Urgent Action for Australia's Forests
Native Forest Network Southern Hemisphere
PO Box 301 Deloraine
Tasmania 7304
Australia
Ph: Int'l: +61 3 6369 5474
03 6369 5474 Mobile: 0419 628709
August 22, 2000
Dear Friends,
A moment of your time. It could help save millions of hectares of forest in Tasmania, Australia.
Giant Australian multinational iron ore, uranium and woodchip exporter NORTH Ltd is in the process of being acquired by mining giant Rio Tinto Zinc (RTZ). NORTH Forest Products (NFP), the world's largest exporter of native eucalypt woodchips (from the island state of Tasmania) is also part of the sale. NFP has devastated millions of hectares of forests in Tasmania and is major plantation owner, etablishing plantations on native forests both public and private. It is now also a plantation owner and manager in Uruguay.
RTZ is not particularly interested in NFP, and would like to sell this "asset" on. Our big worry is who will buy this company.
Of particular concern is the strong possibility that NFP may fall into the hands of Boise Cascade Corporation. The Tasmanian environmental and political situation is much more conducive to mega logging projects than Chile currently, for example, and if BCC is unsuccessful in Chile, it may turn its attention to this "cheap" deal in a "buyers" market.
Another possible contender is Weyerhaeuser, which now already owns 70% of Australia's largest softwood (exotic) radiata/monterrey pine producer.
Both of these companies would be as unwelcome in Tasmania as they are everywhere else they go.
Please take a moment of your time to email Boise Cascade and Weyerhaeuser - and any other unsustainable companies you can think of!
Thank You,
Tim Cadman
Native Forest Network
Southern Hemisphere
Points to make in your email:
Urge them not to invest in Tasmania unless: They end the woodchipping and logging of native forests, old growth forests and rainforests (all of which HFP currently does) * Insist that they end NFP's native forest operations and cancel native forest chip exports to Japan * Fully separate NFP's plantation operations from their native forest operations Drastically improve the management of NFP's eucalypt plantations, specifically to end the use of 1080 wildlife poison and the triazine herbicide compounds in Tasmania and Uruguay Ensure that all plantations are subjected to independent third party certification that includes the views of all stakeholders under a scheme such as the Forest Stewardship Council
Sample letter:
Dear Madam/Sir,
I am writing to you regarding the possible sale of NORTH Forest Products in Tasmania, Australia. I am aware that your company may be considering purchase. Please take a moment to consider the following issues which I hope will help you in your decision making.
In view of the unpopularity of this company in Tasmania and the environmental and social conflict it has engendered I urge you not to invest in the company unless NFP abandons the unsustainable practice of logging and woodchipping native forests, old growth forests and rainforests. Currently NFP enjoys the dubious status of being Australia's worst environmental forest pariah.
The continued clearance of native forest for plantation establishment enjoys no community support, and is decimating Tasmania's rural landscape and rural industries, which are giving way to monoculture tree farms. A similar situation exists in Uruguay. It is essential that NFP's native forest operations be ended and its plantation management drastically improved. This would need to include an end to the broadscale application and use of 1080 wildlife poison and herbicides such as the triazine compounds atrazine, etc.
There is a future for this company if its plantations are subjected to independent, third party certification that includes the views of all stakeholders under a scheme such as the Forest Stewardship Council. Unless this happens, its future value remains uncertain.
There is currently a national and international consumer and investment ban placed on NORTH Ltd by environmnteal NGOs partly on account of its woodchipping operations. A number of institutional investors have removed funds from the company on account of its lack of social and environmental responsibility. Unless NFP, under new ownership, changes its current direction, these bans are likely to remain in place.
Sincerely Yours,
Boise Cascade
mailto:bcweb@bc.com
Weyerhaeuser (cut and paste via the corporations's website) http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/contact.htm
Many thanks for your time. If you would like to know more about NFP and NORTH visit: http://www.green.net.au/boycott/north1.htm