om about the “. fields.. > - . <..;Although there. are hopeful _ Sigas — Brazil has appointed: one _,. of the world’s leading en- -- vironmental experts to start deal- 24 - Friday, November 15, 1991 - North Sho ada. re News ENVIRONMENT Deforestation occurring at alarming rate FOR CHRISTMAS this year, why not give a loved - one a potential cure for the AIDS virus? Or cancer? P Trendelb Whitaker ECOINFO While ‘‘potential’? is the key . word here, the fact is that there is some hope that a therapy for AIDS lies with a plant in Queensland’s rainforest. And the biggest cancer breakthrough in decades has been with the Madagascar periwinkle, a tropical forest plant that is the source of two important drugs us- ed to combat leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease. In fact, one out of every four purchases you make at a phar- macy will contain an ingredient derived from the world’s rain- - forests. Unfortunately, half of the planet’s rainforests, originally covering 16 million square kilometres, has been destroyed through human activity. At current rates of deforesta- tion, another sixth of: this area will disappear by the end of the: century —- along with 20% of all the world’s species, some of which may well have provided the vital ingredient needed to fight any number of diseases. . Right now, we're losing about “80 acres of rainforest per minute -ing with the crisis, and in other nations reforestation operations are taking root — there is still, size of six football . much to be done to reverse the situation in any meaningful way. This, of course, brings me back to my first paragraph, in which you are invited to consider making an unusual Christmas gift to fami- ly or friend. As in years past, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is urging people to ‘‘protect an area of rainforest’’ with a $25 donation to their campaign. The WWF has successfully ua- dertaken tropical preservation projects already. Says Steven Price, WWF's vice-president of conservation, ‘In 1987-88, WWF spearheaded a fundraising drive whereby Cana- dians purchased 20,090 acres of tropical forest in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. “That initiative was followed by a joint reforestation project with CIDA in the degraded buffer zone surrounding Monteverde.” Through the current Guardian of the Rainforest Campaign, the organization is financing a multi- faceted rescue of tropical forests in Latin America that are threat- ened by chainsaws, bulldozers and slash-and-burn destruction. Projects include teaching 4,000 people in the Rio Platano area sustainable farming techniques that will improve soil conservation and improve crop yields, resulting in enhanced protection for the diversity of life in the surrounding rainforest. WWF is also working with tocal farmers to plant more than 200,000 trees in Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest. It is also supporting a series of conservatien projects for preser- vationists in Brazil, home of the largest single tract of rainforest within any one country. By helping protect the rain- forest, you are not simply being a philanthropist helping people half a world away — North Shore res- idents, too, have a deeply vested interest in preserving these areas. Not only do we, and will we, benefit from the pharmaceutical contributions of rainforest species, we ali need the forests to stabilize the global atmosphere. Carbon dioxide emissions ac- ‘count for almest 50% of the greenhouse effect. : . According to Save the Earth, “Every year, un additional four billion tons of carbon accumulates in the atmosphere, and roughly 30% of this surplus is estimated to RES TA U RANT rs | SPECTACULAR HARBOUR VIEW! Christmas Parties Carol Ships Christmas Dinner New Year’s Eve Reserve Now! THIRD FLOOR LONSDALE QUAY MARKET 986-VIEW derive directly from the acceler- ated burning of tropical forests.” Left standing, trees will actually absorb carbon as they photosyn- thesize — one acre of trees can soak up four tons of carbon per year. To protect an acre or more of rainforest, call 1-800-26-PANDA. You will reccive a Guardian of the THE LIONS MARK. Christmas is Coming! Let us sell your fine quality jewellery & antiques Jewellery Repairs 926-7710 1730 Marine Dr., West Van Open 7 days a week 435-5566 4240 Manor Street Burnaby, B.C. CHalfa block west of Sheraton Vitti Hater} Rainforest ceriificate, and, if you purchase four or more acres, a full-color 1992 rainforest calendar. eee And back to our B.C. wilderness, the Western Canada Wilderness Committce is having a fundraising celebration and auc- tion tomorrow evening at the Reserve a first class seat for holiday relaxation Come see all of the leather chairs-that-recline. There's a style for every Santa. And for Mrs. Claus, too OFFICE CHAIRS A beautiful collection of styles from Europsen to Caribbean ... UPHOLSTERED CHAIRS Nice, softely-cushioned styles in a wide selection of fabrics ... - RECLINER CHAIAS Classic styies and wall recliners, in a variety of models, sizes ... | CHAIR & OTTOMAN —— Chairs with added comfort: a matching ottoman. Many styles Now Two Big Locations ” CANADA'S LARGEST THOMASVILLE GALLERY t Coline THOMASVILLE GALLERY 435-5566 MONDAY TO SATURDAY 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. SUNDAY Noon to 5 p.m. BOOK AHEAD FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM YOUR CHRISTMAS PARTY. + CORPORATE ACCOUNTS AVAILABLE | North ShoreTax: Call 987-7171 oF 986-1111 Vancouver Trade and Conven Centre. The scheduled keynote spe is Monte Hummel, president the WWF, and there will 6 variety of entertainers. | WCWC for ticket info (683-8: or Bali Bali (224-2347). Tic are $125 each, or $200 a couple <<) 685-84; 1080 Mainland Sco. at Helmeken Downtown Vancouver, B.C.