Recreation & Fun

TORONTO --

Canada's major pulp and paper companies said Tuesday they will restrict logging in environmentally sensitive areas of the country's northern boreal forest as part of a groundbreaking deal with environmental groups.

The Forest Products Association of Canada, whose members include forestry giants such as AbitibiBowater Inc. and Weyerhaeuser Co. Ltd., said the industry has agreed to immediately suspend logging for three years on 75 million acres of boreal forest - roughly the size of Montana - where wildlife and habitat is endangered.

"We have identified a more intelligent, productive way to manage economic and environmental challenges in the boreal," said Avrim Lazar, president and CEO of the association. "(It's a) process that will set a forestry standard that will be the envy of the world."

Canada's boreal forest stretches like a giant green belt southeast from the Yukon to Newfoundland and represents about 75 percent the country's woodlands. The Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement covers 170 million acres of the region - an area nearly twice the size of Germany - and includes forests in seven of the country's 10 provinces.

"The ecological significance of this (agreement) is very important," said Duke University conservation ecology professor Stuart Pimm in North Carolina. "Looking at the huge amount of carbon (dioxide) that would one way or another be put into the atmosphere if these forests were cut down. Internationally, the global environmental community is going to applaud Canada on becoming a major player for contributing to carbon capturing."

The forest, consisting mostly of coniferous trees such as spruce, fir, pine, and wetlands, is home to two-thirds of the country's estimated 140,000 species of plants, animals and micro-organisms. The area is also a prime caribou habitat, and its preservation has been a major objective of environmentalists.

The corporate signatories, 21 members of the forestry organization, agreed to suspend logging in the region for three years so a plan can be developed to preserve the 36,000 woodland caribou that live in the region.

In exchange, environmental organizations have pledged to suspend international "Do Not Buy" anti-logging campaigns against Canadian lumber.

"This is our best chance to save woodland caribou, permanently protect vast areas of the boreal forest and put in place sustainable forestry practices," said Richard Brooks, Greenpeace forest campaign coordinator and a spokesman for the nine participating environmental groups including Greenpeace, the Pew Environmental Group, ForestEthics and the Ivey Foundation.

Steve Kallick, director of the Pew Environment Group's International Boreal Conservative Campaign, said Canada's boreal forest rivals the Amazon in size and ecological importance, capturing and absorbing twice as much carbon dioxide as tropical forests, which helps fight global warming.

Kallick said the agreement took two years of negotiations between the two parties that have been at loggerheads over the issue for years. Pew, which brokered the deal, said it was the largest commercial forest conservation agreement ever concluded.

"The political nature of this, of getting these two groups together, is remarkable," said Duke University's Pimm. "It's hugely encouraging that the logging companies are sacrificing such a huge area of logging. Brazil was recently able to cut its deforestation rate significantly, but I do not know of another similar agreement such as the one announced today."

The truce comes at a propitious time for Canada's forestry sector, which was particularly hard-hit by the housing collapse in its biggest market, the United States.

Don Roberts, vice chairman of renewable energy and clean technology at CIBC World Markets, said the agreement will distinguish Canadian companies at a time when forestry companies are having difficulty moving products.

"This is a classic example of how a crisis is a terrible thing to waste ... it's forced us to say, 'Well, now how do we rethink things'?"

The agreement will help the industry to rebuild by enabling forestry companies to market themselves as modern, self-sustainable and environmentally friendly.

"This is a business strategy for us," said Forest Products Association's Lazar. "We're doing it not just because we love the forest, but because this is where industry is heading."

The union representing Canada's forest sector issued a statement Tuesday saying that positive market impacts from the agreement could help struggling Canadian forest companies in global markets.

"This agreement is a light of hope for a battered industry," said Dave Coles, president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union. "It is time now to make environmental leadership a value-added advantage for Canadian forest products."

Scientists have discovered a new species which they have called the "Pinocchio" frog because of its long nose which grows when the animal calls to others.

An international team of researchers was camping in the Foja mountains of Indonesia when one of them, Paul Oliver, spotted a frog sitting on a bag of rice in the campsite.

On closer inspection it turned out to be a previously unknown type of long-nosed frog. When the frog is calling, its nose points upward, but it deflates when the animal is less active.

"We were sitting around eating lunch," recalled ornithologist Chris Milensky. Oliver "looked down and there's this little frog on a rice sack, and he managed to grab the thing."

"Herpetologists [experts in snakes, lizards and frogs] have good reflexes," Mr Milensky observed.

The researchers also report finding the smallest kangaroo, a big woolly rat, and a bent-toed gecko with yellow eyes.

The Foja Mountains are in the western side of the island of New Guinea, a part of Indonesia that has been little visited by scientists over the years.

So the environmental group Conservation International, with the support of the National Geographic Society and Smithsonian Institution, began investigating the area. The results of their 2008 expedition were announced on Monday.

