Is it possible that well-intentioned activists have it all wrong on the way that forests can be seen as a solution to — not just a cause of — global warming? According to one group, that’s the case. Here’s a statement we got, and we thought we’d pass along. It’s from World Growth International, which says its mission is to expand the education, information and other resources available to disadvantaged populations to improve their health and economic welfare. Thus sayeth WGI’s Alan Oxley:

“It’s time to turn the tide in the global forestry debate,” Oxley says. “Many Western governments and environmental activists have gone too far. For instance, they’re now proposing that all deforestation be halted in tropical zones — a move that would undoubtedly increase poverty in developing countries.”

“This kind of absolute restriction stems from a misunderstanding of what deforestation truly is,” Oxley explains. “Each year the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reports that most deforestation is caused by poor families harvesting trees for fuel or clearing land to plant crops for food.”

… continued …

“Green activist groups like WWF and Friends of the Earth (FOEI) perpetuate the misconception that the forestry is a black-and-white issue. But that’s simply not true,” Oxley continues. “If forests are managed in sustainable ways, their cultivation can both raise living standards and reduce greenhouse gases.”

“Forestry offers a win-win for the economy and the environment. For that reason, a growing number of organizations — including World Growth, the prominent Collaborative Partnership on Forests, and others — are promoting sustainable forestry at the Poznan meeting this week.”

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