Yet another paradise lost?

Prime Minister Michael Somare of Papua New Guinea is ruling as a Mugabe like thug bent upon becoming a tin-pot dictator. Once a great man that led his country to independence, Mr. Somare is now using his “Grand Chief” status for corrupt personal, family and tribal gains – illegally and immorally allocating huge swathes of his great nation’s forest and marine resources without landowners’ prior and informed consent. On the bidding of Somare’s increasingly despotic and erratic leadership, Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) natural assets are being sold off to invading Asian business interests – destroying rainforest, ocean, water and land – as well as the resource and ecosystem rich nation’s future development potential. Will one man – big man Sana or not – single-handedly destroy Earth’s third largest remaining contiguous old rainforest expanses for personal gain?

Nowhere is this more evident than in Madang Province, PNG, which contains some of Earth’s last remaining mostly intact tropical and marine ecosystems in the world. The “Jewel of the South Pacific” includes large ancient rainforest tracts, huge tuna and other fisheries, and barely explored mineral deposits; as well as beautiful, loving and peaceful people. Madang’s rainforests and oceans feed and house all its citizens, regulate national and regional climatic patterns, and make the Earth habitable by providing global ecosystem services. As Somare flits about in his new high-end private jet (who paid for that?) signing illicit business deals with Asian cartels and otherwise stealing Madang and the nation’s resources (including attempts to corner nascent carbon markets), Madang and PNG’s infrastructure including schools, hospitals, police and roads are in shambles.

Nothing appears off-limits as Somare and cronies would sell the shirt off a villager’s back if it benefited well himself, his family and/or his tribe. Dodgy Filipino tuna interests want to build another tuna cannery along Madang’s special north coast? Why stop at one? Somare wants to give them ten, against local wishes, and to the same existing company long cited for allowing birds to crap in their tuna cans. China needs minerals including nickle and cobalt to continue its ecocidal over-development that threatens to enslave and ultimately destroy being? Sure, take all you want without paying landowner royalties (we’ll figure out who they are later), and just dump those millions of tons of toxic waste untreated directly into Madang’s spectacular Astrolabe Bay. These atrocities are done in the name of development, allegedly to help materially lacking people enjoy a consumptive lifestyle including rice and tin fish. Yet we know it is simply common greed, and once completed, PNG’s indigenous peoples will be left in despair, destitute and dying.

CAPTION: Sustainable Forest Management Papua New Guinea Style [more pictures]

And then there is the scourge of industrial liquidation of huge swathes of ancient primary forests for throw away consumer crap, at the expense of equitable and ecologically sustainable indigenous traditional living, and our shared ecosystems. Tragically, within the past couple years Rimbunan Hijau of Malaysia – violent, brutal sociopaths willing to stop at nothing to hack down millions of year old rainforests wherever found for ill-gotten, easy profits – has gotten their tentacles into Madang. Against provincial government wishes and with numerous other irregularities the Somare government granted a 158,000 hectare (~375,000 acre) logging operation in the heart of the Ramu river valley – well placed to later access up to a million hectares of additional primary lowland rainforests. Their tremendously damaging and illegal logging practices have commenced, referred to as “sustainable forest management” by the government and industry, the same language used to describe FSC’s certified logging supported by Rainforest Action Network and Greenpeace.

In fact, this and all industrial rainforest logging in PNG are illegal and ecologically devastating because there is no National Forest Inventory, or National Forest Plan; there has never been any evidence of sustainability for future generations; and logging activities are in breach of the Constitution and National Goals. But most shockingly, as a case before the PNG Supreme Court makes clear, Forest Management Areas (FMA) have been and continue to be acquired without clan landholders’ prior and informed consent, often even without their knowledge through forged signatures. In the Ramu, many clan leaders signed the agreement after being told “these are Michael Somare’s rainforests, and he wants them to be logged” – a Grand Lie from their Grand Chief.

Exactly 20 years ago I fell in love with Madang, its peoples and PNG as a Peace Corps volunteer. I married locally and for over a decade I worked as a PNG rainforest activist – helping stop many dodgy timber deals. My tribe’s ancestral land lies in the Sogeram, the entry point to Ramu logging, and an area that has been partially logged. Recently, on the basis of a hand-shake with German NGO Rettet den Regenwald (Rainforest Rescue), I had the opportunity to have my personal expenses covered to research the situation, and to find local and international campaign opportunities, as we visited and holidayed with family. There have certainly been many adventures, successes and failures – some of which I will relate here.

For the past six months, in addition to Ecological Internet’s other activities, I have assisted in the founding of a new PNG rainforest campaign group called “Asples PNG” (people of PNG). Working in PNG is extremely difficult –prohibitively expensive cars and housing, incessant power outages, limited Internet, and very real personal security concerns. Yet speaking the language fluently, following closely local customs, and with my tribe as backup; I gave it all I had to stop these atrocious development policies. It took nearly two months just to get a house, office and Internet connection established – deeply stressing the patience of funders unfamiliar with the vagaries of PNG. EI’s first contribution was to help the very capable national staff of the leading local NGO campaigning against the tuna factories to internationalize the issue.

