Peru: Modifications to the Forests and Wildlife Law
WWF Peru Programme Office
October 15, 2000
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
The WWF-Peru Programme Office would like to express its concern to the Government, the members of Congress, and public opinion regarding the implications of the Law Projects presented by Congressmen Antonio Palomo, Guiomar Seijas and Andres Reggiardo that propose modifications to the Forests and Wildlife Law (No. 27308).
We feel that the approval of these projects would represent a substantial setback in the progress made by Law No. 27308 to modernize the forest sector and forest and biodiversity conservation in Peru.
These Law Projects seek to change the forest concessions regime by proposing direct allocations, the application of which has been responsible for the ecological destruction of millions of hectares of forest cover in the country. Furthermore, they attempt to extend the time frame for the export of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and cedar (Cedrela odorata) without added value.
We believe that:
Law 27308 promotes and declares the exportation of these and other species, but with true added value, thus generating employment, revenues and capital for the country. The 8th Complementary Transitory Disposition that prohibits the exportation of mahogany and cedar as sawn wood is environmentally correct and economically viable. We question the intent to consider simple sawing as value added and the desire to extend the time frame to export sawn wood until 2003.
Law 27308 and its regulations are key instruments for the modernization of the forest sector that attempt to reduce the high environmental impact of the sector's operations, avoid its low return on investment and prevent its failure in the short and long term. By demanding sustainable forest management, the Law supports the modernization and development of the sector and converts forests into effective and sustainable resources for national development in the medium and long term.
Concrete experiences in Peru demonstrate the technical, financial, economic and environmental viability for the forest sector development proposed by the Law. Entrepreneurs from the modern forest sector are taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the global market in the furniture manufacturing industry, and the comparative advantages that Peru offers in terms of its human and natural resources. This will lead to increasing profits, generating employment and developing local capacities.
The Government has already been sufficiently flexible in permitting the exportation of sawn mahogany and cedar. An additional extension will benefit only two or three exporting individuals or companies, leaving aside those who truly contribute to the job market and to increasing Peru's gross domestic product.
Law 27308 modifies the practices of direct allocation under contracts and permits that have been implemented throughout Peru's forestry history; a system that does not guarantee the transparent and equitable assignation of forest concessions. The Law replaces the former system by a modern one with concessions based on public bidding processes that eliminate the control of and unfair concentration of access to forest resources by a handful of actors.
Reinstating the former system of direct allocation would enhance the informality and extraction of timber from primary forests that are the property of all Peruvians. The consequences of this system have already resulted in the widespread degradation of primary forests in Peru, high deforestation rates, loss of standing forest value, and reduced opportunities for the country's economic development.
WWF is not opposed to the sustainable use of these valuable forest species. On the contrary, we consider that their use should be guided by management plans, the designs and standards of which will ensure an increase in forest value. Such management plans should also apply to other timber and non-timber species that are depleted by selective extraction.
We implore authorities of the executive and legislative branches, the technical cooperation agencies, the non-governmental sector and the public in general to put a halt to these initiatives. We ask those parties involved to explore alternatives such as Voluntary Forest Certification, and to prevent these and other structural modifications to Law 27308 that would jeopardize the future of forest and biodiversity resources in Peru.