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A farmer carries a chainsaw at a coca plantation after cutting down trees to plant coca in Guaviare department, Colombia
Image: Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty ImagesImage: Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images

Deforestation

Much of the world used to be covered with trees. But most of the world's ancient forests have been cut down.

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All Content on this topic

“If a tree falls: Deforestation in Africa” – Episode 9 – “Sesi’s dark secret”

Enjoy listening to the ninth episode of our series on deforestation.
July 11, 2012

“If a tree falls: Deforestation in Africa” – Episode 10 – “A blessing”

Enjoy listening to the final episode of our series on deforestation.
July 11, 2012
Protestors gather in Sofia

Stopping deforestation

Bulgarian environmentalists have convinced politicians to reject a controversial law on building.
July 10, 2012
Sheep graze on a meadow

A Nobel commons champion

Elinor Ostrom believed people can manage resources sustainably and better than commonly believed.
July 3, 2012

Forests for all

Peru's indigenous people are working to sustainably manage shared resources like forests.
July 3, 2012

Liberian hunters become forest guards

We follow a forest guard as he patrols the Upper Guinea Rainforest. Almost half the forest lies within Liberia. A devastating civil war has left many people in Liberia desperately poor and they have been plundering the forest for anything that can be sold. Now, the government is turning to hunters for help.
ScienceJune 28, 201206:13 min

Protecting Peru's tropical forests

June 26, 2012
A police photo of the man who turned out to be Robin.

'Forest boy' identified

German police have found out the true identity of a 'forest boy' whose story made headlines across the world. The reality is a great deal more mundane than the tales he told.
June 15, 2012
A house with fresh laundry outside

Sustainable lives

On Ilha das Cinzas in Brazil, sustainable practices improve lives and protect nature.
June 12, 2012
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Deforestation fueled by dirty water

People without drinking water often have to boil it using forest firewood, which adds to deforestation.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 11, 201201:14 min
The picture shows a worker with chainsaw cuting tree in jungle, Itacoatiara , Amazonas, Brazil.

Deforestation decline

Deforestation in Brazil has declined, despite the current government, not because of it.
June 10, 2012
An Indonesian woman walks past a truck carrying acacia logs

Stopping tree-cutting

Several laws and regulations exist to combat illegal logging, providing hope for damaged forests.
June 5, 2012

Save the Tiger! Indonesia Fights for its Rain Forest

Illegal deforestation, wildfires and hunting once took their toll on Sumatra's rainforest, all but destroying it. But today the island's Harapan Rainforest is a shining example of how the rainforest ecosystem can be saved and restored - it's an internationally unique project.
BusinessJune 5, 201207:36 min

The Value of the Forest

What value does the forest have? It is absolutely vital - both for humanity and nature. It's impossible to put a price tag on its value. But trees store CO2 - which is certainly measurable in terms of the climate.
BusinessJune 5, 201201:41 min
Thousands of brand new cars at the parking lot of the Volkswagen assembly plant in Sao Bernanrdo do Campo, Brazil.

The country of the Rio+20 Conference

Can the fight to protect the environment keep up with the fight against poverty?
June 4, 2012

Using forests to protect the climate

May 29, 2012

Opposing logging turns deadly in Cambodia

Cambodians have been shocked in recent weeks by the killing of people protesting the destruction of the country's forests. Earlier this month a 14-year-old girl was shot dead as villagers demonstrated a notice to abandon their land. Her death followed the killing of one of Cambodia's most prominent activists in April, Chut Wutty, who was shot by a military policeman in mysterious circumstances.
ScienceMay 24, 201206:28 min

Corn crops and cloud forests

May 22, 2012
Chut Wutty

Cut down

The protection of Cambodia's forests takes an ugly turn with the recent killing of protesters.
May 21, 2012
Achtung: Das Bild darf nur im Zusammenhang mit der Rubrik "Blick aus meinem Fenster" verwendet werden.*** Zu sehen ist die Sierra Madre Oriental in Nuevo León, Mexiko. Bild: Ricardo Tavares

Protecting Mexico's rich forests

May 15, 2012
A forest

Stress tests for trees

A European project discovers which trees will prosper as climate change alters growing conditions.
May 9, 2012
30.04.2012 global 3000 klima madagaskar

The perfect green meal

Solar cookers in Madagascar can help save dwindling forests as well as power electric gadgets.
May 1, 2012

Saving Madagascar's Forests with Solar Cookers

The inhabitants of Madagascar traditionally use wood charcoal for cooking. But it's expensive and also leads to deforestation. Once a lush, green island, Madagascar loses around 200,000 hectares of forest each year. Solar cookers are meant to cut the reliance on firewood and save the threatened forests.
BusinessMay 1, 201207:10 min
Chut Wutty

Further investigation

The recent death of a prominent environmental activist in Cambodia remains unclear.
April 30, 2012
BRA, 2008: Kahlschlag im Amazonasregenwald. [en] Clear-cut rainforest or jungle in the Brazilian Amazon. | BRA, 2008: Clear-cut rainforest or jungle in the Brazilian Amazon. Schlagworte 121993, Amazon, Amazonas, Dschungel, Holzeinschlag, Landschaft, Natur, Querformat, Regenwald, Rodung, South America, Suedamerika, Tropenholz, Wald, Zerstoerung, environmental destruction, erosion, forest, horizontal, jungle, landscape, nature, rainforest, scenery, tropical, tropisch

Forestry push-back

Brazil's president feels pressure to veto a forestry bill that threatens to worsen deforestation.
April 27, 2012

Saving Madagascar's forests with solar cookers

April 24, 2012
A digger stands on a cleared plot of forestland (Foto: ddp images/AP Photo/Ed Wray)

Palm oil: Future biofuel or ecological disaster?

