Forests are the lungs of our planet, producing oxygen and sequestering harmful CO2 emissions. Damage to this precious resource causes suffering to the entire body of bios. The globalization trend has proved environmentally destructive to forests, causing deforestation to become a problem of major concern. By ending the destruction of forests we can preserve biodiversity and increase the amount of available food in many parts of the world. In addition, deforestation leads to other environmental concerns including global warming and soil erosion. Many of the world’s forests are locating in regions where there is extreme poverty and these inhabitants often depend solely on the forest for survival. Therefore communities can play a key role in sustaining forests by contributing to the protection and management of these areas in order to minimize damage and also enhance the ability to renew nature. Instead of singling out the key players, whether they are forest companies, the state, or individuals, it is best coordinate all these players in creating more effective policies whose primary goal is sustaining the environment while at the same time eradicating poverty. The international discussion examining the link between saving biodiversity and alleviating poverty must continue in order to ensure the best solution for these concerns.
The work of B.I.O. has focused extensively on the preservation and equitable management of forest resources, and several experts have contributed articles to the volumes of proceedings from our international conferences and to various issues of BioNews. Recently, B.I.O. began a fruitful cooperation with the Borneo Tropical Rainforest Foundation in an attempt to promote education and conservation projects in Malaysia and Indonesia. Our e-learning programme will soon be launched in these countries. Moreover, a training manual and modular course material on “Environmental Dimensions in Agriculture, Forestry and Food Production” were prepared by B.I.O. within the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci “Bios and Environment Transnational Network” project. This material was used in the environmental teaching and training activities of the network in 16 European countries.
References
PROCEEDINGS
- BIOPOLITICS – THE BIO-ENVIRONMENT – VOLUME II
Proceedings from the Second B.I.O. International Conference, October, 1988
– The Role of Animals in Forest Regeneration and the Economics of Rainforest Conservation in S. E. Asia
David J. Chivers
– Destruction of the Amazon and Preservation of Bios
John Carroll - BIOPOLITICS – THE BIO-ENVIRONMENT – VOLUME III
Proceedings from the Fourth B.I.O. International Conference, January, 1991
– Tropical Rainforests and Sustainable Use: The Need for Global Education - BIOPOLITICS – THE BIO-ENVIRONMENT – VOLUME VI
“Danube River Bonds”
Proceedings from the Seventh B.I.O. International Conference, Bratislava, June, 1997
– Danube Forest Ecosystems: Biodiversity Changes in the 20th Century
Julias Oszlanyi
– Danube Floodplain Forests
Ferdinand Kubicek
– Restitution of Floodplain Forests: Synecological Specificities
Ladislav Somsak
– Functional Assessments of Forests as Recreational Resources
Edvardas Riepshas
BIO NEWS
- Bio News 18
– Page 1, Protecting and replanting forests
– Page 10, Reforestation and Forest Protection
– Page 10, Eu Strategy for the Development of Forestry
– Page 10, Invincible Trees which don’t burn
– Page 10, The Plant that Protects Forests
– Page 10, Action for Forest Protection and Regenration
– Page 10, Mount Pendeli in the New Millennium
– Page 11, How Ecuador Plans to Protect the Amazon jungle in the neq millennium
– Page 11, The Forest Microclimate - Bio News 20
– Page 4-5, The plight of ancient native forests in Western Australia - Bio News No. 38
– Page 16, AMAZONICA – The future is now. Education and technology guarantee the future of the jungle - Bio News No. 42
– Page 8-9, Forests and the alleviation of poverty
– Page 9, Borneo Tropical Rainforest Foundation
– Page 8-9, Protesting natural resources and the future for forest survival
– Page 11, Tasmania’s wilderness: Australian ancient native forests at risk
Events
2011
- Extensive e-learning programmes in biopolicy and sustainable development for international students. Courses on: Green Salary, Food, Agriculture and the Environment, Biopolis – Sustainable Urban Development, Forest Management
2010
- Extensive e-learning programmes in biopolicy and sustainable development in cooperation with the Hellenic General Secretariat for Youth. Courses on: Climate Change (Comments), Green Salary (Comments) , Biopolis – Sustainable Urban Management (Comments), Protection of the Forests(Comments). Nearly 4,000 registrations were received.
- Sustainable Development and Promotion of Youth Participation for Building a Green Society. Topics: Climate Change, Green Salary, Biopolis – Sustainable Urban Management, Protection of the Forests. Book, CD – rom.
2005
- B.I.O. establishes cooperation with the Borneo Tropical Rainforest Foundation and submits joint proposal for the implementation of e-learning courses in environmental education to the Government of Malaysia
2001
- Honorary Co-Chairmanship of the International Scientific Conference “Urban gardens and parks: past, modern and future” sponsored by the Ukrainian State University of Forestry and Wood Technology. Lviv, Ukraine. BioNews no. 28, Oct. 2001, p. 3
- “Reviving urban green spaces: a bios vision for the millennium.” Proceedings from the International Scientific Conference on Urban gardens and parks: past, modern and future, sponsored by the Ukrainian State University of Forestry and Wood Technology, Lviv, Ukraine. BioNews no. 28, Oct. 2001, p. 3
1998
- Biopolitics programme in tree-planting and forest-fire prevention in co-operation with the local authorities of the Mount Pendeli region in Greece. Municipal authorities from other areas of Greece and government representatives discussed the urgency of long-term planning and new defence protocols. Programme, Photos
