Related Links

To help you gain a deeper understanding of a number of issues about which we care at Reforest Teak, we’ve listed a few resources whose information on topics such as reforestation, carbon sequestration and illegal logging, we feel, is substantive and enlightening.

Union of Concerned Scientists
http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/solutions/recognizing-forests-role-in-climate-change.html
The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices. You’ll find some helpful information here on topics such as reforestation and carbon sequestration.

Center for International Forestry Research
http://www.cifor.cgiar.org
The Web site of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) provides access to a wealth of information on global forestry issues. Though predominantly in English, it offers publications and news in Spanish and a smaller site in Portuguese concentrated on Brazilian issues. Hundreds of books, reports, scientific articles, abstracts, and newsletters are available for downloading. The CIFOR site also features links to other publications, databases, and Web sites of other organizations

Conservation International
http://www.conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/
The mission of CI is to counteract the loss of biodiversity due to economic forces, such as subsistence farming, hunting, and logging, Conservation International (CI) partners with business owners in Biodiversity Hotspots and High-biodiversity Wilderness Areas to implement competitive yet sustainable cultivation practices and enterprises. Key to the success of agroforestry projects is promoting human welfare and livelihood while preserving critical ecosystems and species. A good place to learn about ecosystem restoration.

Cut and Run: Illegal Logging and Timber Trade in the Tropics, by Bob Glastra
http://books.google.com

Earth Rights International
http://www.earthrights.org/site_blurbs/boycotting_teak_and_other_burmese_goods.html
Earth Right International combines the power of law and the power of people in defense of human rights and the environment. See their activist efforts to boycott teak products from Myanmar/Burma.

Ecoagriculture Partners
http://www.ecoagriculturepartners.org/documents/reports/Who_Conserves_final_11-04.pdf
Ecoagriculture”refers to sustainable agriculture and associated natural resource management systems that embrace and simultaneously enhance productivity, rural livelihoods, ecosystem services and biodiversity. Ecoagriculture Partners is an umbrella organization embracing diverse actors whose work is essential to develop and scale up ecoagriculture systems. There’s interesting information here about community-driven strategies for protecting world forests.

Eco Earth.Info Environment Portal & Search Engine
www.ecoearth.info
EcoEarth.Info is a one of a kind Environment Portal - with genuine Internet search, cutting biocentric commentary & constant news and link tracking - all dedicated to achieving global environmental sustainability. A good resource for articles and updates from around the world on sustainable and ecological issues.

Ecotrust
http://www.ecotrust.org/forestry/index.html
While the focus of Ecotrust is U.S, based, you’ll find interesting information about conservation-based forestrty practices that are relevant to the broader field of ecological reforestation. Ecotrust is a conservation organization working with native peoples in the areas of fisheries, forestry and food sectors to build regional economies based on social and ecological opportunities.

Environmental Investigation Agency Inernational
http://www.eia-international.org
http://www.eia-international.org/cgi/news/news.cgi?t=template&a=312
The EIA is an international campaigning organization committed to the investigation and exposing of environmental crime, and to the search for lasting solutions. You’ll find a wealth of information here about illegal and destructive practices around the world including, more specifically, Latin America.

The Food and Agriiculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
http://www.fao.org/forestry/en/
FAO’s “Forest Law Enforcement” Web site provides information about the organization’s work to stem illegal logging activities around the world. The Web site offers updates on upcoming events, such as a series of upcoming workshops to discuss illegal logging in both the Amazon and Central America; reports on improving compliance with forestry laws and reforming government policy regarding illegal logging; detailed information about FAO’s work in Latin America.

Forest Stewardship Council
http://www.fscus.org
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsibie, socially beneficial and economically viable way. A good place to learn about responsible forestry.

Forest Trends
http://www.forest-trends.org
Forest Trends analyzes commerce and policies and promotes diversification of forest products and services in order to make markets work for conservation and people. In addition to information about its programs and activities, the organization's Web site offers publications that can be downloaded as PDF documents, information on upcoming conferences and workshops, editorials, summaries of technical studies, and links to databases, maps, and the Web pages of other relevant organizations.

Friends of the Earth
http://www.foe.org/index.html
Friends of the Earth works to defend the planet and champions a healthy and just world FOE has the largest network of environmental groups. You’ll find useful information on their site about forestry as well as climate change.

Friends of the Earth Netherlands
http://www.milieudefensie.nl/globalisering/doemee/earthalarm/eng96.htm
A disturbing article about Europe’s corporate support of Burmese teak products.

Greenpeace International Forest Campaign
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/forests/our-disappearing-forests
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/ban-illegal-timber-070207
Greenpeace is a non-profit organization with a presence in 40 cuntries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. As a global organization, Greenpeace fouses on the most crucial worldwide threats to our planet’s biodiversity and environment. Look for information here on the world’s disappearing forests and climate change, as well as a link here to recent news of destructively logged timber in the world’s marketplace.

Illegal-logging.info
http://www.illegal-logging.info
Illegal-logging.info is a dedicated website maintained by the Energy Environment and Development Programme of Chatham House in London, with funding from the UK Department for International Development. Check this site for information on key issues in the illegal logging debate as well as news stories, events and related websites.

International Tropical Timber Organization
http://www.itto.or.jp/live/index.jsp
This site contains detailed information on ITTO's work with sustainable forest management, economic and market information, industry development, and capacity building. Other features include downloadable Tropical Forest Update articles, a large library of reports, news releases and more.

Le Monde Diplomatique
http://mondediplo.com/2004/01/15timber
A relevant article on wrongfully logged timber.

Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/default.asp
http://www.nrdc.org/international/flamerica.asp
NRDC is the nation's most effective environmental action organization. NRDC works through science to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. You’ll find helpful information on topics such as climate change, preserving the world’s forests and perspectives on how US commercial interests are fueling the destruction of some of the world’s wild places, including in Latin America.

Rainforest Action Network
http://www.ran.org/
Rainforest Action Network protects forests and the rights of their inhabitants by campaigning to break America’s oil addiction, promote sustainable logging and bring green ethics to corporate America. You might be interested in some of their forest conservation activist work.

Rainforest Alliance SmartWood Program
http://www.ra.org/programs/forestry/index.html
In more than 50 countries around the world, the Rainforest Alliance helps businesses, governments and communities to change their land-use practices and set standards for the long-term use of resources and the conservation of the planet’s biodiversity. Start here to learn about their guidelines for forward-thinking forestry practices.

World Rainforest Movement
http://www.wrm.org.uy/
The World Rainforest Movement is an international network of citizens’ groups of North and South involved in efforts to defend the world’s rainforests. You’ll find valuable worldwide information here including updates relating specifically to forestry in Latin America.

The World Resources Institute
http://www.wri.org/
http://pubs.wri.org/pubs_findings.cfm?PubID=2928
WRI is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practial ways to protect the earth and improve people’s lives. The Institute’s mission is to move human society to protect the Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. You’ll often find excellent perspectives here on topics from greenhouse gas, to carbon sequestration, reforestation, and illegal logging.

World Wildlife Fund
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/forests/about_forests/index.cfm
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/forests/problems/illegal_logging/index.cfm
WWF works around the world to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. You can find information here about illegal logging and forest crime, as well as a wealth of data about forests, forest conservation, the economics of forests and a range of forests uses.