By providing advice and other support, Ecological Internet was able to help local landowners in their struggle to shutdown Rimbunan Hijau in Madang Ramu Block I. Early on we became aware of an existing initiative by Ramu landowners to petition the government to revoke the FMA, and Sogeram landowners were actively pursuing against long odds having Rimbunan Hijau removed in court. Both groups of landowners were generally against logging if REDD carbon payments for intact forests were available, and if they could find funds to maintain a road to allow them to market their goods. Upon bringing this to the attention of the leading local NGO, it was decided given my family ties, I would be the primary liaison with landowners, and the local NGO would provide assistance for transport and modest legal expenses.

CAPTION: Landowners Want the Logging Stopped [more pictures]

In dozens of meetings with landowner leaders a three part strategy to end industrial logging in Madang was formulated. It stressed building coalitions of those against logging (though they may have differing views after that), stressed outreach to unemployed local youths whose jobs were being exported, and sought to empower landowners to retake control of their land which had been stolen from them. We patrolled the area, going directly to the scene of the logging, taking stunning pictures of ecological destruction and massive infrastructure that was clearly intended to log the entire Ramu [1]. And we informally carried out socially appropriate ecological and social justice awareness activities with thousands of local youths and community leaders, successfully seeking to broaden and deepen the movement.

Things were looking hopeful as we were informed by Ramu landowners they would be imminently presenting their petition to government, and blockading and evicting the loggers themselves. These Ramu landowners had a petition of some 70% of landowner leaders asking for the FMA to be withdrawn, and legal documents to administratively pull out of the FMA were being produced courtesy of the local NGO and skilled attorneys. Then in early December, against all odds and before this plan unfolded, Rimbunan Hijau’s logging was stopped by court order by the Sogeram landowners’ court challenge. It was found that indeed the FMA had been illegally granted to Rimbunan Hijau by Somare’s government with massive irregularities. Together we had managed to facilitate the cobbling together of a strategy on the cheap to get the disease of industrial logging out of Madang before it became permanently entrenched.

Then – demonstrating that indeed PNG is the land of the unexpected – in quick succession our effort suffered numerous though not necessarily permanent setbacks. Rimbunan Hijau has a proven methodology to put down dissent. In quick succession, idled loggers came to Madang and began terrorizing the town, including personally issuing me a death threat. Two youths guilty of minor theft against Rimbunan Hijau were rounded up by bribed and drunken police and shot at point blank range with M16 rifles in the leg, in a clear warning meant to silence the community. And then just before the penultimate moment when landowners were waiting for the simple legal documents to withdraw from the FMA, the local NGO reneged on their promise to cover these minimal legal expenses (<$1000). It was up to me to give the landowners the bad news. A couple weeks later the international community failed to deliver upon REDD mechanisms to pay landowners to protect their forests.

Much hope remains as logging remains stopped, a considerable local and international protest movement has been built, and the basis is set for ending industrial primary rainforest logging in Madang and PNG permanently. Personally I did the best I could with limited resources to cobble together successes to date. My part as informal advisor and chief international cheerleader has left me $20,000 in debt. I became deeply frustrated as poor communication and unrealistic expectations meant I was rarely received funding on time, and am still owed for the last month of expenses. I must admit, I lost my nerve and was frightened for my life, thousands of miles from home, not knowing who I could depend upon. Yet these primeval rainforests are my daughter’s birthright and these forests make all life possible, so you do what you can do. And this is only the beginning as Ecological Internet’s seeks funding for a prolonged local, national and international ecological information campaign on behalf of PNG’s rainforests.

I have a profound respect for local PNG rainforest and social justice groups that daily have to fear violence including constant harassment, physical attack and even targeted rapes. Yet sadly, the violence of the economic system and ruling elite has worked, leading to the resistance to Madang’s ecosystem destruction being fragmented, fragile and failing. Always the case with local NGOs, there is much territoriality, a reluctance to collaborate to build a movement, and lack of variety in tactics. Funding from foundations for staff paychecks remains the overwhelming concern, and thus elite foundations dictate the strategies and tactics. In PNG they have paid for NGOs to successfully pursue legal strategies to stop a project here or there, but it is inadequate and uncoordinated. Foundations are averse to risk, unconcerned with ecological sufficiency, and are providing inadequate resources for other campaign activities.

With Earth perilously close to global ecological collapse because of past and ongoing ecosystem destruction, why is humanity unable to correctly value Madang and the other last precious ecosystems powering our shared biosphere? What does it say about the state of humanity and Earth that places like Madang continue to be destroyed? How can it be made known that continued industrial development based upon destruction of Earth’s last relatively intact ecosystems means the end of Earth? After 20 years of ecological education and activism, one thing I know for sure is that what is being done to date is orders of magnitude inadequate, and our shared survival depends upon escalating revolutionary protest activities on behalf of Earth and being.

