Rainforests at risk because of low oil prices

The Indonesian-based Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) says low world oil prices will translate into increased pressure on rainforests.
The organisation says that while the prospect of Iraqi oil flooding the market and pushing down fuel prices is good news for consumers, it could be devastating for tropical forests.

CIFOR economist Sven Wunder argues that a high level of income from oil and minerals makes investment in activities associated with forest destruction, less attractive. He says oil cash allows governments to spend more on urban development, attracting people into the cities and reducing deforestation.
The Centre says about half of all tropical forests are in countries that rely heavily on petroleum and mineral exports for their incomes such as Venezuela, Gabon, Ecuador, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.