The organization Accion Ecologica expressed its concern to the FSC after learning that two certifying companies -GFA Terra Systems from Germany and RNT from Costa Rica- visited Ecuador to evaluate Peña Durini Group's plantations and forests in Esmeraldas and Pichincha,
with the objective of certifying their operations.

Accion Ecologica sent a letter and a document (in Word format) detailing the violations of the FSC's Principles by the Group's company ENDESA-BOTROSA.

 

From: Acción Ecológica
To:
Recursos Naturales Tropicales SA. - RNT
Mr. Hector A. Martinez, leader of the evaluation group
Fax: +506 221 7368
E-mail: hamartinezh@rntsa.com

GFA Terra Systems, Certification Department
Carsten Huljus, M.Sc. International Forest Management
Jeanine Wagner, B.Sc. International Forest Ecosystem Management
Fax: +49 40 60306 149
E-mail: certification@gfa-terra.de

FSC
Head of the FSC Accreditation Unit
Alistair Monument
E-mail : a.monument@fsc.org

Quito, 13 June 2005
Dear Sirs,

This letter is intended to state our deep concern over the possibility of FSC granting certification to the operations of the ENDESA S.A. logging company and other logging companies belonging to the Peña Durini Group in Ecuador.

We have learnt that the German GFA Terra Systems certification company / RNT, Costa Rica have visited Ecuador to undertake an assessment of the plantations and natural forest belonging to the Peña Durini group in Esmeraldas and Pichincha, with the aim of certifying these operations.

We consider that granting forestry certification to a company that has done so much damage to the forests of Ecuador and to the communities that live in these forests and depend on them, is not in line with FSC principles.

These companies have not favoured forest conservation nor have they respected forest community rights. On the contrary, they have carried out abusive forest exploitation, in many cases leading to their destruction.

Furthermore, making an assessment of plantation certification in Ecuador and of the documents on certification of plantations made in other countries, we consider that these monoculture tree plantations are un-certifiable from every standpoint, due to the high degree of social and environmental damage they produce.

Additionally, FSC certification of ENDESA- BOTROSA would further contribute to the degradation of Ecuador’s forests and to foster impunity in the matter of the violation of human and environmental rights implemented by this company in its modus operandi.

In the event Endesa Botrosa certification were to be granted, this would lead not only to an increase in the world rate of deforestation, but also to make evident that in no way is the public objective of FSC being achieved.

With regards to the FSC forest certification process launched by ENDESA-BOTROSA we are attaching our observations on the activities of the Peña Durini logging company so that they may duly be taken into account.

We are looking forward to your reply. We remain at your disposal should you need any further clarification or information.
Yours sincerely,

Nathalia Bonilla
Ivonne Ramos
Acción Ecológica