Madang’s rainforest and marine bounty could employ – through small and medium scaled community based ecoforestry and a local purse seine tuna industry – many of its citizens and country persons for perpetuity. But there is no path to ecologically sustainable, equitable and just development for PNG that does not immediately end industrial scaled timber and tuna harvests. Otherwise PNG is just another has been rich country that wasted their wealth. The time has passed where any country can be said to be pursuing national advancement in-country or overseas by claiming destroying fisheries and old forests is somehow progress. Doing so in Madang ensures that these proud, independent people will be left as ecological refugees amongst a burnt over landscape and lifeless ocean. Ecological imperialism continues unimpeded.

For the sake of all of PNG’s people (and not just his tribe), Michael Somare must step down immediately, stop all efforts to have his son succeed him in office, and a new government must thoroughly review the timber and other resource project approvals granted under questionable circumstances. It is vital that a new PNG government commit itself to ending first time industrial logging of old primary forests, and ensure resource development advances the nation and its people as a whole. And China, as a totalitarian country practicing not communism, but autocratic capitalism, must be contained from utterly wreaking havoc upon its neighbors. In fact, by amply bribing Somare and violently stifling dissent, China is invading Papua New Guinea, making it likely PNG will once again become a colony. But this time PNG’s religious beliefs, freedom of expression and ecologically sustainable livelihoods will be lost forever.

[1] Papua New Guinea RH Ramu Logging 2009

Correction: As originally published, the Ramu Nickle/Cobalt mine was mistakenly referred to as a zinc mine.

Mongabay reports that Delmas shipping company is planning to take as many as 200 containers (worth $40M) of illegally logged rosewood rainforest timbers out of Vohemar port in Madagascar on the 21st or 22nd of December [1]. They reported four shipping companies have transported rosewood from Madagascar this year. Three of these have agreed to stop shipping rosewood following criticisms from international conservation groups, but the fourth, Delmas (a subsidiary of French shipping giant CMA-CGM) continues to ship illegally logged precious woods in large quantities.

MORE INFORMATION & TO TAKE ACTION!

TAKE ACTION HERE NOW!

Securing world food security while maintaining operable forests, global climate, water, ocean and terrestrial ecosystems – and human rights, justice and equity – is the biggest challenge facing humanity. Water and food are the next bubbles to burst -- expect severe shortages of both in the 2010s. It is long past time to get back to the land through protecting and restoring old forests and organic permaculture farming. Our survival depends upon being with land, collecting water, letting forests age and growing food.

Large scale biofuel/biomass production – particularly promoting monoculture tree plantations within the context of Copenhagen “solutions” – runs counter to urgently addressing climate change and threatens to cause more deforestation, human rights abuses, and degradation of soil, water and biodiversity. All biofuels based upon industrial agricultural practices worsen climate change and ecologically diminish soils and ecosystems, drive food prices up, and force more people worldwide into hunger and malnutrition.

It is time to transform agriculture into an ecologically sustainable enterprise, based on systems which can be employed for centuries. To reduce the pressures upon the land and allow forests to undergo succession, we must promote organic, permaculture, low impact agriculture, agro-forest and other agro-ecological systems to meet human food needs, including major reduction in meat consumption. And protecting and restoring old forests where they historically occurred is vital as well. TAKE ACTION HERE NOW!

An Open Letter signed by more than 80 organizations from 31 countries was delivered yesterday to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) [search] and to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) co-initiator of the initiative. In the letter, they are urged to end the “greenwashing” and certification of palm oil plantations as being “sustainable”.

According to the Open Letter, palm oil companies certified by the RSPO are directly responsible for much social and environmental damage: dislocation of local populations’ livelihoods, destruction of rainforests and peat lands, pollution of soils and water, and contribution to global warming. These are the reasons why “palm oil monoculture[s] are not and can never be sustainable and ‘certification’ serves as a means of perpetuating and expanding this destructive industry”.

The authors of the Open Letter are also concerned about “the role played by WWF in promoting the RSPO and using it to support endless growth in the demand for palm oil.” The fact that WWF contributed to the foundation of the RSPO and still lobbies for it worldwide is being used by the palm oil industry to legitimise its expansion and to obtain subsidies for example from the EU which decided to keep its 10% agrofuel target by 2020. The consequence of the involvement of the environmental organization WWF is the “speeding up of indiscriminate palm oil expansion in even more countries”.

Therefore, the Open Letter reiterates the call made in an “International Declaration Against the 'Greenwashing' of Palm Oil by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)” last year, and demands the end of promotion and support from the NGOs for the RSPO; a reduction in the demand for palm oil by the North; an end to the subsidies coming from northern governments; the protection of human rights and biodiversity and the reparation of damages.

