Eucalyptus had become a native tree of Brazil?
According to the article of Gazeta Mercantil dated Nov.26,1993
written by Maria Helena Tachinardi from Brasi'lia, "the native
trees" that appeared the article of the same news paper on
Nov.24,1993 that will be planted in the state of Minas Gerais
means EUCALYPTUS trees!
"In Minas Gerais, the Instituto Florestal (Forestal Institute)
succeeded a loan of US$70 millions from World Bank for three
years' implementation. Small farmers receive saplings of
eucalyptus and they will supply woods for the paper and pulp
industry or the steel industry. .... This type of activities of
small scale farmers have made more profit than cattle raising and
agriculture" pointed the Minister (of the Environment and Legal
Amazonia, Rubens Ricu'pero)."
In the 1970's, the planting of eucalyptus trees was done in a big
scale while expelling violently indigenous peoples and small
farmers in Brazil. But in these years, Brazilian plantation
companies have developed more sophisticated way, not expelling
farmers on the contrary, making use of their land and their
workforce for planting. This measure doesn't harm the land
rights of farmers directly. But by planting eucalyptus trees,
food production surely decreases and their lands become more and
more infertile. Because of rapid increase of eucalyptus
plantations in the world or over-planting of eucalyptus, the
eucalyptus wood's price may fall in near future. In my point of
view, it will not give benefits to small farmers in the long term.
This type of planting is increasing in Espirito Santo, Minas
Gerais and Bahia. It should be very important to analyze its
impacts to the local society.
According to the same article, the government of the state of
Minas Gerais of Brazil is negotiating another project financed
by World Bank and Interamerican Development Bank.
N E W G R E E N W A S H C A M P A I G N
O F
T H E B R A Z I L A I N G O V E R N M E N T!
In the same article of Gazeta Mercantil, there are some other
information that shows new policy of the Brazilian government for
forestal sector.
"Ministries of Finance, External-relations, the Environment and
the Industry and Commerce have decided to create a working group
called "External Commerce Board" to counter environmental
restriction of export of paper, pulp and wood. This group will
launch a campaign to show that Brazil is one of the most
competitive countries regarding making pulp and the production of
pulp doesn't cause any harm to the environment."
"The Minister of the Environment, Rubens Ricu'pero, is
deregulating of the forestal activities. The plantation
companies will not need to get approval of a planting plan."
With these new policies, the Brazilian plantation industry may
have further expansion.
(Source: Gazeta Mercantil, Nov.26,1993 P-16)