estimated 129 millions hectares of of forest (an area almost equivalent in size to South Africa) has been lost since 1990.

The assessment, which covered 234 countries and territories, reported the biggest losses of forest cover occurring in Africa, South America and South-East Asia.

However, globally, the study said that the net annual rate of forest loss had slowed from 0.18% in the early 1990s to 0.08% during the period between 2010 and 2015.

While the area of natural forests (which account for an estimate 93% of the globe's forest cover) continued to decrease, the planted forest area had seen an increase, the report observed.

FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment Team leader Kenneth MacDicken said: "The management of forests has improved dramatically over the past 25 years.

"This includes planning, knowledge sharing, legislation, policies - a whole range of important steps that countries have implemented or are implementing," he added.

Asia dominate the list of the top 10 nations that have reported the greatest forest area gain between 2010 and 2015, however there are honourable mentions for the US and France.

Biodiversity concerns

Forests are also hotspots for biodiversity, providing a home for half of the world's terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects.

Despite recent progress in increasing the area offered conservation protection status, the FAO warned that the threat to biodiversity continued.

Mr Graziano da Silva cautioned: "We will not succeed in reducing the impact of climate change and promoting sustainable development if he do not preserve our forests and sustainably use the many resources they offer us."

Nations report the greatest annual forest loss (2010-2015)

1. Brazil 984,000

2. Indonesia 684,000

3. Myanmar 546,000

4. Nigeria 410,000

5. Tanzania 372,000

6. Paraguay 325,000

7. Zimbabwe 312,000

8. DR Congo 311,000

9. Argentina 297,000

10. Venezuela 289,000

    (Unit: hectares)

From BBC News

Rare Sumatran orangutan born at Chester Zoo

A rare species of Sumatran orangutan has been born at Chester Zoo.

The tiny new arrival is extra special because the species is facing extinction in the wild.

The baby orangutan hasn't got a name yet but it will be joining a family of four older brothers and sisters.

Sumatran orangutans are from Indonesia and lots of their homes are being destroyed as forest are chopped down for wood.(CBBC newsround)

Keepers at the zoo said they were doing their early morning checks when they spotted the tiny newcomer in the arms of its mother, 28-year-old Subis.

Sumatran orangutans are found only on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia where it is estimated that less than 6,500 remain.

The species has come under threat due largely to the destruction of its habitat for logging, wholesale conversion of forest to palm oil plantations and hunting, say the zoo.

Tim Rowlands, curator of mammals, said: "Subis herself was born here in 1986 and has since had four other young, but this is the first Sumatran orangutan to be born here at the zoo in just under three years so the team is absolutely thrilled.

"To watch Subis cradling her new arrival is a truly wonderful sight and we just hope that the pair help us to raise a little more awareness of their cousins in the wild that face enormous threats on a day-to-day basis. Sadly, without continued conservation work the Sumatran orangutan could become the first great ape to become extinct in the wild." (home.bt.com)

Along with orangutans other species are being threatned in Sumatra. Rhinos, tigers, elephants among others, are victims of the palm oil world's demand. Palm trees are being massively logged off shrinking these are others animals' habitat and  preventing them from a free healthy life in the wild. Palm oil is more and more an important ingredient in tooth paste, soaps and in almost everything that foams and even in various food like frying oils. Cosmetics and cleaning products are two other uses for palm oil. Due to its importance to industry these animals' habitat is being destroyed and therefore in a while they'll have nowhere to go. They´ll die or will be killed by humans who see their properties invaded by famished animals.