16 Hotspots for Boreal Forest Conservation

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WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS

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Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises

http://forests.org/

1/1/97

OVERVIEW, SOURCE & COMMENTARY by EE

The following article from the Taiga Rescue Network details 16

hotspots for boreal forest conservation efforts. The Taiga Rescue

Network web site < http://www.sll.fi/TRN/ > is our featured forest

conservation link on the Gaia Forest Conservation Archives Forest

Links page at < http://forests.org/forsite.html >. This item is from

their site < http://www.sll.fi/TRN/TaigaNews/News19/hotspot.html >.

Each forest has a brief description including threats, and contacts

are given for campaigns to conserve the forests. TRN has consistently

highlighted the fact that it is a forest crisis (rather than a

rainforest crisis) which now faces the planet.

g.b.

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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:

Taiga Rescue Network

http://www.sll.fi/TRN/

12/1/96

Hotspots in the Taiga

http://www.sll.fi/TRN/TaigaNews/News19/hotspot.html

HOTSPOTS IN THE TAIGA

1. Karelia

2. Yugyd-Va National Park

3. Priobskoye

4. Norilsk

5. Bikin and Samarga River Watersheds

6. Headwaters of the Anui River

7. Bystrinskiy National Park

8. Stora, Nova Scotia

9. Christmas Mountains

10. Nitassinan

11. Lac Barriere

12. Owain Lake Ancient Pine Forest

13. The Lubicon Cree

14. Slocan Valley

15. Clayoquot Sound

16. The last old-growth forests in Scandinavia and Finland

1. Russian Karelia

The green belt of Russian Karelia reaches along the Russian-Finnish

border, from Lake Ladoga in the south to the shores of the White Sea,

some 900 kilometres north. The average width is 20-30 km. This vast

and largely unfragmented forest area may be regarded as one of the

most important biodiversity centres in Europe.

Under the Soviet era the entire border zone was closed, and virtually

no forestry operations were allowed. Today, large scale clear-cutting

operations are being carried out, both by Finnish and Russian

companies. Most of the timber is delivered on the Finnish side of the

border and used by the Finnish forest industry. A large proportion of

the timber originates from old-growth forests. There are even a number

of known cases where timber from logging in existing or projected

conservation areas (such as the Kalavala park) has been exported.

This far, the increased forestry activities in Karelia seems to have

had very limited positive impact on the local economy. Russian NGO's

call upon consumers in Europe not to buy forest products containing

wood from old-growth forests in Karelia or other parts of Western

Russia.

The participants of the 3rd TRN conference adopted a resolution,

calling upon all exporters of timber from northwestern Russia to

withdraw from logging and refuse any timber from the areas that have

been designated by Russian NGO's as potential old-growth, in effect

announcing a moratorium in the region until independent inventories

can be carried out. The moratorium should be made permanent in areas

eventually recognized as old-growth. The resolution points out, that

the Green Belt would be well qualified as a UNESCO World Heritage

Site.

Further information:

Socio-Ecological Union, Russia, e-mail: soceco@glas.apc.org

Dima Aksenov, Biodiversity Center, e-mail: biodivers@glas.apc.org

Jarmo Pyykk”, WWF Finland, e-mail: pyykko@sll.fi

Matti Ikonen, Greenpeace, e-mail: matti.ikonen@diala.greenpeace.org

2. Yugyd-va National Park, Komi

In spite of the fact that the two million hectare Yugyd-Va National

Park in northen Komi republic is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage

Site, the government of Komi is planning to allow extensive mining in

the park. The plan might affect 25 % of the park area.

The participants of the 3rd TRN conference adopted a resolution,

calling upon international financial and industrial bodies, as well as

national investors, to refuse funding for projects that would

facilitate exploitation in this area.

Further information:

Save Pechora Committee, Vladimir Chuprov, fax (+7) 82142 52507

or through TRN Russia, e-mail: grig@glas.apc.org

3. Priobskoye oil field

The major oil-producing region of Russia covers a large part of the

central and northern areas of Western Siberia. One of the biggest

undeveloped oil fields in this area is Priobskoye. It has a proven

reserve of 500 million tonnes. Currently two foreign companies, Shell

and Amoco, have received permission to operate in this region.

There are several social and ecological problems connected with the

restructuring of the energy sector and the exploitation of oil in

Siberia. A major part of the Priobskoye oil field is located below the

flood plain of the Ob River. A main reason why the field has remained

unexploited thus far is because of environmental considerations

related to this situation. Any large oil spill will most likely affect

down stream areas of this important river. There is also an obvious

risk that oil pollution will impact the sea and shores of the Arctic.

The development of the Russian oil and gas fields in Western Siberia,

facilitated by among others the World Bank and the European Bank for

Reconstruction and Development, does not only represent a severe

threat to boreal forests and fragile arctic ecosystems. Furthermore,

the Oil Rehabilitation Projects means that donor nations will invest

money to promote greenhouse gas emissions. This direct investment in

global warming will be much larger than the investments by the same

donors and taxpayers to prevent global warming (for example in support

of Global Environmental Facility (GEF) projects, also managed by the

World Bank).

