31.   The fund is trying to persuade governments around the world to take more steps to protect those forests that remain untouched.

32.   The imprisoned leader of a Mexican peasant group has been awarded an environmental prize for his efforts to protect forests in the western state of Guerrero.

33.   The former Soviet republic of Moldova has established a guard force to protect forests that are being chopped down by people for firewood, officials said Thursday.

34.   The purpose of the effort was to collect scientific data to help support the campaign to protect these forests.

35.   The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Forests was unable to hammer out any agreements that could lead to a global treaty on protecting forests.

36.   Timber company President Hinrich Stoll said the sacrifice was economically difficult, but protecting the forest was the right decision.

37.   Whether the forests are protected will depend largely or entirely on the attitude, decisiveness and willpower of the Lao government.

38.   With every logging scandal, there come loud calls to protect the forest.

39.   Interior Minister Sanoh Thienthong said the prime minister had ordered the ministry to coordinate efforts to protect the forests by military, police and local authorities.

40.   Delegates to an international conference on biodiversity missed a key chance to protect forests, the World Wide Fund for Nature said Wednesday.