From pizza to biofuel, palm oil is used in a range of products. And demand is growing. But forests are often torn down in the rush to boost palm oil production, with disastrous consequences for humans and the climate.
April 24, 2012
Kolumbien 2

Green palm oil

A Colombian company has found a sustainable way of producing palm oil without tearing down forests.
April 24, 2012
Learning by Ear - Deforestation Learning by Ear - Deforestation © Ulutuncok | LAIF

If A Tree Falls - Deforestation In Africa

Africa has the highest deforestation rate of all continents on the globe. That has a large impact on the daily life of most Africans like those in our drama, who are living in a refugee camp after a cruel civil war.
April 13, 2012
Giant panda cub Tai Shan, 4-months old, plays inside his den at the Smithsonian National Zoo, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005, in Washington. More than 100 reporters and camera crews from around the world got their first look at Tai Shan as they filed past his indoor enclosure in five different shifts. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Hormonal males

European zoos take interest in the discovery that male pandas have their own fertility cycle.
April 10, 2012
Birch forest

Healthy forests

Forests are not just recreational spots, but also provide other benefits such as birch sap.
March 21, 2012
Stammt aber aus unserem DW-eigenen Promo-Material für Learning by Ear. quelle: Katrin Ogunsade 4945

Africalink on Air - 20 March 2012

Somali's Islamist rebels al-Shabaab fights back+++Kenya still struggling to contain Mt.Kenya forest fire+++Nigeria ponders whether to bring back police checks considered corrupt
March 20, 2012

Africalink on Air - 20 March 2012

Somali's Islamist rebels al-Shabaab fights back+++Kenya still struggling to contain Mt.Kenya forest fire+++Nigeria ponders whether to bring back police checks considered corrupt
March 20, 201224:59 min
Chile

Children's project

In Chile, children in a mountain village are designing their own world by planting trees.
February 28, 2012
containers ans cranes in a port

Electrifying German exports

German companies making electrical products managed to export more goods in 2011 than ever before.
February 28, 2012

Carnival down south

Germany's Black Forest region celebrates a different kind of Carnival.
February 21, 2012
Three skiiers on a very snowy slope

The Bavarian Forest

Discover the delights and sights of Europe's largest contiguous forest landscape.
February 21, 2012
Japanese money

Japan's trade woes

Japan's overall exports declined by almost 10 percent in January, marking a record trade deficit.
February 20, 2012
Lynx

Bavarian safari

Germany's Bavarian Forest is home to many large and intriguing animals.
January 31, 2012
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Winter Wonderland 06 - Black Forest

Germany’s Black Forest region is a popular destination for anyone interested in cross country skiing.
LifestyleJanuary 28, 201203:25 min
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Winter Wonderland 03 - Thüringer Forest

The Thüringer Forest is a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts here in Germany. It attracts a growing number of visitors every year. We travelled to the region to find out more.
LifestyleJanuary 25, 201205:08 min

Black Forest – Three Travel Tips

Stefan Strumbel is an up-and-coming local artist. He recommends the view from Staufenberg Castle, the Frieder Burda Museum in Baden-Baden, and Schoellmanns Bar in Offenburg.
CultureJanuary 22, 201204:19 min

The Black Forest - Natural Beauty and Cultural Delights

Everyone tends to associate the Black Forest with thick forest, ravines, lakes, cuckoo clocks and traditional costumes. This scenic region in the southwest of Germany is steeped in charm - no wonder it's a popular holiday destination.
CultureJanuary 22, 201205:39 min
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What economic value do forests have?

GLOBAL Ideas breaks down complex issues regarding climate change. In this episode we deal with the question – “How much are forests worth? Is it possible to save a forest by placing a value on each tree? And what does REDD+ mean in this context?”
Nature and EnvironmentJanuary 10, 201202:01 min

Saving wood in Laos

Both, elephants and trees benefit from efforts to protect the country's forests.
January 10, 2012
The trunk of a chopped tree

Saving forests

A global forest protection scheme aims to curb deforestation to tackle climate change. But can it?
January 10, 2012

Laos – Fighting to Save Its Forests

Laos is known as the 'land of a million elephants'. But the numbers living in the wild have now fallen to about one thousand. As more forests are cut for timber, nature reserves are becoming ever more important for both elephants and the people of Laos.
BusinessJanuary 10, 201207:06 min
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euromaxx travelogue - Bohemian Forest

The Bohemian Forest straddles the borders of three countries, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. The hilly terrain is a paradise for cross-country skiers, and since the fall of the Iron Curtain visitors can cross the borders freely and enjoy all three countries' natural splendor and cuisine.
LifestyleJanuary 1, 201203:45 min
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euromaxx travelogue - Bohemian Forest

The Bohemian Forest straddles the borders of three countries, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. The hilly terrain is a paradise for cross-country skiers, and since the fall of the Iron Curtain visitors can cross the borders freely and enjoy all three countries' natural splendor and cuisine.
LifestyleDecember 26, 201104:24 min
Yasuni National Park

Is REDD enough?

Ecuador says a deal to protect its rainforest offers too little compensation to stop oil extraction.
November 28, 2011