Swedish Logging Confrontation Escalates

["greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

The Greenpeace old growth logging confrontation in Sweden
escalates

Sweden, February 5, 1998 - Early this morning Greenpeace placed
a container across the road leading to the disputed logging area
in Svartedalen north of Gothenburg. At the same time a large
number of activists from four countries have again chained
themselves to the logging machine that started clear cutting the
area by help of the police two days ago. 

"This ravaging in Svartedalen must now come to an end" says
Ellika Hermansson, Greenpeace. "The Swedish parliament and
government have repeatedly promised to protect the biodiversity
in Sweden. We all know that these old growth forests have to be
preserved to reach that goal. Instead the government use police
force to help the loggers."

The government's solution to the problem is based on forest
companies and private landowners voluntarily refraining from
logging old growth forests. Statutory funding to compensate
their financial loss is however largely lacking. Therefore
logging of such forests continue to happen.

"How the police have prioritised in this conflict is really
revealing. Just imagine what could have been accomplished had
they only devoted part of all these resources to fight
environmental crimes instead", Ellika Hermansson says.

Two weeks ago the present landowner in Svartedalen, Mr Rolf
Glimstedt, and the seller, the Swedish forest company Assidomän,
reached a principal agreement for the purchase to be cancelled
and the disputed area made a natural reserve. When negotiations
for compensation broke down a week later logging started.

Greenpeace on the Internet at http://www.greenpeace.org