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WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS

Venezuelan Amazon Threatened by Resolution to Allow Mining and Logging

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Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises

10/26/96

OVERVIEW & SOURCE by EE

The World Rainforest Movement reports on serious attempts in Amazonas

State, Venezuela, to revoke two decrees which presently ban logging and

mining. The European Parliament has passed a resolution condemning this

major opening up of the area to industrial resource extraction.

Tragically, the Yanomami Indians of the EC- financed Upper Orinoco-

Casiquiare Biosphere Reserve, the largest protected area of tropical

rainforest in the world, would be put at risk. This item was posted in

econet's rainfor.general conference.

g.b.

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/* Written 1:03 PM Oct 25, 1996 by gn:wrm in igc:rainfor.genera */

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From: Forest Peoples Programme <wrm>

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WORLD RAINFOREST MOVEMENT

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PRESS RELEASE 25 October 1996

VENEZUELA:

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS RESOLUTION

TO CURB LOGGING AND MINING IN AMAZONAS

In recent weeks the Venezuelan President, Rafael Caldera, under heavy

pressure from the mining lobby in Caracas and Puerto Ayacucho, the

capital of the State of Amazonas, has indicated that he plans to revoke

two decrees which presently ban logging and mining in the State. Local

indigenous and conservation organisations in Venezuela, with the support

of many congressmen and deputies, have protested against this move

noting that it would have a devastating effect on the environment and

indigenous peoples of the State, including the Yanomami Indians of the

EC- financed Upper Orinoco-Casiquiare Biosphere Reserve, the largest

protected area of tropical rainforest in the world.

According to FAO figures, Venezuela already suffers one of the highest

rates of deforestation in the tropics, with an annual loss of 600,000

ha.. In Estado Bolivar, mining is devastating the lands of the Kapon and

Pemon Indians, leading to widespread forest loss and mercury pollution.

Earlier this year, several of the main marketed fish from the huge Guri

reservoir had to be banned from human consumption because of the high

levels of mercury contamination. Venezuela's Indians are among the least

protected indigenous peoples in South America. Official figures show

that 72% of Indian communities lack any form of legal title to their

lands. Even these rights are often ignored in the handing out of logging

and mining licences.

Fearing that these problems might spread south, the European Parliament

adopted an emergency resolution in full session in Strasbourg yesterday

afternoon, calling on Venezuela not to revoke the decrees.

Saskia Ozinga, Coordinator of the EU Forest Programme, an affiliate of

the World Rainforest Movement, said today:

The fact that the European Parliament adopted this urgent

resolution in plenary shows how deeply concerned the

European Parliament is with the current trend to open up

southern Venezuela to unregulated mining and logging. We

welcome the resolution, which echoes clearly the concerns

of many indigenous peoples and of Venezuela's foremost

environmentalists.

The text follows.

Text of Resolution of the European Parliament adopted 24 October 1996:

The European Parliament,

- recalling its previous resolutions on the Amazon forest,

- whereas the Venezuelan Government is proposing to revoke

two decrees, 269 and 2552, which prohibit mining and

logging in the State of Amazonas,

- whereas the European Commission is presently financing an

ECU 6.4 million project in the same State which is being

carried out jointly with the Venezuelan Government to

develop and implement a management plan for conservation

and sustainable development of the Upper Orinoco-Casiquiare

Biosphere Reserve - currently the largest protected area of

rainforest in the tropics,

A. Concerned that the premature opening of the State of

Amazonas to mining and logging is causing serious

environmental problems,

B. Very concerned that this illegal mining is violating

indigenous rights and is likely to cause serious health

problems resulting in high mortality and serious epidemics

among the Yanomami and other indigenous peoples both within

the Biosphere Reserve and more widely,

C. Noting that illegal mining, both by Venezuelan miners and

Brazilian 'garimpeiros', is already a serious threat to the

Biosphere Reserve and the environment of the State in

general and that local government institutions appear

unable to control it,

D. Noting that illegal logging and cross-border trade in

timbers is already a problem on the middle Orinoco and that

controlling it appears to be beyond the capacity of local

government institutions,

E. Noting that the existing legal framework in Venezuela

allows several competing government agencies to grant

mining concessions and that, in neighbouring Bolivar State

this has resulted in permits being given to mine protected

areas causing serious disputes and obliging the

Procuradoria General de la Republica Attorney-General's

Office to intervene;

F. Considering therefore that a premature opening of the State

of Amazonas to mining and logging is likely to escalate

beyond government control bringing serious health and

environmental problems to Venezuelan citizens, and will

jeopardise the success of the Biosphere Reserve;

1. Urges the Venezuelan Government not to revoke the decrees

and instead to maintain its present prudent and widely

acclaimed policy of conservation and community development

in the State of Amazonas;

2. Appeals to the Venezuelan Government to reform its policy

towards indigenous peoples in conformity with Article 11 of

Decree 3.235 of 3 August 1983 which guarantees the rights

of indigenous peoples to the lands they traditionally

occupy;

3. Directs the European Commission to raise these matters with

the Venezuelan government, as the viability of a major EC-

funded project in the region is at risk;

4. Requests the World Bank to raise these matters with the

Venezuelan Government in its forthcoming mission to the

country commencing on 23 October 1996.

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the

Council, the Commission, the Government of Venezuela and

the World Bank.

Text ends.

For further information contact: WRM (UK office), 8 Chapel Row,

Chadlington, OX7 3NA, England Tel:01608 676691 Fax: +44 1608

676743 email:wrm@gn.apc.org

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