Links

The open letter can be found below and on the Internet at:
http://www.regenwald.org/international/englisch/news.php?id=1445

The International Declaration Against the 'Greenwashing' of Palm Oil by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) can be found at:
http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/docs/17-11-2008-ENGLISH-RSPOInternational-Declaration.pdf

More information about palm oil greenwashing: http://www.wrm.org.uy/

Contacts:
English: Almuth Ernsting, Biofuelwatch, Info@biofuelwatch.org.uk, Tel. +44-1224-324797
Dr. Glen Barry, Ecological Internet, glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org
Spanish: Guadalupe Rodríguez, Salva la Selva, guadalupe@regenwald.org, Tel: +49 (0)30- 51736879

(Also see www.rainforest-rescue.org/news.php?id=1445. For German, Indonesian, Italian and Spanish versions, please email unsustainablepalmoil@gmail.com )

*****

2-11-2009

Open Letter to RSPO and WWF
Palm oil monocultures will never be sustainable

One year ago, the "International Declaration Against the `Greenwashing' of Palm Oil by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil" was published, signed by over 250 organisations worldwide (http://www.regenwald.org/international/englisch/news.php?id=1070). Since then, the RSPO has continued to certify palm oil produced by companies which are directly responsible for violating the rights of local communities, for the ongoing destruction of rainforests and peatlands and other abuses against people, the environment and climate. Even worse, palm oil suppliers are being granted `interim' RSPO certification based solely on self-assessments.

Destructive oil palm plantations have been certified in Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and the same greenwashing exercise has started in Colombia, Thailand and Ghana.

We are deeply concerned that RSPO certification is being used to legitimise an expansion in the demand for palm oil and thus in oil palm plantation, and it serves to greenwash the disastrous social and environmental impacts of the palm oil industry. The RSPO standards do not exclude clear cutting of many natural forests, the destruction of other important ecosystems, nor plantings on peat. The RSPO certifies plantations which impact on the livelihoods of local communities and their environments. The problems are exacerbated by the in-built conflict of interest in the system under which a company wanting to be certified commissions another company to carry our the assessment.

We also concerned about the role played by WWF in promoting the RSPO and using it to support endless growth in the demand for palm oil. WWF initiated the founding of the RSPO, continues to lobby worldwide for it, and combines this with their support for the agrofuel industry, including palm oil.

WWF's involvement is being used by agrofuel companies to justify building more refineries and more palm oil power stations in Europe. The promise of `sustainable palm oil', backed by WWF, was one important factor behind the EU's decision to go ahead with a 10% agrofuel target by 2020, and the RSPO will be used to allow palm oil to become eligible for EU agrofuel subsidies and other support. This is speeding up indiscriminate palm oil expansion in even more countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Cameroon, DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Uganda and Tanzania.

Unilever, with 1.6 million tonnes per year the biggest palm oil consumer in the world, uses a `commitment' to use RSPO palm oil in future as a way of portraying itself as a `responsible' company, ignoring the real impacts of palm oil. Wilmar International has applied for RSPO certificates in Indonesia, even though evidence of their involvement in illegal land-grabbing, fire-raising and rainforest and peatland destruction has led to the World Bank having suspended funding for palm oil. That hard-won suspension is now at risk of being lost because of false promises by the RSPO.

In Colombia, palm oil company Daabon, an RSPO member, succeeded in being portrayed in European media as a `responsible' company, despite the fact that they had illegally evicted small farmers from their land, felled trees and contaminated the Caribbean Sea with palm oil spills. In South-east Asia, IOI has had plantations certified, despite being responsible for the illegal destruction of peatlands and rainforests in Kalimantan, destroying the livelihood of indigenous peoples. Their customer Neste Oil has gained an interim RSPO certificate on this basis and is using this to promote biofuels for aviation, while building the world's biggest palm oil biofuel refinery.

Palm oil monocultures for food production, cosmetic and chemical industries and agrofuels are a major cause of deforestation and climate change, they destroy the livelihoods of millions of small farmers, indigenous peoples and other communities. They require agro-chemicals which poison workers and communities, soil, water and wildlife, they deplete freshwater and soils. Palm oil monocultures are not and can never be sustainable and `certification' serves as a means of perpetuating and expanding this destructive industry.

We therefore reiterate the call made in the International Declaration last year and demand

+ An end to all agrofuel targets, subsidies and incentives, particularly in Europe and the US;

+ Major reductions in the demand for vegetable oil and energy in the North;

+ The cancellation of trade relations between companies purchasing palm oil and suppliers destroying forests and peatlands as they are responsible for or benefit from violating Human Rights;

+ Land reform to devolve land to local communities, guarantee food sovereignty and restore biodiverse agriculture and ecosystems;

+ Resolution of land conflicts, protection of human rights, reparation for damages;

+ Restoring all remaining peatlands which have been drained for oil palms as far as this is still possible in order to mitigate global warming.

