SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

Scientists at Stony Brook University in New York say the pace of deforestation in Colombia has accelerated over the past 20 years even as population growth has slowed and the economy has shifted from agriculture to other revenue sources.

This increase in deforestation coincides with an increase in the cultivation of coca for cocaine production, and Colombia accounted for 75 percent of the world's coca in 2000, a university release said Thursday.

Such deforestation of rainforests, which hold about 10 percent of the world's plant and animal species -- some of which are valuable as sources of new medicines -- represents a serious threat to global biodiversity, the researchers say.

The Stony Brook scientists say designating protected areas -- regions that are set aside for special protection for environmental reasons -- can reduce forest destruction in coca-growing areas.

Establishing larger protected areas in the region could help control deforestation and preserve biodiversity, the scientists say.

 BREAKING STORIES

Homeowner faces off city snow blower

Smog may lead to Milan traffic shutdown

Settlement in Florida suit affects turtles

Environmental convictions to be reviewed

Library of Congress hawk caught

Britain unveils plan to lease public woods

EU warns Britain on London air pollution

CDC: Lead poisoning linked to amulet

Cocaine tied to Colombian deforestation

Critics: Shark fishing nations fail pledge

Calls for regulation of rare-plant sales

Montreal counts record flock of crows

U.S. OKs return of wayward pelican

Charge: Coal-power pollution often deadly

Timber smuggling rife in Kashmir

Call for halt to pesticides in bee deaths

Solo McKinley climber rides out earthquake

Bird droppings cause roof collapse

Report details mercury emissions in Pa.

Man spots seal in Connecticut