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Action Alert: World Bank Must Not Fund Rainforest Destruction in the Congo
Industrial logging of ancient primary forests is ecologically and socially indefensible
By
Forests.org, a project of Ecological Internet
-
December 5, 2005
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1.) Inform Yourself
NOTE: This is a protest, not a petition, sending emails to many real decision makers on matters vital to the Earth.
Caption:
Bank subsidies for industrial logging will destroy the Congo's rainforests and will not alleviate poverty, nor can such logging be done in an environmentally benign manner (link)
The World Bank is moving forward with plans to subsidize ancient rainforest
logging in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) mighty ancient rainforests.
The world's second largest largely intact rainforest expanse is found in this
Central African nation. Since 2002, the World Bank has taken a leading role in
reforming DRC's forestry laws, starting the process of 'zoning' the forest into
areas for timber felling and other uses, and encouraging foreign investment in
the timber industry.
On Thursday December 8th, the Board of the World Bank will consider whether to
approve more than $200 million in new funding for the government of DRC, some of
it linked to 'development' of the country's rainforests. The World Bank is
laying the basis for the destruction of Congo's rainforests, and it has breached
many of its own internal safeguard policies in the process. Under the World Bank
plan some 600,000 square kilometers of Congo's precious rainforest would
eventually be handed over to logging companies.
Forests are being zoned into areas for timber felling against the wishes of many
local communities. On the eve of this important decision by the Bank's Board,
twelve organizations representing the various indigenous 'Pygmy' peoples of the
Congo have submitted a formal complaint to the World Bank Inspection Panel, an
official independent watchdog, stating the Bank has failed to take into account
the impact that its plans would have on people depending on the forest for their
survival.
The World Bank Board now has the chance to avert a major environmental and
humanitarian disaster. They and Bank management must urgently be called upon to
suspend any further funding for forestry and mining in DRC until there has been
a thorough review of the Bank's activities in DRC's forests to date, and until
the Inspection Panel has conducted an investigation. NO further funding for
forestry in DRC should be provided until there has been a thorough investigation
as to how Bank staff could act with such blatant disregard for both the
environment and the rights of the millions of people living in Congo's forest.
Your email is being sent to all Executive Directors on the World Bank's board, cc'ed to staff members working for the Bank's President.
Sample Email Sent
Please Stop Subsidizing Rainforest Destruction in the Congo
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to strongly protest World Bank plans to
subsidize industrial logging in the Democratic Republic of
Congo's (DRC) large ancient rainforests. When considering
the 'Transitional Support for Economic Recovery' project on
Thursday December 8th, I call upon you to suspend any
further funding for forestry and mining in DRC. This
suspension must remain in place until there has been a
thorough review of the Bank's activities in DRC's forests
to date, and until the Inspection Panel has conducted its
investigation into claims by the 'Pygmy' indigenous peoples
that you have failed to take into account how your plans
would impact people depending on the forest for their
survival.
It is critical for the well-being of Congo's primary
rainforests and indigenous peoples that you vote to stop
linking $200 million in new funding for the government of
DRC to 'development' of the country's rainforests. The
World Bank is laying the basis for the destruction of
Congo's rainforests, and it has breached many of its own
internal safeguard policies in the process. Under the World
Bank plan some 600,000 square kilometers of Congo's
precious rainforest would eventually be handed over to
logging companies. Through your vote this Thursday, the
World Bank Board has the opportunity to avert a major
environmental and humanitarian disaster.
Be aware that there is widespread disagreement with Bank
policy of promoting an expansion of industrial scale
logging in the world's remaining ancient primary forests -
both in the DRC and wherever large, contiguous rainforest
ecosystems are still found. Natural ancient rainforests are
too valuable in terms of ecosystem services, biodiversity
and local small- scale community development to be
commercially logged. You are deeply misinformed if you
believe that bank funding to subsidize the destruction of
ancient primary forests will reduce poverty, and can be
done in an environmentally benign manner. The Bank must
limit further activities in primary rainforests to funding
protection and small-scale community-based eco-forestry
management activities.
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