21 September - International Day against Monoculture Tree Plantations

Planting trees is not always a good thing to do. It depends on the objective, the scale, the location of the plantation and the benefits or damages involved for the local population.

Large-scale monoculture tree plantations that have been promoted in the countries of the South with fast-growing species, such as eucalyptus and pine have generated considerable negative impacts, economically, socially and environmentally in the countries where they have been installed.

The Latin American Network against Monoculture Tree Plantations (Red Latinoamericana contra los Monocultivos de Árboles – RECOMA) an organization involving members from 16 countries, has been denouncing, inter alia, displacements of rural populations, loss of sources of work, appalling working conditions, the destruction of forests and other ecosystems, soil erosion, depletion and contamination of water.

In May 2004, the Brazilian “Network against the Green Desert” that has a considerable track record of resistance to tree plantations, held its 3rd National Meeting in the city of Bello Horizonte. On that occasion it decided to select the 21 September, National Tree Day, as a significant date to commemorate the struggle against monoculture tree plantations.

Convened by RECOMA, organizations from the whole region adhered to this commemoration and carried out various mobilizations.

In Brazil, the students of the Federal University organized a mobilization in the capital of the State of Espirito Santo, with the participation of representatives of affected groups to denounce the workers’ situation and encroachment of the lands of the local communities by monoculture tree plantations. (Photos)

Mobilization in Green´s Fair Photo by Carlito Medeiros

In Argentina, in the Province of Entre Ríos the negative impacts of monoculture tree plantations were disseminated by the press and in the Province of Misiones native species were planted as a symbolic way of rejecting the monoculture of exotic species that is covering the province.

Uruguay joined in this celebration with an exhibition at the City Hall Esplanade, distributed information and videos were shown on a gigantic screen: the impacts of monoculture tree plantations worldwide and the situation of Uruguayan forestry workers, prepared by the Association of Labour Inspectors of Uruguay.

Adhesions from European and African organizations were also received.

For those of us who believe that “another world is possible”, governmental policy must make a radical change. It must cease its support of monoculture tree plantation companies and centre its support on the men and women who live in rural environments to enable them to improve their quality of life, while ensuring environmental quality.