CONSUMPTION AND GREED DESTROY WORLD’S ANCIENT FORESTS

8 April 2002

The Hague - Greenpeace released reports today exposing the illegal and destructive logging of Papua New Guinea’s paradise forests and in the old growth forests of Finland. Greenpeace also issued a report on the involvement of Japan, as a leading market country, in the destruction of the world’s last remaining ancient forests.

Partners in Crime - Malaysian loggers, timber markets and the politics of self-interest in Papua New Guinea describes the exploitation and devastating effect that the Kiunga Aiambak project has had on the indigenous landowners and the environment. It also details the breakdown in governance that has allowed the project to continue, the role of the Malaysian logging company Concord Pacific and the market forces in China driving the destruction. The report calls on the Government of Papua New Guinea to shut down the scandalous Kiunga Aiambak logging project and for consumers around the world to stop purchasing ancient forest destruction.

“We believe this project is a test case for Papua New Guinea and the international community. It is well within the power of the Papua New Guinea government, international governments and consumers to halt the rampant destruction of these forests and the livelihoods of those people who depend on them. Malaysia’s Prime Minister should also hold Malaysia’s companies accountable by demanding that they clean up their business practices and stop this project,” said Lafcadio Cortesi, Greenpeace forests campaigner.

New Guinea’s Paradise Forests are the third largest intact tropical rainforests left in the world after the Amazon and Congo Basin. These forests are home to the richest cultural diversity on earth. They also contain over five per cent of the planet’s terrestrial species.

The report Policies of Destruction is an analysis on Finland’s implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in the protection of forest ecosystems. Finland is a high-profile forest industry country producing 25 percent of the world’s printing and writing paper supplies.

Finland’s forest policies appear advanced, but in the light of critical analysis, it is clear that the policies are sustainable on paper only. Despite advanced forest legislation and numerous political processes, forest biodiversity in Finland is in crisis. The few remaining old-growth forests are still being clear-cut by the State Forest Service, destroying the habitats of hundreds of threatened species every year. The living conditions for red-listed species, such as the red-flanked blue tail, are increasingly being threatened because of intensifying forest management and increasing logging.

Japan’s Partners in Crime II Chains of Destruction leading from the world’s remaining ancient forests to the Japanese Market highlights Japan’s role in the destruction of the world’s forests. Japan is the world’s second largest wood importer, exceeded only by the US. The report draws attention to the Japanese government’s lack of action in stopping the import of destructive timber and in not implementing alternatives for the consumption of domestic wood from artificial forests.

During this week’s Ancient Forests Summit in the Hague, Greenpeace is urging governments of all importing countries to bring an immediate end to their role in the destruction of ancient forests by committing to stop further industrial activities in intact ancient forests until responsible plans for forest conservation and sustainable use have been agreed; by ensuring that timber is produced and traded in a legal and ecologically responsible way and by providing at least US$15 billion each year to finance the transition from destructive logging and pay for sustainable use and forest conservation.

Today, Greenpeace activists are stopping logging in a state-owned old-growth forest in north-eastern Finland. In Gothenburg, Sweden, activists have now entered their third week of patrolling the forests to prevent logging operations. This morning logging machines from the Vastskog logging company have entered the forest accompanied by police.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Lafcadio Cortesi, Greenpeace Forests Campaigner currently in the Hague, ++31 (0)627 000 058
Gina Sanchez, Greenpeace Media Officer, in the Hague, ++31 (0)627 000 064
Sini Harkki, Greenpeace Forests Campaigner from Finland, in the Hague +358-50-582 1107