NGOs should not lend legitimacy to the RSPO and WWF must stop promoting the RSPO palm oil supporting agrofuels;

Governments in Europe and the US must reduce the demand for palm oil by stopping the policies which have created the artificial agrofuel market and ending agrofuel use.

NOTES:

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a private organisation or `stakeholder forum', which has created an `independent' label for certification of `sustainable' palm oil. Among the members of the RSPO are 80 palm oil plantation companies and federations, 8 banks and finance companies, 51 consumer good manufacturers, 23 retailers, 118 processors and traders and 21 NGOs.

Signatures:
Acción Ecológica – Ecuador
Action Populaire Contre la Mondialisation, Geneva, Switzerland
Afosci, Paraguay
Afrika-Europa Netwerk, Netherlands
Agencia de los Pueblos En Pie, Ecuador

Alert aginst the Green Desert Network, Brazil
Alotau Environment Ltd, Papua New Guinea
Amigos de la Tierra Buenos Aires, Argentina
A SEED Europe, Netherlands
Asociacion de Solidaridad con Colombia "ASOC-KATÍO", Spain
ASOCONSUMO, Colombia
Asolatino Berna, Swiss
Attac, Spain
Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe, Germany
BI "Kein Strom aus Palmöl !" - Germany
Biofuelwatch, UK
Bismarck Ramu Group - Madang, Papua New Guinea
Centre for Orangutan Protection, Indonesia
CETRI - Centro tricontinental, Belgica
Centro de Acogida para imigrantes y de Promocion Cultural "E. Balducci", Italia
Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos "Segundo Montes Mozo S. J." (CSMM), Equador
CENTRO DE MUJERES " AMELIA BRUHN", CHILE
Centro Ecologista Renacer, Argentina
Climat et Justice Sociale, Genève
CODDEFFAGOLF, Honduras
COECOCEIBA-AT Costa Rica
Colectivo de Colombianos Refugiados en Asturias, Spain
Colectivo Rosa Luxemburgo, Chiapas, México
Colectivo Sur Cacarica, Spain
Comité Cerezo, México
Comité Oscar Romero de Madrid, Spain
Comité Oscar Romero de Vigo, Spain
Comunidad cristiana Mártires de Uganda, Spain
Cooperativa de Artesanas Jolom Mayaetik, Chiapas, México
Coordinadora Nacional de Organizaciones Campesinas (CNOC), Guatemala
Corporate Europe Observatory, Bruselas, Bélgica
Cristianos de Base, España
DWK Panama e.V. , Germany
Ecological Internet, U.S. and Papua New Guinea
Ecological Society of the Philippines
Ecologistas en Acción, Spain
Ecoportal.Net, Argentina
Envirocare, Tanzania
FASE /Espirito Santo, Brazil
FASE Bahia, Brazil
Federación de Comités de Solidaridad con África Negra, Spain
FEDICAMP – Esteli, Nicaragua
FOBOMADE Bolivia
Forschungs- und Dokumentationszentrum Chile-Lateinamerika e.V. FDCL, Germany
Freunde der Naturvölker e.V./FdN (fPcN), Germany
Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine, Germany
Grupo de Trabajo Suiza Colombia, Basilea/Berna
Guildford and Waverley Friends of the Earth Group, England
Kinal Antsetik, A. C., Chiapas, México
KoBra, Germany
Labour, Health and Human Rights DEvelopment Centre, Nigeria
Latin American Network against Monoculture Tree Plantations RECOMA
"La pluma", Equipo de "Los Pueblos en Pie, grupo Francia
Maderas del Pueblo del Sureste, Chiapas, Mexico
Mandacaru, Germany
Mangrove Action Project MAP, USA
Munlochy Vigil, Scotland
Nacional de Organizaciones Campesinas CNOC, Guatemala
Network for ecofarming in Africa NECOFA, Kenya
Network of Alternatives against Impunity and Market Globalisation, International
North East Peoples Allinace, North East India
Observatorio Latinoamericano de Conflictos Ambientales, Chile
Osservatorio Informativo sulla Americhe, Italy
Otros Mundos, Mexico
Pacific Indigenous Peoples Environment Coalition PIPEC, New Zeland
Plataforma de Solidaridad con Chiapas de Madrid, Spain
Programa de Defensa de Derechos Indígenas – Perú
Programa Universitario México Nación Multicultural PUMC-UNAM of Oaxaca, México
REDES – FOE, Uruguay
Regenwald-Institut e.V., Germany
Robin Wood, Germany
Salva la Selva/Rettet den Regenwald, Germany
Save Our Borneo, Indonesia
SAVIA, Guatemala
Secretariado de Centroamerica, Zentral America Secretariat, Switzerland
Servicios Jurídicos y Sociales SERJUS, Guatemala
Sobrevivencia, Amigos de la Tierra Paraguay
Sociedad Colombiana de Automovilistas, Colombia
Socio-Ecológica LaFuerza, Guatemala
South Durban Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), Southafrica
SPI (Indonesian Peasant Union), Indonesia
Toxicsoy.org, Netherlands
UmweltHaus am Schüberg, Germany

