G8 ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS IGNORE KEY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE: THE PROTECTION OF THE LAST ANCIENT FORESTS

8 April 2000

OTSU CITY, JAPAN -- Greenpeace activists wearing shirts with the slogan "G8, Stop illegal logging", today gave Bonsai trees to the G8 Environment Ministers, who are meeting in Japan this weekend, in a symbolic gesture to remind the top environmental authorities of their unfulfilled commitment to fight illegal logging. Illegal and destructive logging is threatening the future of the world's last remaining ancient forests. Yet while the G8 countries have made public commitments to promote sustainable forest management, the issue of illegal logging is not evident in this weekend's agenda.

Greenpeace activists from over 10 countries presented the Environmental Ministers with gifts of Bonsai trees during a visit to Mount Hiei and the Enryaku-ji Temple, an ancient centre of Japanese Buddhism located near Kyoto.

"It's ironic that while G8 Environment Ministers can enjoy the surroundings of this ancient place of beauty, ancient forests continue to disappear around the world," said Thilo Bode, International Executive Director of Greenpeace. "Halting the destruction of these forests is possibly the most visible sign of sustainable development. To ignore it is completely unacceptable."

Just one-fifth of the world's original forest cover remains in large tracts of ancient forests. Almost half of these forest areas are currently under threat. Because logging activity to satisfy global demand for paper and timber is currently the biggest single threat to these forests, commitments from the G8 must be accompanied by actions aimed toward ending the continued and rapid loss of these vulnerable, yet invaluable habitats.

Yesterday, Greenpeace launched a report highlighting the highlighting the involvement of G8 countries in illegal timber trade. Greenpeace's demands that G8 governments:

· DO NOT buy illegal timber products · DO NOT fund forest destruction through aid for unsustainable forestry · DO NOT allow G8 countries be markets for illegal timber · DO buy wood products from sustainable certified forest management · DO provide urgent assistance to forest countries to tackle illegal logging · DO increase the capacity for monitoring and transparency throughout the production and transport of wood and wood products globally.

As part of its campaign to stop illegal and destructive logging in the world's ancient forests, Greenpeace has been protesting the import of timber entering ports in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Christoph Thies, Greenpeace International (In Japan): +81 90 2254 2388
- Gina Sanchez, Greenpeace International (In Japan): +81 90 2479 3370

Download a copy of the Greenpeace report 'Against the Law: The G8 and the Illegal Timber Trade' here (pdf format)