by Catherine Delahunty
This week in London, Chatham House are hosting the 14th conference in a series on illegal logging. With deforestation accounting for at
least 20% of greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention the loss of 137 plant, animal and insect species per day, action is urgently needed.
Of equal, if not greater, concern is the ruthless destruction of forest peoples’ homes and survival. The arguments used by western governments who have failed to ban the trade in illegal and unsustainable logging focus around the world trade rules. Briefing papers for the conference argue that, although there are no precedents, there are no actual legal impediments to current measures for controlling illegal logging trade.
Thus our Member’s bill that seeks to prevent the import of unsustainable timber products, which was selected in the ballot last Thursday, should have a fighting chance. The history of the tropical timber campaign has seen intense debate over voluntary measures and the need for a more rigorous approach. Both the USA and the EU are adopting stricter rules around timber certification rather than relying on a laissez faire status quo. So the Greens are campaigning for our Government to join them.
There is everything to gain for the New Zealand sawmillers and pulp and paper producers who lose $266 million per year from being undercut by cheap unsustainable timber products from the developing world.
Last year, community activists highlighted the tropical timber issues by picketing retailers who have yet to step up to the commitment to certificated timber products. The Greens, led by Russel Norman, highlighted the risks to biodiversity, indigenous rights and the climate. The human rights activists have consistently pointed out the effects on communities in places like West Papua, PNG and Indonesia.
Greenpeace have produced a Good Wood Guide for consumers to demonstrate the alternative timbers available from sustainable sources. All we need now is some vision and commitment to get the bill through the first reading and to the Select Committee. Watch this and others spaces for more information and help us save the forest and thus ourselves.
Published in Environment & Resource Management | Parliament by Catherine Delahunty on Tue, June 23rd, 2009
Tags: Catherine Delahunty, climate change, conservation, deforestation, economy, environment, forests, greenpeace, Russel Norman
More posts by Catherine Delahunty | more about Catherine Delahunty
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
BREATH OF FRESH AIR!!!!!
As I have mentioned before this bill is literally a breath of fresh air, and I would like to see every country (especially in the OECD) adopt a similar bill.
So here is a rally call for Catherine, never underestimate the power of persuasion if members from National can cross the floor on this then great, but remember there are no “quid pro quo’s ” here. Check out the demise of the Irish Green Party.
On the local front I think that we could save a lot of trees by using recycled timber. I have built nearly a whole hot house on recycled timber and it is a bit cheaper too.
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I think this is a good initiative, good to see a real “green” issue for a change!
But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the best way to advance sustainability is to be an example of it ourselves, so we need to sustainably log native Beech ON CROWN LAND.
There are vast swathe’s of suitable forest on the West Coast, and I think the bad old days are sufficiently behind us that we could have a real crack at being world leaders in sustainable forestry.
Do the Greens still recoil in horror at such a statement?
(waits with ears peeled)
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Good point Shunda.
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Greenies, I’m still waiting……………
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me too!
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