Further information:

Alexei Grigoriev, e-mail: grig@glas.apc.org

4. Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk

The three smelters of the Norilsk Nickel Combine is the biggest single

source of sulphur emission in the world. In 1992 the total sulphur

dioxide emissions were 2,300,00 tonnes - more than, for example, 20

times the entire emissions in Sweden. As a result of this enormous

pollution more than 4,000 square kilometres of larch forest around

Norilsk has died over the last 20 years, and another area of the same

size is seriously affected. In addition, the poisonous air in Norisk

causes severe health problems, including greatly reduced life

expectancy for the population. All in all, this is by far the largest

area in the world damaged by one single source of air pollution.

The Norilsk combines produces 25 - 50 % of the world supply of

platinum. Platinum is, among other things, used in catalytic

converters for automobiles. It is estimasted, that about 40 % of the

world consumption of platinum is for car converters. Mitsubishi,

Toyota and Nissan are trading with and/or using platinum from Norilsk.

There are problably links between Norisk to most other car producers

as well, even if this has not been possible to confirm.

Further information:

TRN Russia, e-mail: grig@glas.apc.org

5. Bikin and Samarga River Watersheds, Primorsk Krai

The Bikin watershed contains the largest intact, western-slope forests

along the Sikhote Alin mountain range. It has the greatest remaining

stands of Korean pine and is habitat for the Amur tiger. The Bikin is

not fully protected. The South Korean company Hyundai has been logging

on the eastern slopes of the Sikhote Alin (estimated 200 000 to 300

000 cubic meters/year) and have been trying to get access to the Bikin

basin.

The Samagara is threatened by the Nelma-Supkai logging road which is

currently being built and will open up ancient forests and indigenous

people's lands to exploitation.

6. Headwaters of the Anui River, Khabarovsk Krai

In the south just above the Samarga River in Primorskii Krai. This

pristine and picturesque area supports a high diversity of animal life

and is under threats from logging and mining. Global Forestry

Management Group (GFMG), consortium of US Pacific Northwest forest-

product companies is logging near Vysokogorniy in south-eastern

Khabarovskii Krai for export to Japan. GFMG is also looking for

potential logging sites.

In general road building is a big threat which is opening up the taiga

in both Primorskii and Khabarovskii Krais. There are plans to develop

the Siziman-Vysokogorniy, Udinsk-Bogorodskoe, Lidoga-Vanino, and

Dolmi-Katen Rivers. The expansion of the Vanino and Sovetskaya Gavan

Ports in the process which will greatly expand the capacity to export

timber from the region.

7. Bystrinskiy National Park, Kamchatka

The proposed Bystrinskiy National Park in Central Kamchatka has

valuable salmon spawning rivers, is habitat for brown bear, sable,

white-tailed sea eagle, and other endangered species. Parts of the

proposed 1 580 000 ha area are under threat from mining.

There are many mining joint-ventures operating in Kamchatka that want

to begin large scale industrial gold mining an the peninsula.

Canadian, US, Australian, and Russian companies are working together

in different joint ventures of gain control of the resources.

Further information on the Russian Far East Hot spots:

Andrei Laletin, Friends of Siberian Fores, e-mail:

laletin@fsf.krasnoyarsk.su

Alexei Grigoriev, TRN Russia, e-mail:grig@glas.apc.org

Friends of the Earth, Japan, e-mail: : foejapan@igc.apc.org

David Gordon, Lisa Tracy or Sarah Lloyd, PERC, e-mail:

perc@igc.apc.org,

percvostok@glas.apc.org, slloyd@igc.apc.org

8. Stora, Nova Scotia

In Nova Scotia, a subsidiary of Swedish forest corporation Stora uses

forest management practices that the company abandoned long ago on its

own land in Sweden. Large areas of deciduous Acadian forests have been

replaced by plantation-like softwood stands. This summer 2,400

hectares of leased Nova Scotia crown lands were sprayed with

herbicides and insecticides. Local groups have critizised Storas

double standards for several years and call for a halt of pesticide

spraying.

The participants of the 3rd TRN conference adopted a resolution,

demanding that Stora conduct all overseas operations in accordance

with currently accepted Swedish standards regarding forest pesticide

use, henceforth rejecting any further use of pesticides on all lands,

both public and private, that are used to provide timber to Stora

owned mills.

Further information:

Charles Restino, Canada's Future Forest Alliance, e-mail:

restino@atcon.com

9. Christmas Mountains, New Brunswick

Unless clearcutting is stopped now, the last remaining old growth

forest ecosystem in New Brunswick - a 4,500 hectare area in Christmas

Mountains - will be gone within 20 years. The participants of the 3rd

TRN conference adopted a resolution calling for permanent protection

of the remaining 4,500 hectare core area of old growth forest in the

Christmas Mountains and the Logan Lake Study area to the south, and

the creation of a wilderness corridor extending from Mt Carleton

Provincial Park to the core area.

