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WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS

Mahogany Coveted in Amazonian Indigenous Areas,

Little CITES Protection

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Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises

http://forests.org/

6/24/97

OVERVIEW, SOURCE & COMMENTARY by EE

Following are two reports which highlight increasingly aggressive

illegal logging of hardwoods, particularly mahogany, on indigenous

lands in the Amazon. The first is from the Indianist Missionary

Council - Cimi, and relates conflicts in indigenous lands related to

illegal mahogany harvest. A recent report indicates 80% of timber

exports are done illegally. The second item is from Greenpeace, and

details the last minute compromise at the recent CITES meeting which

kept mahogany from being listed as an Appendix II species. Instead

Brazil, Bolivia and Mexico all agreed to list their populations of

Bigleaf mahogany on Appendix lll of the convention while they develop

recommendations within 18 months on conservation measures. Efforts to

conserve and regulate mahogany will serve as a keystone to larger

Amazonian conservation potentialities.

g.b.

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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:

ITEM #1

/* Written 11:48 AM Jun 23, 1997 by cimi@embratel.net.br in

igc:rainfor.genera */

/* ---------- "HARDWOOD IN INDIGENOUS AREAS IS COV" ---------- */

Subject: HARDWOOD IN INDIGENOUS AREAS IS COVETED BY INTERNATIONAL

TIMBER COMPANIES

Newsletter n. 265

HARDWOOD IN INDIGENOUS AREAS IS COVETED BY

INTERNATIONAL TIMBER COMPANIES

The territories of the indigenous peoples of Amazonia and forest

reservations are the main target of the illegal timber trade promoted

by national and multinational corporations which operate not only in

Malaysia, but also in the United States and England. The shameful

omission and neglect of the Fernando Henrique administration allows

this sordid theft to continue, causing serious conflicts in indigenous

areas.

Yesterday, June 18, the Brazilian government showed that it

connives at these criminal activities, as it made clear its position

against the inclusion of mahogany in a list of endangered species

during the Convention on Endangered Species being held in Harare,

capital of Zimbabwe, which is being attended by representatives of 123

countries. Sixty-seven countries voted against the inclusion of that

hardwood in the list, while 47 voted in favor of it.

The president of Ibama (Brazilian Institute for Environment and

Renewable Natural Resources), Eduardo Martins, head of the Brazilian

delegation, was ridiculous to the point of abstaining from voting and

at the same time defending the exploitation of mahogany. In addition

to including representatives of the Association of Export Timber

Companies (Aimex), headquartered in the state of Para, in his

delegation, he pressured representatives of other countries to vote in

favor of the claims of multinational timber companies.

The Brazilian government paid no attention to a report issued by

the Secretariat for Strategic Affairs (SAE) denouncing the theft of

hardwood by Asian companies, according to reports in the national

press. The report shows that 80% of the timber they trade is being

illegally exploited.

CONFLICTS IN INDIGENOUS AREAS

According to Greenpeace, Brazil is the main exporter of mahogany

in the world. The forests where this hardwood can be found are

concentrated in the states of Acre, Para, Rondonia, Amazonas, Mato

Grosso and Maranhao, where indigenous areas and forest reserves are

located. Still according to that organization, at least three million

100 thousand cubic meters of mahogany were exported between 1971 and

1990, most of which left the country illegally.

According to data collected by the Indianist Missionary Council,

hardwood - particularly mahogany - was stolen from 33 indigenous areas

in 1996. In some cases, the Indians themselves are persuaded by

woodcutters take part in these activities, but most indigenous leaders

condemn this illegal trade, which has caused serious environmental

damages in their territories. The Tembe Indians of the state of Para

are an example of this, as they even seized four trucks loaded with

timber which were released by Ibama afterwards, outraging them. In

addition to these incidents, indigenous populations are repeatedly

threatened by woodcutters and some Indians have been murdered by them

in recent years.

Brasilia, 19 June 1997

Indianist Missionary Council - Cimi

ITEM #2

/* Written 12:38 AM Jun 21, 1997 by nobody@xs2.greenpeace.org in

igc:gp.press */

/* ---------- "CITES-Last Minute Compromise on Mah" ---------- */

From: "the greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>

Subject: CITES-Last Minute Compromise on Mahogany Offers Potential

LAST MINUTE COMPROMISE ON MAHOGANY OFFERS POTENTIAL

Harare, 20 June, 1997 -- At the eleventh hour on the final day of the

CITES conference, a compromise position was struck between the major

importing and exporting countries of Bigleaf mahogany.

Brazil proposed the setting up of a working group under the auspices

of the Amazon Pact Treaty, incorporating all range states, importing

countries and expert organisations. They will develop recommendations

within 18 months on conservation measures for mahogany.

Additionally, Brazil, Bolivia and Mexico all agreed to list their

populations of Bigleaf mahogany on Appendix lll of the convention.

Appendix lll is adopted by individual countries which have implemented

national measures to conserve a species and wish importing countries

to help enforce these by demanding to see export certificates.

"We believe this is an important initiative and a major move forward,"

said Isabel McCrea of Greenpeace, "but we will remain vigilant to

ensure that the promises made in Harare are followed through in Latin

America."

"No immediate conservation measures have yet been put in place,

especially to curtail the destructive illegal trade. For that reason,

Greenpeace cannot yet advise the public that bigleaf mahogany is an

ecologically sustainable product."

The CITES parties were within minutes from a vote to reopen the debate

on a joint US-Bolivian proposal to list mahogany on Appendix ll of the

convention. Brazil had fiercely resisted this stronger measure and

proposed the working group as a compromise to avoid possible defeat on

the floor.

"Greenpeace stands ready to contribute to the mahogany working group

and hopes that significant concrete measures necessary to halt the

very real threats to this rainforest species are made sooner rather

than later," Ms. McCrea said.

"We would like to see Brazil back up the commitments made at this

conference with an immediate halt to all mahogany exports which do not

come from approved management plan areas."

Contact: Greenpeace on cell phone 263 11 601450/601532

###RELAYED TEXT ENDS###

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