Union paysanne du Québec, Canadá
Vegetarierbund Deutschland VEBU, Germany
Watch Indonesia!, Germany
World Rainforest Movement, Uruguay
XXI Solidario, Spain
Youth, governance and evironmental programme Y-GEP, Kenya

Private persons:

François Houtart, Prof. emeritus of the Catholic University of Louvain, UNESCO prize 2009, Belgium
Elvira Lussana, Prof. Faculty of Economics University of Perugia-Italy
Monique Munting, Belgium
Pedro Tostado Sánchez, Cristianos de Base, España

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Copenhagen climate talks [search] must not provide Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) carbon market funds for old, natural forest logging, or for conversion of natural or semi-natural forests and other ecosystems to plantations. Ending deforestation and degradation of old and relatively ecologically intact primary and old growth forest ecosystems, and the ecological restoration of late-successional old growth forests, are keystone responses to maintaining the global climatic system. TAKE ACTION!

Loggers and wildlife traders continue to violate Madagascar's biodiversity [search] rich rainforests including protected areas. In March of this year controversy surrounding leasing of agricultural land resulted in a military coup. In the chaos that ensued, armed gangs funded by Chinese traders entered Madagascar’s Marojejy and Masoala National Parks, two world-renowned World Heritage Sites, and logged rosewood, ebonies, and other valuable hardwoods. NGOs operating in Madagascar report continued armed, open and organized plundering of precious wood from several natural forests, including these parks.

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(EARTH) -- Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has unexpectedly pulled out of nearly completed secret negotiations with Ecological Internet to work jointly to reform the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to stop certifying as environmentally acceptable the first time logging of old forests [1]. After fifteen years of FSC membership, RAN still cannot say how much first time industrial primary and old growth forest logging FSC has certified as "well-managed" while implying environmental sustainability (no one including FSC board members can, or at least they are not talking). Estimates place it as high as 60 million hectares of old forests having been cleared with FSC certification for such necessities as toilet paper and lawn furniture, with an equal amount imminently threatened.

RAN's tropical rainforest campaign has collapsed into irrelevancy. For several years there has been no activity other than working on oil palm, fund-raising and throwing lavish parties. A year ago, after two years of protests and threats to disrupt their REVEL celebrity studded fund-raiser, they pledged to reinvigorate their rainforest campaign, starting with writing to FSC to find out just how much old forests they are destroying. Apparently being an FSC member has few benefits, as no response has been received. By supporting FSC, Rainforest Action Network is greenwashing rainforest destruction globally. FSC is only marginally better than competing industry certification schemes in that it depends upon old forest logging to meet market demand for throw-away consumer items. Old forest logging must end.

Ecological Internet calls for the immediate resignation of Michael Brune as RAN Executive Director, and Lafcadio Cortesi as Forest Campaign Director. An organization founded by a taxi-driver, and headed by an accountant and religious studies major, cannot be entrusted to develop the comprehensive and ambitious policies necessary to protect old forests as a keystone response to climate change and ecosystem collapse. RAN has no desire, willingness or ability to change its tired market campaigns, which legitimize continued over-consumption, to bring them in line with the new ecological knowledge.

"In RAN's cloistered little world of celebrity parties, failed market campaigns, and banner drops; there is no ecological science to be found. As climate change has been shown to be abrupt, and rainforests the key to solving this and other eco-crises, RAN has shown no willingness to re-examine their strategies and tactics in light of looming biosphere collapse. RAN is called upon to present a compelling vision of how logging 500 year old trees in tens of millions of year old ancient forests protects them or they should disband their forest campaign," states Dr. Glen Barry. "Otherwise RAN will continue to endanger the world's rainforests by supporting FSC and other marginal reforms of rainforest logging."

Dr. Barry is an expert on the global ecological system, rainforest and climate policy, and holds a Ph.D. in "Land Resources" and a Master's Degree in "Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development", both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ecological Internet has a global network and reach several times larger than RAN, committed to ecologically sufficient policies to achieve global ecological sustainability. Despite this, RAN continually denigrates EI's work as "one guy on the Internet", repeatedly trying to vilify Dr. Barry. There is a clear difference of opinion, and RAN had best start owning and defending publicly their failed FSC policy, rather than resorting to tangential distractions to hide their negligence.

