1. Forests

2. Forest covers 30% of available land. 90% of known species live in forests. 80% of virgin forests have been cut down or have been modified. 13M km² disappear every year. Quick statistics

3. The Amazon spreads across 9 countries. Brazil owns 60% of it. Covers 7 M km² Is the most species-rich tropical rainforest in the world. Case study – amazon forest

4. Brazil is an emerging economy. You make more money with farmland than forest. Brazil

5. 2.5 M insect species. Tens of thousands of plants. 2K bird and mammal species. 1 in 5 birds in the world lives in this forest. Unique Species

6. Source of sustainable revenue. Possible source of medicinal compounds. Cultural habitat to indigenous people. Other advantages

7. Historically one of the best source of timber for the British Empire. Timber was a reason for most of the development of Quebec’s north, Laurentians and Abitibi regions. In 1999 Richard Desjardins makes the movie l’ErreurBoréale. (a wordplay on aurora borealis) Case Study 2 – quebec forestry

8. The movie is alarmist and benefits from creative editing. Reforestation has been a part of the forestry industry since the 1960s. Erreurboréale... Really?

9. A lot of “endangered species” actually thrive in second and third growth forest, whereas they were not surviving in old growth forests. There is definitely a link between trees and the production of oxygen... ... But a link between deforestation and “global warming”? Dubious links

10. Should water be sold by countries who have it to countries who need it or lack enough of it? Justify your answer. If forests in America are relatively safe, should an international body force other countries to adopt the same policies? Resources are often more prized for the profits than the ecosystem services they offer in their natural state, could this be changed? Review questions