Mahogany Coveted in Amazonian Indigenous Areas,
Little CITES Protection
6/24/97
OVERVIEW, SOURCE & COMMENTARY by EE
Following are two reports which highlight increasingly aggressive
illegal logging of hardwoods, particularly mahogany, on indigenous
lands in the Amazon. The first is from the Indianist Missionary
Council - Cimi, and relates conflicts in indigenous lands related to
illegal mahogany harvest. A recent report indicates 80% of timber
exports are done illegally. The second item is from Greenpeace, and
details the last minute compromise at the recent CITES meeting which
kept mahogany from being listed as an Appendix II species. Instead
Brazil, Bolivia and Mexico all agreed to list their populations of
Bigleaf mahogany on Appendix lll of the convention while they develop
recommendations within 18 months on conservation measures. Efforts to
conserve and regulate mahogany will serve as a keystone to larger
Amazonian conservation potentialities.
g.b.
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
ITEM #1
/* Written 11:48 AM Jun 23, 1997 by cimi@embratel.net.br in
igc:rainfor.genera */
/* ---------- "HARDWOOD IN INDIGENOUS AREAS IS COV" ---------- */
Subject: HARDWOOD IN INDIGENOUS AREAS IS COVETED BY INTERNATIONAL
TIMBER COMPANIES
Newsletter n. 265
HARDWOOD IN INDIGENOUS AREAS IS COVETED BY
INTERNATIONAL TIMBER COMPANIES
The territories of the indigenous peoples of Amazonia and forest
reservations are the main target of the illegal timber trade promoted
by national and multinational corporations which operate not only in
Malaysia, but also in the United States and England. The shameful
omission and neglect of the Fernando Henrique administration allows
this sordid theft to continue, causing serious conflicts in indigenous
areas.
Yesterday, June 18, the Brazilian government showed that it
connives at these criminal activities, as it made clear its position
against the inclusion of mahogany in a list of endangered species
during the Convention on Endangered Species being held in Harare,
capital of Zimbabwe, which is being attended by representatives of 123
countries. Sixty-seven countries voted against the inclusion of that
hardwood in the list, while 47 voted in favor of it.
The president of Ibama (Brazilian Institute for Environment and
Renewable Natural Resources), Eduardo Martins, head of the Brazilian
delegation, was ridiculous to the point of abstaining from voting and
at the same time defending the exploitation of mahogany. In addition
to including representatives of the Association of Export Timber
Companies (Aimex), headquartered in the state of Para, in his
delegation, he pressured representatives of other countries to vote in
favor of the claims of multinational timber companies.
The Brazilian government paid no attention to a report issued by
the Secretariat for Strategic Affairs (SAE) denouncing the theft of
hardwood by Asian companies, according to reports in the national
press. The report shows that 80% of the timber they trade is being
illegally exploited.
CONFLICTS IN INDIGENOUS AREAS
According to Greenpeace, Brazil is the main exporter of mahogany
in the world. The forests where this hardwood can be found are
concentrated in the states of Acre, Para, Rondonia, Amazonas, Mato
Grosso and Maranhao, where indigenous areas and forest reserves are
located. Still according to that organization, at least three million
100 thousand cubic meters of mahogany were exported between 1971 and
1990, most of which left the country illegally.
According to data collected by the Indianist Missionary Council,
hardwood - particularly mahogany - was stolen from 33 indigenous areas
in 1996. In some cases, the Indians themselves are persuaded by
woodcutters take part in these activities, but most indigenous leaders
condemn this illegal trade, which has caused serious environmental
damages in their territories. The Tembe Indians of the state of Para
are an example of this, as they even seized four trucks loaded with
timber which were released by Ibama afterwards, outraging them. In
addition to these incidents, indigenous populations are repeatedly
threatened by woodcutters and some Indians have been murdered by them
in recent years.
Brasilia, 19 June 1997
Indianist Missionary Council - Cimi
ITEM #2
/* Written 12:38 AM Jun 21, 1997 by nobody@xs2.greenpeace.org in
igc:gp.press */
/* ---------- "CITES-Last Minute Compromise on Mah" ---------- */
From: "the greenbase"
Subject: CITES-Last Minute Compromise on Mahogany Offers Potential
LAST MINUTE COMPROMISE ON MAHOGANY OFFERS POTENTIAL
Harare, 20 June, 1997 -- At the eleventh hour on the final day of the
CITES conference, a compromise position was struck between the major
importing and exporting countries of Bigleaf mahogany.
Brazil proposed the setting up of a working group under the auspices
of the Amazon Pact Treaty, incorporating all range states, importing
countries and expert organisations. They will develop recommendations
within 18 months on conservation measures for mahogany.
Additionally, Brazil, Bolivia and Mexico all agreed to list their
populations of Bigleaf mahogany on Appendix lll of the convention.
Appendix lll is adopted by individual countries which have implemented
national measures to conserve a species and wish importing countries
to help enforce these by demanding to see export certificates.
"We believe this is an important initiative and a major move forward,"
said Isabel McCrea of Greenpeace, "but we will remain vigilant to
ensure that the promises made in Harare are followed through in Latin
America."
"No immediate conservation measures have yet been put in place,
especially to curtail the destructive illegal trade. For that reason,
Greenpeace cannot yet advise the public that bigleaf mahogany is an
ecologically sustainable product."
The CITES parties were within minutes from a vote to reopen the debate
on a joint US-Bolivian proposal to list mahogany on Appendix ll of the
convention. Brazil had fiercely resisted this stronger measure and
proposed the working group as a compromise to avoid possible defeat on
the floor.
"Greenpeace stands ready to contribute to the mahogany working group
and hopes that significant concrete measures necessary to halt the
very real threats to this rainforest species are made sooner rather
than later," Ms. McCrea said.
"We would like to see Brazil back up the commitments made at this
conference with an immediate halt to all mahogany exports which do not
come from approved management plan areas."
Contact: Greenpeace on cell phone 263 11 601450/601532