Mr Milensky said the expedition was incredibly difficult.

Kristofer Helgen, curator of mammals at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, said one of the most amazing animals the researchers observed was the rare golden-mantled tree kangaroo.

Most people think of kangaroos as creatures that live on the flatlands of Australia, he said, but this one has adapted to forest life.

"It can jump into a tree and scurry right up it," Mr Helgen said. "But on the ground it hops around like any kangaroo."

Filled with an assortment of recreational facilities to make sure a healthy, active lifestyle, the parks throughout Sarasota County serve as the ideal destinations for biking, hiking, canoeing, picnicking, camping and a lot more. So, plan an afternoon to enjoy our perfect fall weather at a single of these Top 10 Sarasota region parks:

1. Myakka River State Recreational park - Florida’s largest state park provides a step back in time when Florida was a pristine wilderness. With 45 square miles of native landscape, lakes, the Myakka River and a lot more, this park provides picnic areas, camping, cabins, boat ramps, tram tours, fishing, bird watching, hiking, and miles of trails to explore by bike or foot. Also, the park’s marshlands and forest are among the best places around to observe Florida wildlife. The recreational park is situated 9 miles E of I-75 at 13208 State Road 72.

2. Osrecreational Scherer State recreational park - A big acreage with fifteen sprawling miles of trails via beautiful organic areas offers opportunities for hiking, bicycling, and wildlife viewing. Canoeists and kayakers can paddle along South Creek, with canoe and kayak rentals obtainable. For bicycle enthusiasts, the park offers a number of trails totaling approximately 15 miles, and freshwater and saltwater fishing are obtainable along the creek. Picnic areas along South Creek are equipped with grills, and pavilions could be reserved for a small fee. The park has full-facility campsites and a youth/group campground. The park is situated on U.S. 41, just two miles south of Osprey.

3. Sarasota Bay Front Recreational park - Located in the base of downtown Sarasota, this scenic island park filled with stunning water views in each direction. Bay Front Recreational park is situated on an island peninsula right about the waters of Sarasota Bay. Sidewalks wind all close to the region, making this an excellent spot for long walks, rollerblading, and bike rides. Children will love the water fountains to splash in and also the large playground zone.

4. Gillespie Park - Located among historic homes, Gillespie Recreational park offers a quiet, natural respite just a breath away in the action of downtown. The recreational park offers 10 acres of picnicking region with children’s playground plus a shaded gazebo. Dogs on a leash are welcome.

5. Woodmere Community Park and Recreation Center - With tennis courts, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, a character trail, children’s playgrounds, and an adjacent paw park for dogs of all sizes, Woodmere Community Park in Venice offers an abundance of actions for that whole family. Located at 3951 Woodmere Park Boulevard at Jarecreationalanda, Venice.

6. Twin Lakes Park - These were the grounds from the Royals, Mets, Twins, Indians, Reds, Dodgers and Orioles training. Now, Twin Lakes Park offers a number of recreational activities such as five major and 4 small league baseball fields, a basketball court, canoeing, fishing, a football field, a couple of outdoor handball/racquetball courts, indoor rental, a jogging trail, a multi-purpose field, a passive recreation area, an ADA playground, a big picnic shelter, five small picnic shelters, 4 soccer fields, 2 tennis courts and an ADA picnic area. Plenty for that athlete to keep busy! Situated at 6700 Clark Road in Sarasota.

7. Fruitville Recreational park - Located at 5151 Richardson Road in Sarasota Florida, the 20-acre Fruitville Park provides a fitness/jogging trail, football/soccer fields, plenty of picnicking area, tennis, volleyball and grilling facilities. Appreciate your day surrounded by lush landscaping.

8. Phillippi Estate Park - Located on the shores of Phillippi Creek, Phillippi Estate Park is really a scenic, 60-acre natural area recreational park south of downtown Sarasota and east of Siesta Crucial. The beauty from the park and facilities could be enjoyed by residents and visitors seven days a week, such as a rose garden, gazebo, children’s playground, canoe/kayak launch, nature trails, fishing piers and a lot more.

9. Lemon Bay Recreational park - Visit the butterfly garden, picnic sites and character trails at this recreational park situated on Lemon Bay, north of Dearborn Street in Olde Englewood. Nature walk adventures are obtainable January-April. Lemon Bay Park has a lot more than 200 acre of pine and scrubby Flatwoods along the natural bay shoreline, a scenic bay boardwalk, canoe launch and a large picnic pavilion.

10. South Lido Park - Set in the north end of Taft and South Blvd of Presidents on Lido Crucial, Lido Crucial Park is a great place to get away in the rush of downtown without going too far. Adjacent to the beach, the park features 2 walking nature trails and a canoeing character trail, plus volleyball courts and swimming. This is a large park that wraps around in the Gulf to Sarasota Bay offering good comfort facilities, picnic pavilions, and BBQ grills correct under the tall Australian Pines.