City scientist reveals fears for forests

A PROMINENT city scientist has warned that tropical forests are being heavily exploited in a damning new report.

Dr Antje Ahrends, lead author of a major study on deforestation in Africa, found that over 14 years ago a forest just 50km from Tanzania's capital had vanished and now stands 170km inside the city.

Dr Ahrends, an expert in ecology and conservation at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, also found that dozens of tree species have vanished and in the forests closest to Dar es Salaam the amount of carbon being generated was just one tenth of the average in East Africa.

In the study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, she also told how an estimated 96 per cent of timber is illegally cut down at a cost of around 36 million to the local government.

Dr Antje Ahrends said: "The degradation waves have spread rapidly. Urban migration and rising demand for timber, particularly in China, are amongst the major reasons for this.

"By the end of the study, high value timber logging production took place over 200 km from the city. This is very likely to be unsustainable."

Co-author Dr Simon Lewis, University of Leeds, added: "This study highlights the value of strong interdisciplinary research."