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WRM Bulletin
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OUR VIEWPOINT International discourse and on-the-ground reality Since the 1992 Earth Summit, many trees have been felled to provide paper for the voluminous documents produced by a number of intergovernmental processes --including parallel expert meetings-- aimed at addressing the urgent problem of deforestation. Many solutions have since then been found ... on paper. The real world is clearly going in another direction. Forest are set on fire to give way to "development" plans, including eucalyptus, oil palm, soya and other monocrops; forests are cleared to be substituted by cattle-raising; mangroves are disappearing to provide shrimp to mostly Northern consumers; tropical forests are being destroyed and polluted by oil exploration and mining; and forests are still being exploited for their valuable wood. All the above problems --and more-- had already been highlighted by the World Rainforest Movement in its 1989 Penang Declaration: "The current social and economic policies and practices that lead to deforestation throughout the world in the name of development are directly responsible for the annihilation of the earth's forests, bringing poverty and misery to millions and threatening global ecosystems with collapse. Such policies and practices include: plantations, both for industrial forestry and for export crops, ranching schemes, dam projects, commercial logging, colonisation schemes, mining and industry, the dispossession of peasants and indigenous peoples, roads, pollution, tourism." Nothing much seems to have changed or to be changing in spite of the seemingly concerned declarations of the governments of the world. Even worse, while forests are depleted mostly by greed, many of their hopes are based on the assumption that free trade will be the solution to the problem. While most governments --North and South-- either directly or indirectly continue degrading forests at home and/or abroad, the forest discussion seems to be going no-where. In such a context, the World Rainforest Movement and Forests Monitor chose the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (Geneva, August 1998) to present the results of their joint research on the activities of Malaysian logging companies abroad. The report ("High Stakes: the need to control transnational logging companies, a Malaysian case study"), stresses that "Malaysian-based logging companies are far from unique in terms of the negative social and ecological impacts that they cause in some of the countries where they operate".(see for example the articles on Gabon, Nicaragua, North America and Australia in this bulletin). However, the activities of Malaysian logging companies constitute a useful example of the impacts resulting from the liberalization process promoted by institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization. This report --which will be followed by another on forest destruction by Canadian mining companies abroad-- shows that transnational companies and international trade are not only not the solution, but they are in fact an important part of the problem. While the international governmental community continues to support the ideologised concept that an abstract "market" will solve most problems, the real market continues destroying forests and with them the people that live within. Until such approach changes, the protection of most forests will depend on the ongoing struggles of local peoples, supported by local and international citizens' organizations. Note: High Stakes is available at WRM's International Secretariat and Northern Office
LOCAL STRUGGLES AND NEWS AFRICA Ogoni released in Nigeria: a light of hope The news of the release on September 9th. of the 20 Ogoni youths that had been held without charge since 1994, is a hope for reconciliation and peace in the abused and ravaged Niger Delta. The land, waters and the atmosphere of the Niger Delta have suffered, and continue to suffer much abuse and the presence of the occupation force officially known as the Rivers State Internal Security Task Force. Local people have been bearing the brunt of the adverse effects of oil exploration, exploitation and transportation, that have proved detrimental to the environment and to their livelihoods. The dictatorial government of Nigeria has been defending the interest of the oil giants --Shell, Chevron, Agip, Elf, Texaco, Mobil-- that continue to destroy peoples' livelihoods and the environment for their mere profit (see WRM Bulletin 10). Oil companies enjoy the right cover to disregard safety measures and responses from the people are readily put down with the help of the apparatus of state repression, including propaganda against indigenous people of the region, unfairly considered subversive and dangerous. The Ogoni have been repressed for the benefit of Shell, while the Ilaje people of Ondo State have suffered for that of Chevron. Source: Environmental Rights Action/ FoE Nigeria
Logging in Gabon: the French colonial approach Gabon is one of the richest in biodiversity and less populated countries of Africa. Until a few years ago, 85% of its forests were primary rainforests, inhabited by indigenous peoples. However, the current development model --aimed at the exploitation of wood, oil, uranium and other minerals-- is rapidly destroying those rainforests. Logging is carried out everywhere and transnational logging companies are active agents of the destruction of the tropical forests in this country. Livelihoods of the Pygmy population are disappearing, while gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills and elephants are in danger of extinction as a consequence of hunting. One specifically rich forest --the Ipassa Mingouli on the Ivindo River-- has been the subject of negotiations between Gabonese authorities, the Project for Conservation and Sustainable Development Ipassa-Mingouli and institutions such as IUCN (the World Conservation Union), the European Union (EU) and UNESCO. In November 1995 the Rougier Group --the French timber company who has its logging concessions in the area of the Project - and IUCN signed an agreement for a sustainable development of natural resources in the area, financially supported by the EU. Due to various facts, the EU and IUCN delayed the beginning of the project. In the meantime, the Rougier Group, without informing its partners, deeply logged inside the core conservation zone of the Ipassa Mingouli Project and opened roads for logging trucks. This invasion, carried out by the Rougier Group in the core conservation zone of the Project, was discovered during the CNN shooting for Wild Planet programme by the CNN journalist Gary Strieker and the italian activist Giuseppe Vassallo of WEESA, a recently created environmental network of students from European Universities. These events show the social and environmental impacts of the activities of transnational logging companies in tropical countries, whose profits stem from the destructive expoitation of local resources to supply wood for parquet floors and furniture to some privileged people in the North. Source: Giuseppe Vassallo WEESA (World Eco Emergency Students Action). email: panda@mv.itline.it Website: www.dna.it/ecowarriors
ASIA Mangroves menaced by oil and gas companies in Bangladesh In Bangladesh the remaining virgin rainforests are near to extinction. The whole Bangladesh mainland and its off-shore areas are gradually being leased for oil/gas explorations. Even the Sundarbans, considered a world heritage and the largest mangrove forest of the globe and only remaining habitat of royal bengal tiger is being occupied by the exploration activites of oil/gas companies. The affected area is one of the 23 blocks into which the government divided the national territory for the oil/gas exploration activities by foreign multinational companies. The measure has already been implemented in nearly half of the country area and is affecting several ecosystems rich in biodiversity, like the virgin forests of the hilly eastern part of Bangladesh, streched from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. The Sundarbans is a vast tract of mangrove swamp forest situated on the southwest corner of Bangladesh and forming the lower part of the Ganges Delta. The name 'Sundarbans' is derived from the term "Sundari", a reference to the large mangrove tree that provides valuable fuel. It extends for about 160 miles (260 km) along the coast of the Bay of Bengal from the Hugly river Estuary in India to the Meghna River Estuary in Bangladesh.The whole tract reaches inland for 60-80 miles (100-130 km). A network of tidal rivers and creeks intersect numerous islands. Along the coast, the forest passes into a mangrove swamp; which is virtually uninhabited. It is one of the last reserves of the royal bengal tiger and the site of tiger preservation project. In addition, it supports other mammals, more than two hundred species of birds, as well as crocodiles, other reptiles and amphibians. The Sundarbans is also important for its estuary fisheries and for being a safe winter quarter of several hundred migratory birds. The cultivated northern area yields rice, sugarcane, timber and betel nuts, etc. This unique mangrove forest, comprising a more than 10,300 square kilometre area, has been earmarked as Block nr. 5 in the government’s division. It has been leased out to Shell Oil & Cairn Energy for oil/gas exploration Friends of the Earth-Bangladesh is seeking international support to halt Sundarbans destruction. Letters of concern can be sent to the following authorities and media in Bangladesh: - Mr. President Justice Sahabuddin Ahmed, Government of the
Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. Fax:880-2- 9566242 For more information, please contact: Chowdhury M.F. gbs@dhaka.agni.com Source: Chowdhury M.F., Friends of the Earth-Bangladesh, August 1998.
Sarawak: indigenous rights ignored The Sarawak State government and the Ministry of Resource Planning have recently proposed to constitute Protected Forest and/or Forest Reserves in the State, that would encroach on areas claimed as Native Customary Right (NCR) lands by the various native communities. The risk exists that the natives will find that their rights to their ancestral lands and forest will be extinguished in the process, without having been consulted. Moreover, most of the Protected Forests and Forest Reserves previously constituted have been licensed out for logging to timber companies, which have depleted them. On the contrary, native communities of Sarawak have proved they can utilise, manage and conserve the forest resources in a truly sustainable manner. Malaysia has ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity, whose Article 8(j) calls the governments to "respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity..." Nevertheless, these recommendations have not at been implemented at all. On September 16th the WRM International Secretariat addressed Malaysian authorities to express its deep concern for this situation and to ask them to reconsider this polemic proposal and to expedite the approval of all applications by the native communities for Communal Forest Reserves.
Thailand: the strong muscle of the pulp industry Phoenix Pulp and Paper Company in Khon Kaen province in northeastern Thailand is the recipient of a large credit extended by the Finnish DIDC (Department of International Development Cooperation of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs), former FINNIDA. Between 1990 and 1994 Scandinavian companies including Ahlstrom, Sunds Defibrator, Valmet and Jaakko Poyry delivered most of the machinery, equipment and services for the Phoenix P&P's second pulp line and waste water treatment plant. The second pulp line increased the mill's production capacity to some 200,000 tonnes per year, using kenaf (sister plant to jute), bamboo and eucalyptus as raw materials. This second pulp line is the first mill in South East Asia producing Elemental Chlorine Free pulp. One of the main arguments for Finnida's concessional credit was that by supporting the construction of the waste water treatment plant, the effluents of the pulp mills discharged into the Phong river would be reduced despite the increase in production. As part of the solution, Phoenix P&P Co decided to establish a scheme where the treated effluents would be discharged as irrigation water to the nearby eucalyptus plantations. This scheme, begun in 1995, received the name of "Project Green". Although Phoenix Pulp and Paper Co argues that the effluent-treatment plant was built to world-class standards and that the effluent quality even exceeds many Western countries' standards, serious problems have been reported since Project Green was launched. The waste water discharged to the eucalyptus fields spreads to the adjoining rice fields, wetlands and groundwater, harming the agriculture and causing health hazards to the people. The company has also regularly been accused by local villagers of the death of a large number of fish in the Phong River. The Industry Ministry of Thailand on July 20 ordered Phoenix Pulp and Paper Co to close the first pulp line of the plant for 180 days. "The closure will last until the company fixes the treatment facility and prevents untreated water discharged into the plantations from spilling into Huay Chote, a tributary of Nam (River) Phong", said the decree. Earlier in July, thousands of fish raised by riverside villagers were found dead after heavy rain flushed the waste from the ponds and Project Green areas into the river. The order was based on the company's poor performance in handling its waste, since the quality of treated water was below standard. Phoenix executives rejected the decission and argued that the closure was politically motivated and would mean the ruin of the company and that of 60,000 farmers who supply it with raw material. The company also considers this will lead to a total closure of the company, affecting exports and disrupting the lives of about 4,000 workers and farmers. Surprinsing as it may seem, even the Science Minister Yingpan Manasikarn warned that the closure would cause serious economic damage to the country and thousands of workers would lose their jobs. He said verification of the cause of pollution was needed before such drastic action was taken against the company. Local environmental activists have a different view. They say that the closure order was a temporary measure when what was needed was a long-term solution to a problem that has persisted for more than a decade. Saneh Wichaiwong, manager of Ecological and Development Project of Watershed Phong River, said the problem woud persist without a total overhaul of the plant and the introduction of environmentally-sound technology. Activists consider that since a large number of villagers depend on the plant, the government should come up with long-term solutions and the company should compensate villagers who lost their fish. The decission was implemented on July 29. Two days later the company, giving no reasons, informed that the second pulp line would also be shut down. Later the same day, Industry Minister Somsak Thepsuthin visited the firm to check the situation, and later declared the water in the Phong River was clean and that it wasn’t Phoenix that was creating its pollution. Such "environmental assessment" was carried out --according to George Davidson, the chairman of the company-- in the following manner: "The minister took a glass of water from the canal and said that it was very clean and good quality water." Local sources said the closure of the firm's second pulp line was a pressure tactic to force the ministry to allow the company to open its first line, considering that the new closure would mean the loss of a source of income for more than 1,200 employees and some 60,000 northeastern farmers. At last the company's pressure on the government had the desired effect and the plant was reopened on August 11, with the main problem still remaining unsolved. Source: Based on a summary of press articles performed by PER (Project for Ecological Recovery), August 1998.
Indonesia: conflict over oil palm plantations Since the Indonesian government wants this country to become the first world exporter of oil palm --overcoming Malaysia-- this industry is currently undergoing a boom. To face the negative effects that oil palm plantations are producing at the local level on the environment and on peasants and their livelihoods, last July a group of Indonesian NGOs created Sawit Watch (see WRM bulletin nr. 14). Several actions have since then been carried out. Oil palm plantation companies PT Batanghari Sawit Sejahtera (BSS) and PT Dasa Anugerah Sejati (DAS) expropriated lands of people in Tanjung Katung and Lubuk Bernai villages in Jambi province, in Sumatra. Local people are now demanding that the Ministry withdraw the license given to those companies. M. Haris Yatim, one of the villagers, said that PT DAS expropriated lands of the people with help from the military and local government officials, by intimidating villagers. Protesters also met the Agrarian Minister and Head of the National Board for Lands. At the meeting the Minister offered them to work as contract farmers of the estate owned by PT. DAS. Taking into account that this scheme --aimed at cash crops, including oil palm-- has resulted in the deprivation of small farmers of control over their land and production factors, they rejected this offer and reaffirmed their demand of getting back their lands. The Minister then promised them to send a fact-finding team. After waiting for a whole week, and in the absence of an effective response, people from eight villages went to the House of Representatives of Jambi Province. Once again they received promises that a team would be sent to the conflict area as soon as possible. At the same time, local villagers have been trying to negotiate directly with PT DAS. Both parties agreed to go to court to settle the dispute. The company however --with assistance from the police-- started to intimidate the farmers who had taken the case to court. During these intimidatory actions some of them were even arrested under the false accussation of stealing rubber in platation areas of PT DAS. Several demonstrations have been programmed by Sawit Watch for September all over the country, from Jakharta to Bali, to protest against the expansion of oil palm plantations. Source: Sawit Watch: Campaign Against Big Scale Oil Palm Plantations in Indonesia, September 1998.
Vietnam: forestry model in crisis Vietnam is currently involved in a large scale "reforestation" programme. According to official sources 850,000 hectares of trees were planted nationwide between 1993 and 1995. Large areas of the country have been covered with monoculture plantations, often for export as wood chips to Taiwan and Japan. This scheme is not aimed at attending the needs of farmers, villagers, or even the Vietnamese economy in the long run. The Vietnamese paper business is currently suffering a severe crisis, since more wood is being produced than the country's pulp processors can handle. So far 364,000 hectares of land in the north of the country has already been turned over to forestry by government-sponsored agencies with the help of foreign consultants and "aid" agencies. NGOs have facilitated the implementation of a further 327,426 hectares The aim of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is to have a total of 1.3 million hectares of plantations producing wood, to output 450,000 tonnes of pulp a year by 2010. However, that development is not being matched by an increase in pulp processing capacity and now wood is being stockpiled by suppliers with no apparent possibility of anyone buying it. This leaves the industry in the absurd situation of having to import pulp for paper manufacturers, while hundreds of cubic metres of wood are being stacked up for the day when pulp producers are able to process them. Despite the declarations of the paper industry, little efforts have been made to increase manufacturing capacity. Observers say that the authorities have not coordinated the effort to solve the problem. Bai Bang Paper Company, for example, recently increased its production rate from 48,000 to 55,000 tonnes of finished paper per year. But the plan makers have neglected to stimulate the production of pulp, without which the paper cannot be produced This means that wood producers cannot sell their crop. The biggest losers, as usual, are the farmers, that were seduced by the promise of rapid benefits emerging from their plantation plots. To date they are either stockpiling or selling their wood at rock-bottom prices. They are even scared they could lose their livelihood and that is dissuading them from planting the trees the government wants grown.. For detailed information on plantations and the pulp and paper industry in Vietnam, please see."Reforestation in Vietnam in the context of the globalization of the paper and pulp industry" by Chris Lang, Oxford University, 1996 (complete text in our web page under Plantations Campaign/Campaign Material/By Country/Vietnam) Source: "Touch Wood: Vietnam can't produce enough paper pulp", Vietnam Economic Times, September 1998
CENTRAL AMERICA Nicaragua: transnational logging company files suit against NGO Last February in the village of Rosita, on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, representatives of the indigenous peoples Sumus and Miskitos, local and regional authorities, NGOs, community and religious leaders, met to consider the illegal activities of the Korean transnational company Kimyung, which operated through the subsidiary SOLCARSA, responsible for invading communal lands and destroying the forests and livelihoods of local people. The meeting approved a declaration demanding the inmediate suspension of the concession awarded to the company (see WRM Bulletin nr. 11). The environmental NGO Centro Humboldt, present at the event, was entrusted with evaluating the environmental impact provoked by the activities of SOLCARSA. In the meantime, a new logging company named PRADA S.A. was formed, including some former SOLCARSA share holders and Nicaraguan businessman Blandon Moreno. Centro Humboldt considers that operations reinitiated by this new company in August are illegal for the following reasons: 1. That the sentence of the Supreme Court of Justice, that orders the suspension of the SOLCARSA concession --which includes SOLCARSA's plywood plant-- is still in force. 2. That to date the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) has not given a favourable Environmental Impact Document to the plant. For this reason, SOLCARSA was fined by MARENA after completing the construction of the plant without the corresponding Environmental Impact Assessment. 3. That the new company lacks the approval of the Regional Autonomous Council of the Northern Atlantic Coast, a requirement established by the Autonomy Law for any investment in the region. 4. That PRADA S.A. has initiated operations using an environmental permission issued by the Municipal Council of Rosita. However, such resolution is illegal in that local authorities are not legally authorized to grant this permission, since this is a matter for the MARENA. In light of these considerations, Centro Humboldt asked the MARENA to apply the law and that operations of PRADA S.A. be immediately suspended. The company reacted by filing suit for injuries against Victor Campos, representative of Centro Humboldt. On September 10th, when the accused environmentalist appeared in court for the first time, representatives of environmental and indigenous organizations demonstrated in the streets outside the court, holding placards that read: "No to the destruction of tropical forests, no to the violation of human rights" "In Nicaragua 150,000 hectares of forest are lost annually, by the year 2025 it will all be lost." Passers-by signed a petition in support of the environmentalists. According to the Forest Network of Nicaragua, the authorities are maintaining an administrative silence and the company has continued to work illegally for over a month. The presentation of an appeal to the suit against Centro Humboldt was rejected by the judge and environmentalists say: "We do not doubt now how the power of money is working in this case. We have also been victims of slander by the company in paid spots in the press, and by persecution against colleagues of our organization. The MARENA invited environmental organizations to a meeting and proposed them to complete an environmental audit. However, many environmentalists opposed the idea, considering that it might legitimize the illegal actions of the Korean company. They instead demanded the closure of the company. At the meeting, Centro Humboldt handed over a document with the signatures of solidarity and the messages of support received from all accross the world. The judge’s decission is expected in the next few days. In the meantime, the situation remains still unsolved. Source: Centro Humboldt, Nicaragua.
NORTH AMERICA Greenpeace's virtual boat tour in Canada's rainforests Greenpeace has launched a virtual boat tour of Canada's endangered temperate rainforest. The site is intended to acquaint web surfers with this remote ancient forest and the impending threats it faces from clearcut logging. The address of the web site is http://www.greenpeacecanada.org/gbrtour The 52 foot sailing yacht, the 'Freedom Dancer', will act as the cyberspace base for transmitting satellite images to the Greenpeace Canada web site. The virtual boat tour will explore the beauty of the rainforest, feature the people and wildlife who live there, and focus attention on the companies currently logging this global treasure --Western Forest Products, International Forest Products and West Fraser Timber. Along with images, diary entries will be uploaded regularly, so web surfers can see and read about relevant issues. Surfers can also take action by sending an e-mail to the Premier of British Columbia, urging him to protect what remains of this rainforest Greenpeace websites around the world, including the Greenpeace International website (http://www.greenpeace.org) are mirroring the Virtual Boat tour and surfers can send messages to buyers of clearcut rainforest products asking them to reconsider their decision. The virtual tour will run from September 16th through to October 2nd, but web surfers can continue to log on to the web site for ongoing updates from the Great Bear Rainforest campaign. Source: Patrick Anderson, Greenpeace International
We have received the sad news that a person was killed while trying to protect native forests being cut in Grizzly Creek by the timber company Pacific Lumber. According to an Earth First! press release, "A video taken by Earth First! activists in Grizzly Creek captured the hostile voice of a Pacific Lumber faller threatening their lives less than an hour before David Chain was killed by a falling tree. The video blatantly contradicts Pacific Lumber's claim that the company 'had no knowledge' that Chain and others were nearby in Grizzly Creek. In fact, the logger who later cut the tree that killed David Chain can be heard furiously shouting obscenities and vowing to get his 'pistol.' Several other Earth First! activists were just six feet away from Chain when the tree came crashing down." The press release adds that, "Contrary to Pacific Lumber's public statements, David Chain's death was the inevitable result of the timber company's deliberate campaign of violence toward environmental activists" and that "The escalating use of violence by Pacific Lumber has been ignored by Humboldt County law enforcement." The press release finally expresses that "The tragic death of David Chain under these circumstances shows clearly that to PL, profits are more important than human life. Earth First! activists who witnessed the tragic death of their comrade David Chain will cooperate with a full investigation into the incident and its causes. A memorial is planned for next week, and Earth First! will continue to protest Pacific Lumber's illegal logging in Grizzly Creek in David's name." Source: Northcoast Earth First! press release, September 18, 1998.
