Nature loss 'dwarfs bank crisis'

[YankeyMCC]

Source: BBC

(snip)
The global economy is losing more money from the disappearance of forests than through the current banking crisis, according to an EU-commissioned study.

It puts the annual cost of forest loss at between $2 trillion and $5 trillion.

The figure comes from adding the value of the various services that forests perform, such as providing clean water and absorbing carbon dioxide.
(snip)

(snip)
Key to understanding his conclusions is that as forests decline, nature stops providing services which it used to provide essentially for free.

So the human economy either has to provide them instead, perhaps through building reservoirs, building facilities to sequester carbon dioxide, or farming foods that were once naturally available.

Or we have to do without them; either way, there is a financial cost.

The Teeb calculations show that the cost falls disproportionately on the poor, because a greater part of their livelihood depends directly on the forest, especially in tropical regions.

The greatest cost to western nations would initially come through losing a natural absorber of the most important greenhouse gas.
(snip)

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7662565.stm

---

There really isn't much to say that the headline, snips and full article doesn't. There are many difficult challenges facing us both nationally and globably today, and many such as the wars and economic crisis are felt more keenly and immediately than the problems we're facing in the ecology and global climate but the planetary ecology is the fundamental issue and therefore the most pressing issue. Addressing that will help met the other challenges if we do it correctly.

[Altean Wanderer]

1. In the long run this is the most important issue n/t

[DUlover2909]

2. I agree. I have always believed that environment and conservation trumps all other concerns.

Even our civil rights come second to the environment. If we don't solve our environmental problems on a global scale martial law will be the law of the land everywhere anyway. Protecting endangered species' and habitats is essential to protecting freedom and democracy. Life trumps politics every time.

[Javaman]

3. in the long run, because the world is basically sitting on it's hands, we are screwed. nt

[nilram]

6. ditto. Breathe In. Breathe Out. Thank a tree.

[mrbarber]

4. Dammit. The only Dwarf I want to hear about....

..is Gimli or Gotrek.

I swear, the news just get's worse and worse.

[anarch]

5. indeed

Basically another symptom of overconsumption...unfortunately there's no bailout for a natural resources deficit, unless you count the many ways nature will eventually balance things out (i.e. kill a bunch of humans).

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. That's why I voted for Gore in 2000...

Because sound environmental practices are sound business practices.

Fuckin' thugs. :grr:

[GeorgeGist]

8. Nature's economy isn't based on debt ...

it will survive long after the bankers are dead.

[pitohui]

10. why would it survive?

once areas are deforested and become desert, they don't magically change back

unfortunately, given our treatment of this planet and the realities of human nature, i think it infinitely more likely that the bankers will be here when nature is dead and we're all living in miserable stinking tin cans in outer space

[Peace Patriot]

9. We won't be the first civilization to fall because of deforestation, but we might be

the last.

:grouphug: