'Crunch year' for world's forests (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Mark Kinver
Science and environment reporter, BBC News

Efforts to mitigate climate change could be hampered if nations do not agree to protect the world's forests by the end of the year, warn researchers.

Earthwatch says it is vital for leaders attending a key UN summit in December to find a way to halt deforestation.

Deforestation accounts for about 20% of the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities, UN data shows.

The environmental charity will outline its concerns during a public lecture in central London on Thursday evening.

"This year is the crunch time for forests and climate change," Earthwatch's head of climate change research Dan Bebber told BBC News.



***
more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7963489.stm