SOUTH AMERICA Eucalyptus and pines in the Bolivian Andes What follows are quotes from research carried out in the Bolivian Andes by Danish researcher Thor Hjarsen, who is one of our readers. The full text can be found in the following web site: http://www.aki.ku.dk/zmuc/ver/staff/thjarsen.htm "During the last 13 years a forestry project: "Programa de Repoblamiento Forestal" (PROFOR), has planted more than 15 million trees in the Andean zone in Cochabamba. About 80 per cent of the trees are Eucalyptus globulus and Pinus radiata. This important project [funded by the Swiss government] has largely neglected to acknowledge the role of native tree species for erosion control and preservation of ecosystems and water catchments. Little attention has also been given to the fact, that the indigenous communities also rely on the non-timber resources offered by the Polylepis forests such as medicine plants, game and wild tuber plants. Fast growing exotics should only be used when a rapid supply of firewood and construction timber is needed and - with great care - for urgent erosion control. Long-term ecological, hydrological and rural socio-economical goals require instead protection and regeneration of the endangered Polylepis forests by true reforestation, and zonation of different land-uses. I have identified land-use practices in the forestry sector that should be halted immediately due to documented negative effects on the highly threatened biodiversity of the Bolivian Andes. I will express concerns for the negative effects on water-balance, agricultural production and socio-economy from this forestry, which mainly relies on the establishment of plantations with Eucalyptus spp. and Pinus spp. It was found that the exotic plantations did not remove human pressure on native forests, because the exotic trees were regarded as a cash crop by the peasants and landowners. Therefore, wood for household needs was continuously collected in the natural forests and woodlands. The major promoter of plantation forestry in the Cochabamba area is a joint-venture forestry project: Programa de Repoblamiento Forestal (PROFOR). This study also documents that several exotic plantations have been established inside or very close to the native woodlands of the conservation dependent kehuia trees (Polylepis). I myself worked in the Cochabamba area of Bolivia (one of the endemism centres) trying to assess the impacts on the avifauna and natural vegetation from (traditional) agriculture forestry in the mountain, and from modern plantation projects mainly relying on exotics (Pinus and Eucalyptus). My data shows that the agriculture and forestry practised by the village communities does not pose any significant threat to the endangered bird species or the general biodiversity, as long as native forest vegetation is left between fields or in mosaics. The endangered bird species seems to accept even high levels of human "disturbances". The major factor replacing the endangered avifauna was 1) lack of natural forests and 2) establishment of plantations. From the above "stories" the approach in these areas to protect biodiversity and regenerate water resources is to: 1)Help farmers with true reforestation and land management 2)Avoid exotics as far as possible." Source: Thor Hjarsen, August 1998
Brazil: "We want orchards, not eucalyptus plantations" After a long struggle started in 1995, Brazilian NGOs and peasant organizations, with support from representatives of the Catholic church, succeeded in halting a megaproject of eucalyptus plantation in the state of Amapa in northern Brazil. The plan of Champion Paper and Cellulose. and its subsidiary Chamflora Amapa Agroflorestal Ltda to set up 100,000 hectares of eucalyptus, would have affected the lands and livelihoods of the peasants of the region. Local people joined in the Organized Civil Society Forum (Forum da Sociedade Civil Organizada), which, with the support of the Pastoral Commission for Land (Comissao Pastoral da Terra) carried out a complete study to demonstrate that the company had illegally occupied the peasants’ lands. They had to face a powerful opponent, with much influence on the media and specialised in showing a "green image". In spite of that, they managed to stop both the first project based on eucalyptus and a second one, started in 1996, when Champion bought AMCEL (Amapa Celulose), a company installed in Amapa since 1974, and whose pine plantations occupy 93,000 hectares. In 