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WORLDWIDE
FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS
Brazil's
Atlantic Coast Remnants Still Diminishing
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Forest
Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises
June
19, 1995
OVERVIEW
& SOURCE
The
biologically significant remnant rainforest stands found in
Brazil's
Atlantic Coast are faced with further deterioration.
Despite
the fact that under 1% of the original forest cover
remains,
the last refuges of a very unique flora and fauna are
being
systematically wiped out. Pressure by
lumber companies has
lead to
passage of the Parana' State Forest Law (11.054/95) which
puts in
risk the few areas of native old growth forests remaining
in the
Southern State of Parana'. This area
contains unique Sub-
tropical
forest with Araucaria (conifer) emergent trees. Letters
are
requested in support of preservation for these areas to be
sent to
the Governor of the State of Parana'.
This item was
posted
in econet's biodiversity conference.
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TEXT STARTS HERE:
/*
Written 2:11 PM Jun 16, 1995 by ax:redeverde in
biodiversity
*/
/*
---------- "Araucaria Forest endangered" ---------- */
CAMPAIGN
FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ORIGINAL FOREST IN THE STATE OF
PARANA',
BRAZIL
Parana',
the Southern Brazilian State with one of the most
threatened
ecosystem of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve
(UNESCO)
is nowadays facing strong offensive against the
conservation
of the State old growth forest remnants. The pressure
is been
empowered by lumber corporation which have undertaken
their
strong political influence on the actual State Government.
In the
beginning of this year, the Governor Jaime Lerner signed
the New
State Forest Law, ignoring technical and juridical
positions
from different governmental and non-governmental
sectors.
This Forest
Regulations put in risk the last remnants of the
Araucaria
Forest in the State of Parana'. This unique Sub-tropical
forest
with its Araucaria (conifer) emergent trees originally
covered
7,378,000 hectares. Today, no more than 80,000 hectares,
or a
little more than 1% of its original forest distribution can
be
found in fragmented areas in South-west interior of the State.
A
considerable number of plants and animals of this ecosystem are
listed
in the red data book as species with serious risks of
extinction.
There is virtually no official conservation unit of
the
Araucaria Forest.
The
"Forum de Entidades Ambientalistas da Regio Metropolitana de
Curitiba",
the representative consul of environmental NGO's from
the
capital of the State is asking for a help from national and
international
organizations, in order to solicit from the Governor
Jaime
Lerner the suspension of the State regulations to serve as
an
important instrument to the protection of endangered forest
ecosystems.
The
message should be send to: Mr. Jaime Lerner, Governor of the
State
of Parana'. - fax number +55 41 2530826.
We
ask a favor from your institution to
send us the copy of your
paper
in order to make public the results of this campaign: Forum
de
Entidades Ambientalistas Rua Desembargador Westphalen, 15 - 16
andar
CURITIBA - PR Brasil. CEP - 80010-110
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MESSAGE
Mr.
Jaime Lerner, Governor of the State of Parana'.
The
Parana' State Forest Law (11.054/95) recently ratified by your
Excellence
according to the state legislature put in risk the few
areas
of native old growth forests of Parana', in special the last
remnants
of the Araucaria Forest. This unique Sub-tropical forest
with is
typical Araucaria (conifer) emergent trees originally
covered
7,378,000 hectares. Today, no more than 80,000 hectares,
or a
little more than 1% of its original forest distribution can
be found
in fragmented areas in South-west interior of the State.
A
considerable number of plants and animals of this ecosystem are
listed
in the red data book as species with serious risks of
extinction.
There is virtually no official conservation unit of
the
Araucaria Forest.
The
efforts to protect the maintenance of biodiversity, act
globally
agreed by the Biodiversity Convention solicit the
immediate
suspension of the actual State Law number 11.054/95.
Along
with this suspension we are asking the State Government to
substitute
by another Forest regulation that can effectively
contribute
to the protection of endangered forest ecosystems of
the
State of Parana'.
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TEXT ENDS###
You are
encouraged to utilize this information for personal
campaign
use; including writing letters, organizing campaigns and
forwarding. All efforts are made to provide accurate,
timely
pieces;
though ultimate responsibility for verifying all
information
rests with the reader. Check out our
Gaia Forest
Conservation
Archives at URL=
http://forests.lic.wisc.edu/forests/gaia.html
Networked
by:
Ecological
Enterprises
Email
(best way to contact)-> gbarry@forests.org
Phone->(608)
233-2194 || Fax->(608) 231-2312