What
is the Latin American Network against Monoculture Tree Plantations?
It is a decentralized
network of Latin American organizations having the basic objective
of coordinating activities to oppose the expansion of large scale
monoculture tree plantations on a regional level, be these for the
production of timber and pulp, for the production of palm oil or
to act as “carbon sinks.” At the same time, the Network
encourages support to socially and environmentally sound alternatives
to the various situations on the basis of local community opinion.
The Network was
created during the World Social Forum held in January 2003 by representatives
from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Paraguay
and Uruguay.
How
does it work?
The Network’s
founding organizations have acted as Focal Points in their respective
countries from the time it was created. The Network as a whole,
at the initiative of its founding members, has chosen Focal Points
in the remaining countries, seeking to incorporate all the countries
of the region. The choice of such Focal Points was subject to the
approval of all the founding members.
Regarding membership,
the Network is composed exclusively by one Focal Point per country.
On a national level, the Focal Points may seek to incorporate all
the organizations interested in this issue, using the mechanisms
that best adapt to their situation and needs.
Each Focal Point
should carry out a series of functions. Among these, two may be
highlighted:
1) Maintain contact
with the rest of the Network
2) Promote the creation of a national (formal or informal) network
against plantations.
The Network also
has a general coordination in charge of supporting work on a national
level and coordinating actions on a regional and international level..
The Network selected the Secretariat of the World Rainforest Movement,
located in Uruguay to carry out this task. .
Both on a national
and regional level, as a whole the Network intends to promote the
following activities:
- support local struggles against monoculture tree plantations
- support local development alternatives
- create awareness regarding social and environmental impacts of
monoculture tree plantations
- disseminate information and analysis
- provide training to the actors involved
- encourage horizontal exchange among countries
- carry out research activities
- disseminate research findings
- organize campaigns on a national level
- coordinate campaigns on a regional level
- coordinate activities with extra-regional organizations
. - encourage substantial changes in national forestry legislation,
eliminating from them the promotion of monoculture tree plantations
Focal
points:
Letters
-
Latin
American Network asks Brazilian and Chilean Goverments to Stop
GE Trees Researchs
- Press Release-
16 January 2008 Only
available in Spanish
and Portuguese
How
to get involved with the Network
Those interested
in further information on the Latin American Network against Monoculture
Tree Plantations (Red Latinoamericana contra los Monocultivos de
Árboles - RECOMA), should contact the focal point in their
country or the Network’s Secretariat:
World Rainforest
Movement
phone: 598 2 413 2989 / fax: 598 2 410 0985
e-mail: recoma@internet.com.uy
