Talking Chop
With only two days left of preparations for June's Earth Summit in
Brazil, the negotiations on measures for conserving forests have
reached a complete stalemate. Basic differences on key issues
mean that final agreements may have to be worked out at the last
minute in Rio de Janeiro.
Friends of the Earth International says that governments lack the
political will to deal with the root causes of the forest crisis
such as poverty, unfair terms of trade and international debt.
In addition, the failure of the "developed" countries to commit
the money necessary to pay for any agreement to conserve forests
has further entrenched Third World country positions. The
"Southern" countries are also concerned about the trade in forest
products being constrained through environmental controls invented
by the rich nations.
Tony Juniper, Tropical Rainforest Campaigner with Friends of the
Earth International said:
"The breakdown is symptomatic of UNCED's wider failure to deal
with the crucial issues linking financial resources with measures
to achieve environmentally sound development.
Instead, it appears that a package promoting the liquidation and
sale of most of the world's remaining native forests will be
prepared behind closed doors for governments to sign."
He added
"Unless there is a miraculous conversion on the road to Rio, no
decent agreement on forests can be reached."
During forest negotiations, many countries have undermined the
chance of reaching international agreement.
United Kingdom delegates have emphasised the importance of tree
plantations instead of native forest conservation.
France has refused to recognise the legal rights of indigenous
forest people to control their customary lands, thus undermining
one of the key measures required to promote sustainable forest
use.
The United States, even though it has destroyed most of its own
old-growth forests, maintain that forests are a global resource.
The USA appears concerned that prospects for using forests in
developing countries to store its excessive carbon dioxide
emissions might be threatened.
Malaysia, representing many developing countries, has rejected
moves towards legally binding commitments for protecting forests.
The European Community has tried to resist responsibility to
combat acid rain as a cause of forest loss showing its
unwillingness to get its own house in order.
All countries still endorse large scale "top down" planning for
forest use that has proved so disastrous in the Tropical Forestry
Action Plan.
Contact:
Tony Juniper or Roberto Smeraldi of Friends of the Earth
International:
Tel: (212) 697 6335 Fax: (212) 557