Ecological Internet is committed to creating a political ecology space to discuss ecological science based solutions to global eco-crises. This includes academically discussing whether more robust resistance may be necessary to obstruct ecocide -- we have done so for years. Rather than dialoguing on our differences, RAN has chosen to find excuses to continue stonewalling and vilifying ecological difference of opinions. RAN is committed to being glamorous and using rainforests to fill their coffers for other campaign purposes, rather than ending ancient forest logging. Concern over RAN's failed rainforest campaign is not going away anytime soon, as their continued unthinking support for old forest timber product consumption makes them a legitimate target of protest.

###ENDS###

[1] Here is the final draft joint statement which RAN pulled out of at the last minute after wasting months of time negotiating:

Getting the Forest Stewardship Council to Stop Certifying Old Forest Logging, a Joint Statement from Ecological Internet and Rainforest Action Network

Rainforest Action Network (RAN) and Ecological Internet (EI) are pleased to have found common ground regarding shared goals and strategies to fully protect and restore old forests globally (defined as primary and regenerating old growth forests which are largely ecologically intact). We affirm both organizations are committed to ending industrial logging of old forests, whether certified or not.

The extent to which the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifies as environmentally acceptable the first time logging of old forests remains untracked and unknown, and this lack of transparency is unacceptable. In light of current and emerging ecological and climate science, EI and RAN oppose continued FSC certification for such logging -- except under specific conditions such as small scale community eco-forestry practiced by local peoples.

RAN is committed to using its FSC membership to determine the extent of FSC's dependence upon primary and old growth forest logging, and ending such practices. RAN will renew its request that FSC develop a tracking and disclosure system that monitors, quantifies and verifies percentages of certifications -- based upon both certification numbers and timber volumes -- that occur in old forests. RAN expects that its concerns regarding data collection by FSC will be addressed within six months.

RAN will work with others in FSC’s environmental chamber to recognize that all old forests should be declared High Conservation Value Forests under FSC principles and criteria. Failure by the FSC to develop these monitoring and reporting metrics systems, or to address weaknesses relating to the principles and criteria in relation to old forests, will result in RAN lobbying FSC customers, certifiers and key stakeholders to adopt an "FSC Plus" approach which is free of old forest timbers. EI and partner organizations outside of FSC will make similar demands. Lack of meaningful progress will result in other strategic remedy actions –- including RAN revoking their FSC membership.

Further Areas of Cooperation

Rainforest Action Network and Ecological Internet are committed to ongoing communication and joint initiatives to swiftly end deforestation and degradation of old and intact primary and old growth forest ecosystems, and the ecological restoration of old growth forests, as keystone responses to the climate and biodiversity crises.

Copenhagen represents a unique and hugely important opportunity to advance both forest and climate protections. Industrialized nations must commit to major emissions reductions, recognizing their historical carbon debt, even as emerging economies take responsibility for massive increases in emissions from deforestation and industrialization. We acknowledge the potential of REDD to protect forests and their carbon stocks, but recognize that ecologically and socially rigorous elements of "Good REDD" have not yet been defined, and are not yet assured.

We agree there should be no REDD funds for logging (SFM) of either old or other natural forests, or for conversion of natural or semi-natural forests and other ecosystems to plantations. Other elements of "Good REDD" necessary for our organizations' support include science based forest definitions, explicit land tenure and rights (particularly recognition of Indigenous Peoples rights as articulated in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples), equitable benefit sharing for local communities, and a focus upon governance and corruption issues, transparency and equity. Further, there should be no REDD offsets market mechanisms as part of any REDD agreement.

We share the vision of action on climate change that is ecologically sufficient and thus includes both ending societal addiction to coal and oil AND stopping deforestation and degradation as keystone responses. We agree regarding the need to continue addressing underlying causes of forest loss and diminishment including developed country consumption of timber; pulp, paper and palm oil as major drivers for the expansion of industrial logging into intact natural forests, and the relative timidity of policy responses to date given the magnitude of the problem and threat to the planet. We intend to lobby other forest groups to express support for this old forest protection vision.

This was not surprising for "The National", the mouthpiece of the PNG timber industry, and owned by the largest foreign logger. But why is it that The Nature Conservancy (TNC), AusAID and the Government of PNG have conspired to block the advertisement in the Post-Courier as well, the other major national daily newspaper, as has been alleged? The conflicts of interest herein detailed show clearly that most carbon market players in PNG have interests other than protecting rainforests and reducing carbon in the atmosphere.