1998 Champion had to recognize the irregularities commited during the purchase and occupation of lands: some 140,000 hectares had to be given back to their legitimate owners, the peasants of Amapa. This victory is celebrated every July 25 --Rural Workers Day-- by peasant organizations, whose slogan is : "We want orchards, not eucalyptus plantations." Nevertheless, globalization of the economy implies new threats for the Brazilian people. Since the international cellulose and paper markets have been affected by the Asian crisis and environmetal pressures to stop the exploitation of forests in Southern Asia are increasing, projects to produce nearly 10 million tonnes of those products were abandoned in that region, and part of them could be transferred to Brazil. One example is the association between two of the largest paper producers in the world (Stora from Sweden and ENSO from Finland), with the Odebrecht Group in Brazil, to invest 1.6 billion dollars in a cellulose plant in the state of Bahia. Another example is the association between the US Kimberly-Clark and the Brazilian Klabin Group, to invest in Brazil and Argentina. Chilean paper producers are also interested in investing in Brazil. One of them has already purchased a factory in Santa Catarina. The Celmar project, which includes the recently privatized Rio Doce Valley Company, involves a possible association with several international companies to produce cellulose in the state of Maranhao. The Rio Doce Valley is negotiating an association between giant pulp producers CENIBRA and Bahia Sul, seeking more profitability and more competitive prices on the international market. Sources: Sandro Gallazzi (CPT-Amapa) and Rosa Roldan (IBASE), September 1998
Venezuela: increasing conflict with Jefferson Smurfit Smurfit Cartons Venezuela --a subsidiary of the US-based transnational Jefferson Smurfit-- has been operating in Venezuela's Portuguesa state since 1986. Its extensive pulpwood plantations for the production of paperboard have resulted in equally extensive social and environmental problems. This situation has been analysed by the Venezuelan Senate's Environment Commission, which has recently produced a 120-page report documenting such impacts. We have been informed about some of those impacts, which include human rights violations, dispossessment of local peoples' lands, corruption, disregard towards national legislation, substitution of riverine forests by tree monocrops. Jefferson Smurfit is a vertically integrated corporation, including forestry operations, pulp production from virgin fibre and recycled paper, cardboard, paper and packaging production. Its facilities are located in the USA, Europe (Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and the UK) and Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela). In May 1998 it signed an agreement to merge with another giant paper manufacturer (Stone Container Corporation) to create one of the world’s largest manufacturers of paperboard and paper-based packaging products. The combined entity, with annual sales of US$8 billion, will be called Smurfit-Stone Container. In order to be able to confront this giant, our friends in Venezuela require as much information as possible concerning Jefferson Smufit, and in particular: - negative impacts in other countries - planned expansion in Latin America - environmental or other restrictions in the USA They are also interested in receiving information on a consulting firm linked to Smurfit, called Monitor Company (which might have links with Jaakko Poyry). If any of our readers is able to facilitate information on the above, please send it to us and we will forward it to Venezuela Source: personal communication with Venezuela and Jefferson Smurfit's web page ( http://www.smurfit.ie )
Chile: support for the Mapuche-Pehuenche people needed Mapuche and Pehuenche organizations of Chile are planning a visit to Europe to contact and lobby financial and state agencies involved in the controversial hydroelectric projects that are afecting the Bio Bio watershed (see WRM Bulletin nr. 11). The visit has been programmed for 2 to 20 November and will cover Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Norway and Sweden. Organizations interested in cooperating to make it possible, please contact the Action Group for the Bio Bio ("Grupo de Accion para el Bio Bio"): fax:+49-89-6661-743504. email: h0847csk@rz.hu-berlin.de Source: Dario Jana. September 1998.
