British Columbia: Vancouver: The Disastrous Trajectory of the Tropical Rain forest (October 20, 2010)

5:15, Wed 20th Oct, 2010

Fletcher Challenge Canada Lecture Theatre (Forest Sciences 1005)

Followed by reception in the Forest Sciences Centre, Atrium

The disastrous trajectory of the tropical rain forest: Conservation imperatives

Dr. Peter Ashton has researched the forests of tropical Asia for over half a century. Arriving in the nineteen ffties when many countries were over half forested, he has seen their majestic groves reduced to fragments and retreat to the steep lands unconvertable to agriculture. Although these remaining upland forests are being logged, they can still conserve much of the wildlife.

But it will be explained why this is by no means sufcient for conservation of biodiversity overall, and why other initiatives are needed. We will learn the likely costs, and the benefts of biodiversity conservation, and ask who the benefciaries are – and by implication who should pay.

Additional details on the lecturer in the attached poster.