Yet, we must not give up on the REDD concept, as providing local economic benefits from fully intact, standing rainforests is an important requirement for Papua New Guinean and global ecological sustainability. But this timber industry driven corruption in PNG simply must end for this to happen. A pdf version of the ad as it was originally to run can be found at:

http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/docfeed/EFF_PNG_REDD_advertisement.pdf

To comment:

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THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA
ECO-FORESTRY FORUM
P.O. Box 3217, Boroko, National Capital District

EFF Calls on Government of PNG, Development Partners and AusAid to Protect PNG from Carbon Scams

In April 2009 the activities of the PNG Office of Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability (OCCES) brought international condemnation and embarrassment for the Somare Government.
Central to the scandal was the printing of fake 'state-backed' carbon credits, and their sale to an Australian company 'Carbon Planet'. It was reported by the Economist that Carbon Planet acquired 39 'certificates' giving them saleable rights to much of PNG's forests (1). Since then Carbon Planet has gone on to raise funds and list on the Australian Stock exchange (2). According to Carbon Planet CEO Jim Johnson "the company has exclusive rights over 25 REDD projects in PNG alone which could generate up to $1 billion a year in carbon credits for the project owners (2)".

The certificates issued by OCCES have no legal basis. One of them, that provided a guarantee to the million hectares of forest in the Kamula Doso region, has been injuncted by the National Court in proceedings instituted by The PNG Eco-forestry Forum (PNGEFF) (3). Further the carbon rights over Kamula Doso were issued despite the fact that PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA) had already allocated timber rights over the exact same area to Rimbunan Hijau, a Malaysian Logging Company that owns over half of the forest concessions in PNG. The acquisition and allocation of those timber rights is currently the subject of an existing national court injunction obtained by PNGEFF, and litigation over those timber rights is on-going.

The scandal caused by these certificates led to the suspension of then Director of OCCES, Dr. Theo Yasause, referral of the OCCES to the Public Accounts Committee and the appointment of the Secretary for Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) as acting Executive Director.

The PNGEFF hoped that this was the beginning of a new direction for the management of PNG's Climate Change Strategies. It now appears that this was naive.

In May 2009, The Economist reported that an Australian National University Academic Dr Colin Filer, was working for Carbon Planet. His contract involved advising Carbon Planet on methods of paying landowners for carbon projects in PNG (4).

We now understand that the same Dr Filer has been engaged by DEC undertake stakeholder analysis under its UN-REDD National Joint Programme which has already been signed by the acting Expectative Director of the Office of Climate Change. We further understand that Dr. Filer may also, under the same arrangement, be engaged to undertake "a review and synthesis of mechanisms for securing land for REDD and for benefit sharing" as indicated by a Climate Change Update prepared by the OCCESS (5). It is believed that payments for his services to DEC and the government of PNG could potentially be, among others, supported through funds secured by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) under the Australian Governments (AusAID) International Forest Carbon Initiative (IFCI) to undertake a synthesis portfolio of case studies on both customary land agreements and benefit sharing mechanisms. It is believed that this work will form part of the interim Low Carbon Strategy for PNG with the emphasis on REDD.

Dr. Filer’s engagement with both Carbon Planet and the Department of Environment and Conservation is of major concern to the Eco-forestry Forum and its members.

Kenn Mondiai, Chairman of the EFF asks:

1. Would DEC/Government of PNG not consider that hiring Dr. Filer to advise the PNG Government on how to secure land for carbon projects when he is also advising Carbon Planet on how to access the same forests for carbon projects, is a major conflict of interest?

2. Would the DEC/Government tell the people of PNG if there was a proper tendering process that resulted in the engagement of Dr. Filer.

3. "Has it already been decided by the Government if Carbon Planet will take the lead in commercialising carbon projects in PNG? IF so why?

4. Could the Government of PNG tell the people of PNG how Carbon Planet was able to obtain carbon credits in the absence of a national climate change and carbon trade policy?

5. Do all parties in this process see this as an action best undertaken through a wider stakeholder consultation, which was started during the OCCES regional workshops in May 2009?

6. Could the Australian Government tell the people of PNG if it has any links at all to Carbon Planet? If so to what level and or extend?

"We need to promote good governance by bringing transparency into the creation of carbon-related policy" said Mr Mondiai. “The people of this country have suffered enough from bad governance in other resource sectors and we do not want to see the same happen in any climate change related incentives including through REDD” he added.

The Forum and its members demand that:

1. Dr. Filer should not be engaged on anything to do with Climate Change, Carbon Trade and REDD in PNG.

2. Dr. Filer’s contract must be terminated.

Finally we call upon all development partners and donors to work together in a true spirit of partnership and transparency to make REDD work for PNG and its people. There must be true consultation.
For further comment contact Chairman Kenn Mondiai
1. http://natashaloder.blogspot.com/2009/06/in-search-of-stolen-carbon-credits.html
2. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,,25838183-5018021,00.html
3. http://natashaloder.blogspot.com/2009/06/kamula-duso-credit.html
4. http://natashaloder.blogspot.com/2009/06/barking-up-right-tree.html
5. Memo from Dr Wari Iamo dated 17 August, 2009.

The Papua New Guinea Eco-Forestry Forum supports integrated rural community development and sustainable resource use through a viable and sustainable eco-forestry industry
Tel: 323 9050
Fax: 323 0397
Email: teff@global.net.pg
Website: www.ecoforestry.org.pg