Questions about Intact forest landscape
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is an intact forest landscape and how is it defined?
An intact forest landscape (IFL) is an unbroken natural forest area with no signs of significant human activity, covering at least 500 square kilometers with a minimum width of 10 kilometers. Areas with settlements, roads, railways, pipelines, agriculture, or industrial activity within the past 30-70 years are excluded. The concept was developed by a coalition including Greenpeace, the World Resources Institute, and the Biodiversity Conservation Center.
What percentage of the world's forests are intact forest landscapes?
Intact forest landscapes cover an estimated 23 percent of the world's forest ecosystems, totaling 13.1 million square kilometers. The planet has lost seven percent of its IFLs since 2000. Only 10 percent of the remaining IFL area is strictly protected under IUCN categories I through III.
Which countries have the most intact forest landscape area?
Canada, Russia, and Brazil together contain 64 percent of the world's total intact forest landscape area. IFLs exist in 66 of the 149 countries that could potentially host them. Dense tropical and subtropical forests hold 45 percent of global IFLs, and boreal forests hold 44 percent.
When was the first global intact forest landscape map created?
The first global IFL map was prepared between 2005 and 2006 under the leadership of Greenpeace, with contributions from multiple organizations including the Biodiversity Conservation Center, Finnish Nature League, and Global Forest Watch. The first regional IFL map appeared in 2001, produced by Greenpeace Russia and covering northern European Russia.
Why are intact forest landscapes important for biodiversity?
Intact forest landscapes support large roaming animals such as forest elephants, great apes, bears, wolves, tigers, jaguars, and eagles that cannot survive in fragmented habitats. Fragmentation and habitat loss are the primary drivers of plant and animal species extinction. Intact forests also supply ecosystem services including water purification, carbon sequestration, and flood control.
How do companies like IKEA and Bank of America use intact forest landscape maps?
IKEA and Lowe's have committed not to use wood sourced from intact forest landscapes unless intactness values are preserved, and use regional IFL maps to implement these policies. Bank of America invests only in companies that maintain intact forest landscape values. The Forest Stewardship Council's Controlled Wood standard also names IFLs directly among its High Conservation Value Forest categories.