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.7 QiWWWlmmmm . That’s because of the important role fomts play in global warming. We know reducing carbon emis- sions is the primary way to slow cli- mate change. but preserving forests is a key component as well Forests ate carbon sinks; that is, they absorb and stone carbon. When trees are cut down, that carbon is released into the atmosphere, thus The people, some of whom ale painted bright red and brandishing bows and arrows at the airplane from which the photos were taken, are believed to have avoided contact with the outside world They are, no doubt, unaware global talks now taking place in that outside world could have a profound efl’ect on their lives. ecent photographs of an “uncontacted tribe" of Amazon Indians on the border between Peru and Brazil have reminded us once again ofhowmuchwestillhavetoleam about the world's tropical rainfor- than 400 wank and must include a dlyflme e number, name and The Sun-filbunem the fight to publish or not gublish and to edit r clar~ Council has chosen to proceed with a $3.4-million project without a clear vision of the end result. So what is it? At present it’s a big, empty room. It's not an art gallery and, with its acoustics, not a concert hall either. Its capacity is similar to Latcham Hall, which thanks to the Stouffville Lions Club, at least has a stage, lighting and sound equipment, which are all lacking in the new space. Latcham Hall is one block east of the new centre in Stouffville Memorial Park The seating will be “retractable, tiered ...” Does that mean bleachers? lETTERS POlICY Harry French has in vision for Civic Avenue. This is good because council p Whatdoyou think of these issues mothers? obviously doesn't. . According to the article, we are spend- Em" We“ to "'9 “mm to in: $3.4 million to. and I ouote. “trans- immcom Re:'What to do with Nineteen on the Park arts centre? June 14. According to the article, we are spend- ing $3.4 million to, and I quote, “trans- form” the old town offices into an “arts, cultural and entertainment centre”, although the exact uses are yet to be determined. Despite deputations by local theatre groups, it is not a theatre. What was town council thinking when it approved 19 on Park? The Sun-Nbune welcomes your letters. All submission must be less JmnonOyvmg.com Rainforests worth mare in global value lETTERS TO THE EDITOR INTERACTIVE MEDIA Marketing Advertising Dawna Andrews dandrewsfiyrmg.mm Iim Mason jmasonOynng.com Enmonuu. In a recent article in Conserva- tion magazine, anthropologist Ricaxdo Godoy of Brandeis Univer- sity is quoted as saying, “tropical rainforests are worth more for their giobal than for their local value". speeding up global warming. In fact, scientists estimate about 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation. Governments and conserva- tionists have considered a number of ways to protect the forests that would allow people who live in them to survive and even prosper. But despite efforts of companies in the developed world to create new markets for rainforest products, it’s simpler to cut down the trees for forestry and agriculture, including ranching, One of the more admirable ideas is to increase the value of renewable resources from tropical rainforests, such as fruits, nuts, rubber and medicinal plants and to promote activities such as eootourism. Many believe if we in the rich Stouffville has, once again, missed the boat. Our neighbours in Markham, Uxbridge and Richmond Hill have managed to combine excellent sports and cultural facilities. I wish Mr. French well as chairperson of the start-up team for the Nineteen on the Park centre. He will need all the enthusiasm and energy he can muster to bring some sort of order out of the situation our elected officials have created. What were they thinking? Knowing their preference for hockey and curling, perhaps it would help the process if we put an ice sheet in the new room. HAVE YOUR SAY, WHITCHUBCH-STOUFFVILLE Classified Manager Bonnie Rondeau hmndmufiyrmg.mm Anvmmsmc Stacey Allen sallenOyrmg. com Gaff-Tribune 8290 WI St. W,M.,MA 167 www.an PUBLISHER Ian Proudfoot PETER MARKLE STOUFFVILLE countries want to save the world’s Iainforests, we'll have to pay. It could turn out to be a comparative bar- gain Some economists, including former World Bank chief economist Sir Nicholas Stern, have concluded that preventing deforestation is the most cost-effective method of keep- ing carbon out of the atmosphere. But how do we go about it? One idea discussed at the United Nations climate change negotia- tions in Bonn Germany, in June is Pnonucnon David Suzuki Bums Manon Robcnlazurlw John Rainy One would allow industrialized nations to meet Kyoto emissions- reduction targets by providing grants to developing countries if they reduce rates of deforestation. The other would allow countries that avoid deforestation to earn carbon credits they could sell on the global carbon market. Regardless of the method or methods, a lot of work still needs to be done to make sure the plans succeed in reducing greenhouse The introduced by the governments of Papua New Guinea and Costa Rica at UN climate change talks in Montreal in 2005 and included in subsequent discus- sions, is expected to be a major part of the agreement that will replace the Kyoto Protocol in 2013. TWO main strategies are being considered under this initiative, both of which involve carbon credits and carbon trading referred to as reducing emissions from deforestation and forest deg- radation. lassified: 1-800-743-3353 Fax Fax DISTRIBUTION 905~640-2612 ADVERTISING 905-640-2612 905â€"640-261 2 x: 905-640-8778 EDITORIAL 905-640-8778 BarryBlack Gm MANAGER Bob Dean A York Region Media Group community newspaper The Sun-Tubune, published every Thursday and Saturday. is a division of the Metrorand Medra Group Ltd, a whollyowned subsidiary onorstar Corporation. Metroland is comprised of 100 oommunlty pubflcaflons across Ontario. The York Region Newspaper Group Incrudesme Uberal, sewing Richmond Hill and Thomhm, Vaughan CIttzen,The Era-Banner (Newmarket/Aurora). Markham Economist a. Sun, Georgna Advocate, York Region Bushess Times, Nonh of the City, yorkregroncom and York Region Printing. Dnncmn. Cncuumou Lynn Pashko SEW-Tribune Let’s hope the UN discussions lead to some viable solutions â€" solu- tions that preserve biodiversity and include all the inhabitants of the rainforest, including the uncon- tacted tribes It’s unlikely money will solve everything but it may be a start to addressing the problems of poverty, economic change and global warming. We also have to face up to the fact when providing grants to coun- tries that reduce deforestation, it can be difficult to ensure that the money benefits the people and not corrupt governments. The issue is complicated and the potential pitfalls are many. For example, the market-driven system of selling carbon credits may not benefit those people who live in the forests and make their living off the products of the intact ecosystem because it would only pay those cunently logging to stop. gas emissions in a way that benefits the people who live in the tropical rainforests You Ramon Puma