***********************************************

WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS

Malaysian Government Acknowledges Problems in Solomon Islands Forests

***********************************************

Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises

http://forests.org/

11/7/96

OVERVIEW & SOURCE by EE

In a rare and welcome display of candor, the Malaysia government has

acknowedged complicity in the wholesale industrial clearing of the

Solomon Islands rainforests by Malaysian multi-national loggers. In

the following Greenpeace press release, the increasing significance of

local, sustainable, community-managed timber programmes in meeting

local people's development needs in this small Pacific island country

is also highlighted. Malaysia and its timber companies appear to be

beginning to get the message--the world is watching and will not

tolerate plundering of remaining rainforests. This item comes from

econet's gp.press conference.

g.b.

*******************************

RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:

/* Written 9:07 PM Nov 6, 1996 by nobody@xs2.greenpeace.org in

igc:gp.press */

/* ---------- "11/6 Malaysian Recognition of Solom" ---------- */

Subject: 11/6 Malaysian Recognition of Solomons Logging Problem

Date: Wed, 6 NOV 96 19:43:50 GMT

----------

Original-TO: World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)

Original-TO: The.Greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org

----------

GREENPEACE WELCOMES MALAYSIAN GOVT RECOGNITION OF LOGGING

PROBLEM IN SOLOMONS

Greenpeace Press Release

AUCKLAND 6 November 1996 -- Greenpeace today welcomed the call for

Malaysian firms operating in the Solomon Islands to be 'sensitive to

environmental issues', made by Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar

Ibrahim on Monday, according to press reports from Kuala Lumpur.

Mr Ibrahim's comments were significant because the 'voluntary control'

Malaysian timber companies are supposed to abide by is obviously not

working on the ground, said Greenpeace Pacific's Forests campaigner

Grant Rosoman.

"At last the Malaysian Government has acknowledged how destructive

Malaysian timber companies operations are for the Solomons'

environment and people," said Grant Rosoman. "Greenpeace is pleased

that the Deputy Prime Minister has publicly called on companies like

Kumpulan Emas and Rimbunan Hijau to shape up and stop tarnishing

Malaysia's image abroad."

Solomon Islanders are currently suffering the disastrous effects of

uncontrolled foreign logging company operations, which are often

supported by the Solomons Government itself. Many ordinary Solomon

Islanders actively oppose uncontrolled logging, instead supporting

environmentally sustainable forms of local management for their

forests. The Central Bank of Solomon Islands has recently acknowledged

the growing economic importance of locally controlled, small-scale

forestry operations.

"Over the last 3 years the potential for local, sustainable,

community-managed timber programmes has been proven by local people,

working together with Greenpeace and Solomons' non- governmental

organisations. Malaysian logging companies could learn a lot from our

successful 'ecotimber' operations- which give Solomon Islanders real

control of their own resources and a fair share of the profits," said

Grant Rosoman.

"Ecoforestry offers a ray of hope because it shows there is a viable

and equitable alternative to industrial logging."

The first shipment of Solomons ecotimber is due to arrive in Auckland

in December. Papua New Guinea ecotimber is also due to arrive in

Sydney in December, available for use in the 'Green' Olympics in 2000.

Contact Grant Rosoman or Glyn Walters: +64 9 630 6317 or +64 25 931

363. For more details of Greenpeace's ecotimber work in Solomons and

PNG please ask us for a copy of the new Greenpeace Pacific report

'Working Together- Sustaining Forests and Communities in Melanesia'.

###RELAYED TEXT ENDS###

You are encouraged to utilize this information for personal campaign

use. 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.org/

Networked by:

Ecological Enterprises

Email (best way to contact)-> gbarry@forests.org