EUROPE International Conference organised by Taiga Rescue Network Boreal Forests of the World IV: Integrating Cultural Values into Local and Global Forest Protection. Tartu, Estonia 5-10 October 1998 Every two years (since its founding in 1992), Taiga Rescue Network has organised an international conference on boreal forests. This year it will be held in Estonia and will focus on: Integrating Cultural Values in Local and Global Forest Protection. At the United Nations Conference on the Environment (UNCED, 1992), the Rio Declaration defined five values to be sustained in forests: economic, ecological, social, cultural and spiritual. Up until now most of the debate on forests has been set in terms of the conflict between economic and ecological values. The conference will look more closely at how culture is shaped by the forest and the forests are shaped by our cultures. Following two days of public meetings and discussion panels, including presentations on the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation from Russia, Japan and Northern Europe, NGO representatives will meet to further discuss strategic plans and identify common projects between boreal producer countries and consumer countries. Everybody from the NGO sector is welcome to attend both the open days and the NGO strategy days. For more information and registration please contact Taime Puura, Conference Coordinator, Estonian Green Movement, P.O. Box 318, Tartu, EE2400, Estonia. Tel: +372 7 422 598, Fax: +372 7422 084, or E-mail: for-est@erl.tartu.ee More information is also available on the web at: http://www.online.ee/~roheline/mets/conference.html
OCEANIA Growing concern over plantations in Australia For many years the Australian environmental movement has chosen to "lay off" plantations as an issue, as it was seen that in the Australian context, they could be a useful alternative to native forest logging. This situation has now changed with the Tasmanian Greens, for instance, opposing the establishment of any further plantations. This is as a result of the "Regional Forest Agreement" process, which seeks to remove the Federal Government from forestry conflicts with the states, by allowing for unlimited woodchip exports in exchange for a so-called "comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system" (CAR reserve). Needless to say the RFAs signed to date have produced inadequate and unscientific reserves, while chip exports are rising dramatically. In Tasmania, massive native forest clearance and replacement by plantations is well underway, with state government targets of 10,000 hectares per annum. Australian mining giant NORTH ltd has entered into a joint venture with Mitsubishi to alienate 23,000 hectares over a 10 year period. US giant Weyerhaeuser has just bought in to the state of Victoria's recently privatised plantation estate and is looking at investing in Tasmania. On a government policy level, there is much to be concerned about. A number of schemes have been established to increase native forest clearance under the guise of plantation establishment, particularly the so-called "Plantations Vision 2020" program, which seeks to double plantations by 2020 --with significant Federal support. The Federal government is now trying to use the Kyoto Protocol as another means of supporting the timber industry by encouraging "carbon sequestration" through plantation establishment. The federal environment minister Robert Hill has been very vague about ensuring that no plantations are established --and exchanged for credits-- at the expense of native forests. Few people are aware that Australia has a voracious and destructive forest industry that has been granted open slather to export woodchips - currently about 7,000,000, tonnes annually to Japan (Mitsubishi, Daishowa, New Oji, etc.) --or about 40% of Japan's hardwood chip imports-- all from a continent which is only 5% forested. NORTH Ltd is a very large player in the national industry and a large owner of plantation lands (about 150,000 hectares in Tasmania). It is logging oldgrowth forest for plantation substitution. There is growing concern that the kind of references to "sustainable" native forest management and plantation establishment in the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests' documents will encourage countries like Australia to continue their current rate of clearance and substitution. "Native" trees could still mean that monocultures may proliferate, given that Eucalyptus globulus is "native" to Tasmania, though it has been genetically engineered and established beyond its original range. Source: Tim Cadman, Native Forest Network, Australia
WRM GENERAL ACTIVITIES News from the International Secretariat WRM's International Coordinator participated as part of the Global Secretariat at meetings held in Geneva (20-25 August) of the Joint Initiative to Address the Underlying Causes of Deforestation and Forest Degradation. He was also present during part of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests meeting held at the same time in Geneva. The Montevideo Declaration on Plantations and an analysis of the issue of plantations within the context of the Proposals for Action of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (see WRM Bulletin 14) were distributed at the meeting in English and Spanish. Stuart Wilson --from Forests Monitor-- made a presentation on "High Stakes", produced jointly by his organization and WRM. Invited by Both Ends, Alvaro González of the International Secretariat of the WRM, participated in a workshop on Cooperation Policy of The Netherlands related to Climate Change, that took place in The Hague from 9 to 15 September. The aim of the organizers was to generate inputs for Dutch NGOs to negotiate the position of that country for COP-4, which will take place in Buenos Aires next November. Among other topics, the issue of forest conservation and plantation projects in the framework of Joint Implementation was discussed. Those interested in receiving further information, please contact: vv@bothends.antenna.nl
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