Protected forests still threatened: WWF

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2004

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — More money and urgent action are needed to combat the threats faced by protected forests around the world, according to a major study released by the WWF conservation group.

Described as "the largest ever global assessment of the management of forest protected areas", the survey was presented on the sidelines of a conference of parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in the Malaysian capital.

It shows that "poaching, agricultural encroachment, illegal logging and over-harvesting of non-timber products are the main threats" to the protected forests.

The survey of almost 200 areas in 34 countries shows that relations with local communities and indigenous people, law enforcement and lack of funding are recurrent problems....