Further information:

Amelia Clarce, Friends of Christmas Mountains, e-mail:

siera@mail.web.apc.org

Also, see article in Taiga-News no 19.

10. Nitassinan, Labrador

The Newfoundland Timber Service and commercial timber companies

continue to carry out clearcut logging on traditional Innu Land

(Nitassinan) in Labrador, in spite of commitments to ecosystem-based

forest use. In addition, the Innu nation is under assault from low

level military training flights and development of the Voisey Bay

nickel mine, which threatens Innu culture and ignores Innu land

rights.

The participants of the 3rd TRN conference adopted a resolution in

support of the Innu Nation in their ongoing work for cultural, social

and ecological justice in Nitassinan.

Further information:

Innu Nation, e-mail: innuenv@web.net

Web-site: http://www.web.apc.org/~innu/index.html

11. Lac Barriere, Quebec

On October 21 the Algonquins of Barrier Lake went on a road blockade

to prevent Domtar and other logging companies of the Algonquin

territory, which they intend to clear-cut. The blockade is the result

of a decision taken by the Minister of Indian Affairs about 10 months

ago, not to recognize the administration of the Algonquins anymore.

This meant the end of a long and very promising process under

atrilateral agreement between the Algonquind and the governments of

Canada and Quebec, aiming at developing and implementing sustainable

management of the traditional Algonquin territory. By recognizing a

dissident group as the legitimate leadership of the Algonquins, the

government in fact abandond the trilateral agreement, thereby opening

the road once again to clear-cutting of Algonquin land.

The Algonquins have tried to solve the conflict by codifying their

customs regarding leadership. and are now urging the government to

respect the outcome of this process, and thus the will of the majority

of the band. This would make it possible to restore the process under

the Trilateral Agreement.

The participants of the 3rd TRN conference adopted a statement in

support of the Algonquins, expressing their concern and manifesting

their solidarity for those who stand up for their rights and for a

socially and ecologically sustainable forest use.

For an extensive background on the Algonquin case, See article in

Taiga News no 16.

Further information:

Algonquins of Barriere Lake, Kitiganik, Rapid Lake, Quebec J0W 2C0.

Fax: +1 819 4496413

Russel Diabo, e-mail: algonkin@sparky.inasec.ca

12. Owain Lake Ancient Pine Forest, Ontario

The Owain Lake Ancient Forest ecosystem. located in the Temagami

district of Ontario, is currently under siege by the logging company

Goulard Lumber. Only 1% of ancient red and white pine ecosystems

remain in North America, and one half of these are located in the

Temagami district. The Owain Lake Ancient Forest is the largest

remaining ancient pine ecosystem in North America.

Earthroots, an Ontario based environmental action group, initiated an

ongoing action camp on August 30th in the area to stop the destruction

of this rare and irreplaceable ecosystem. Earlier this fall, 40

activists have been arrested in defence of these ancient stands.

Further information:

Earthroots, tel. (+1) 416 599-0152.

E-mail: eroots@web.net

Web site: http://www.web.net/~eroots

13. The Lubicon Cree, Alberta

The Lubicon Cree Band in northern Alberta is in a desperate situation.

The Japanese forestry corporation Daishowa has been given a logging

concession that covers the entire trditional lands of the band.

Because of resistance from the Lubicons and pressure from

environmental groups, Daishowa has so far declined from logging in the

area. However, this summer, a Toronto court ruled that the ongoing

boycott against Daishowa was illegal. The Lubicons fear that the

logging operations might start this winter.

The massive oil and gas exploitation in the area has been developed

without any consent of the Lubicons, and the Lubicon community has not

been given any share of the enormous profits. In 1994, a sour gas

plant was established close to the settlement, in spite of Lubicon

protests.

The hunting grounds of the Lubicons have largely been destroyed,

depriving the band of the basis for their livelihood and making it

impossible for them to maintain their traditional lifestyle and

culture. This has in turn caused severe social problems in the

community.

In addition, the Lubicons are facing a new and maybe even bigger

threat. An array of oil company consortiums and corporate investors

are planning to invest 25 billion US dollars into the mining of oil

sands in the northern Alberta. Most of the 10,000 square kilometres of

unceeded traditional territory of the Lubicon Cree is included in the

plans.

Further information:

Lubicon Lake Indian Nation, P O Box 6731, Peace River AB T8S 1S5,

Canada.

Tel: +1 403 629 3945, fax: +1 403 629 3939.

14. Slocan Valley, BC

Environmental groups and residents of Slocan Valley in southwestern

British Columbia are prepares to go on blockade to protect their

community watersheds. The logging planned by Slocan Forest Products on

the New Denver Flats would fragment the only accessible ancient forest

in the main Slocan Valley corridor.

Further information:

Valhalla Wilderness Society, e-mail: vws@web.apc.org.