30 January, 2010
Hon Mr David Carter,
Minister of Forests,
Parliament Buildings,
Wellington
Dear Minister Carter,
The Indonesia Human Rights Committee and Rainforest Action are shocked at the limp measures included in the Government’s recently announced policy to address illegal logging.
We believe that the policy measures are weak, non-specific and about talking rather than taking action. Many of the proposals are also dependent on the uncertain prospect that other countries will take the lead. These soft measures are unlikely to have any impact on the regional problem of rampant illegal and unsustainable logging of precious old growth forests. Nor will they stem the steady stream of illegal tropical hardwood imports into this country.
We fully agree with Government’s assessment that the key species of concern with respect to illegal logging practice is kwila (also known as merbau). However we strongly disagree that an approach which relies on a voluntary code of practice on the part of New Zealand importers and retailers will be effective.
While we are pleased that the Government supports the campaign for kwila to be listed on Appendix 11 of the Convention on Internationally Endangered Species (CITES) we urge that New Zealand take the initiative to bring this about rather than simply support the work of other countries and NGOs.
As you know, we have been researching and campaigning on this issue for several years, liaising with other environmental groups such as Greenpeace. We have developed a strategy of dialogue and demonstrations aimed at those retailers that continue to sell kwila outdoor furniture and kwila decking. While it is commendable that some furniture retailers have ceased to stock kwila products this is far from the complete answer.
Kwila decking continues to be sold by several major timber chains and is on offer at cheaper prices on the internet on sites such as Trade Me. Some furniture retailers sell products which have no legality documentation or grossly inadequate documentation which does not include any independent third party certification of legality.
We are particularly concerned because we have found that most of the kwila products on sale in Auckland are sourced from Indonesian controlled West Papua. West Papua and its neighbour Papua New Guinea hold the Asia Pacific region’s last significant tracts of undisturbed and unique rainforest.
The exploitation of West Papua’s forest is escalating because of the lure of immediate profits to be made by clearing out the forests and replanting with palm oil plants.
Late last year, a report from environmental groups Environment Investigation Agency (UK) and Telepak (Indonesia) revealed in their joint report ”Up for Grabs” that five million hectares of land in West Papua are being targeted for deforestation by powerful agro-industrial companies. These companies use all kinds of devious tactics to get the local people to sign contracts, all for the sake of lucrative palm oil plantations. Often the clearing for new plantations takes place without any permits.
P.T. Sinar Mas, for example, is accused by Greenpeace as being responsible for illegal land clearing and for irreversible damage to forests and peatlands in West Papua as well as Kalimantan and Riau. Unilever has suspended its purchases of palm oil from Sinar Mas in response to these credible claims.
In West Papua the logging industry is closely intertwined with the security forces. Local community groups in West Papua are trying to stop the destruction of their traditional land and their all important food basket, but they are isolated, lack resources and are subject to military intimidation. It is estimated that 80% of the logging in West Papua is conducted illegally.
The respected international NGO Human Rights Watch (www.hrw.org ) has just published a new report “Indonesia: Timber Corruption’s High Costs” This report shows that corruption in Indonesia’s forestry industry costs the Indonesian government US$2 billion annually taking money away from essential spending on economic and social needs. The extent of corruption, conflicts of interest and poor oversight in this industry strongly suggest that there will be major difficulties for any carbon trading or REDD schemes in Indonesia.
The practice of illegal and unsustainable logging is driven by demand from wealthy countries where some consumers can afford attractive leisure products. But tropical timber imports come at the expense of local industry and the livelihoods of workers. A 2007 report commissioned by the Government estimated that illegal logging cost the forest industry NZ $266 million annually in lost revenue.
Both the European Union and the United Stares have begun to address this problem by regulation. We therefore call on Government to adopt a strong regulatory approach which would prevent the sale of kwila and all illegally and unsustainably logged tropical woods.
Whether the ban is imposed at the border or at the point of sale, what is essential is that the forests of West Papua and Papua New Guinea are saved from exploitation before it is too late.
Yours sincerely,
Maire Leadbeater
On behalf of Indonesia Human Rights Committee and Rainforest Action
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 at 8:18 pmand is filed under Sumatra, West Papua. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.