Stuff

Libreville Saving the forest: Gabon’s success in protecting its rainforest has led it to be the first nation to receive a financial
reward under a UN scheme to fight climate change. Rainforests play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide, and 18% of the Congo Basin rainforest (the world’s second biggest after the Amazon) lies in Gabon, covering 90% of its territory.

In 2015, Gabon and five of its neighbours signed up to the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), a UN scheme backed by the UK and other international donors.

And this week it received $17m from the scheme after Norwegian experts verified that by reducing deforestation and degradation, it had cut its carbon emissions. If the pattern of success continues, it will be the first tranche of payments totalling $150m.

From ‘The Week’ 26 June 2021

Petrichor is the word for the earthy scent of rain falling on stones or dry soil. The word is made up of the Greek word petra, meaning stone, and ichor, – (pronounced eye-ker) – the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology.

More prosaically the word ichor was at one time used to describe the watery discharge that seeps from a wound.