Environmental groups 'gain influence over public opinion'

Environmental groups are gaining increasing influence over public perceptions about climate change and ecological issues.

According to William F Laurance, of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, environmental campaigners' influence is growing due to the fact that deforestation is increasingly driven by industrial firms as opposed to subsistence farmers.

Writing in the International Tropical Timber Organization's July edition of Tropical Forest Update, Mr Laurance warned that the timber industry can expect an "increasingly hard line" for campaigners and consumers alike as part of attempts to reduce deforestation and curb climate change.

"Unless it moves aggressively toward effective self-policing, [the timber industry] will increasingly find itself the target of adverse actions and publicity," he commented.

"The smart tack under such circumstances is to take environmental sustainability very seriously - it is simply good business."

According to Green Gold Forestry, the timber industry is responsible for around 40 per cent of rainforest destruction.

Written by Helen Montag

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