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Logging: No impact on big floods

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4331472.stm

Well this overturns all that I thought on the subject...

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Deforestation and logging do not increase the risk of major floods, according to a new report.

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The belief that deforestation causes major floods and increases the damage which they do appears to be widespread.

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But the FAO/Cifor report cites evidence from Bangladesh, Nepal, South Africa, Thailand and the US showing that the frequency and extent of major floods has not changed over the last century or two, despite drastic reductions in forest cover.

Very intereeesting. :scratch:

Re: Logging: No impact on big floods

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Very intereeesting. :scratch:

It sorta doesn't make sense. :confused:

Surely deforestation has some impact? :dozey:

Re: Logging: No impact on big floods

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Originally Posted by jrhnewark

It sorta doesn't make sense. :confused:

Surely deforestation has some impact? :dozey:

The article includes this:

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Research has shown that during last December's Asian tsunami, coastal zones with intact mangrove swamps fared better than other areas.

"Those studies come mainly from Sri Lanka," observed Dr Kaimowitz, "and the tsunami had to go all the way across the ocean to get there.

Dr Kaimowitz is the Director-General of Cifor, one of the two organisations making the claim that "Deforestation and logging do not increase the risk of major floods."

Clearly, what happened in Sri Lanka was not a major flood...

There's no way that the FAO and Cifor could be in the pockets of the logging industry, of course.

The same article also points out that so far this year, we've had major floods in:

Quote:

January - Guyana, Costa Rica and Panama - widespread damage but few fatalities
April - Ethiopia - estimated 134 dead
June - southern China - toll estimated at 567
July - southern India - more than 1,000 dead
August - Europe - about 40 deaths
August - US - more than 1,000 dead or missing from Hurricane Katrina
September - Vietnam - Typhoon Damrey kills about 50
October - central America - Tropical Storm Stan claims more than 700 lives

and that's following hot on the heels of last December's Asian tsunami.

Nothing to worry about, then!