Where the Forest Ends
The plantations spreading over Sumatra aren’t taking up empty land. Wholesale changes in ecology that come with new plantations can affect nearby rural villages most. Living on Earth’s Mitra Taj reports from Teluk Kabung, where the arrival of the pulpwood industry has devastated the cash crop of coconuts and left villagers with little hope for the future. It’s not clear whether the new UN scheme to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation ? or REDD ? designed to pay to preserve tropical forests will offer them a lifeline.
The story you just read is available for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
Make a gift today, and you’ll get us one step closer to our goal of raising $25,000 by June 14. We need your help now more than ever!