*[Enwl-eng] [press-release] 'Organised chaos' in DR Congo loggingsector threatens to cut off access to European market
3 views
Skip to first unread message
ENWLine
Mar 4, 2013, 5:24:40 PM3/4/13
to "ENWL-uni"
Amsterdam, March 4, 2013 – The Democratic Republic of Congo's logging sector
is in a state of “organised chaos” according to a new report from Greenpeace
Africa, threatening to cut off trading with the European Union (EU), the
world’s largest timber market. A new regulation banning illegal timber came
into effect in the EU yesterday (March 3).
Cut It Out: Illegal Logging in the DRC details how the so-called “battle
against illegal logging” launched by the DRC government is failing and
reveals the devastating impact that the lack of governance, law enforcement
and transparency is having on part of the world’s second largest rainforest.
“Logging companies, including multinationals, are routinely flouting
Congolese law, with complete impunity,” said Irène Wabiwa, forests
campaigner with Greenpeace Africa. “Many are involved in large-scale timber
laundering and as a result, the government is denied tax revenues. Illegal
logging is impacting directly on millions of Congolese citizens who depend
on forests for their livelihoods.“
Compiled through research and field trips to Bandundu province, the report
shows how companies are getting around a moratorium on new industrial
logging permits in the country through the illegal use of artisanal permits,
which are officially only to be used for small scale logging.
Upon visiting Kinkole port near Kinshasa, Greenpeace Africa witnessed log
ends being removed and painted with new markings to hide illegal activities
and to enable export.
The European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) prohibits illegally harvested
timber (and timber products) from being traded on the European market.
Timber traders are required to act with due diligence to minimise the risk
of illegal timber from entering their supply chains.
The state of the sector in the DRC and the lack of independent systems there
to verify legality mean it is extremely difficult under current
circumstances, if not impossible, for traders based in the EU and dealing in
timber from the DRC to comply with the legislation.
Companies in Europe need to ensure they fulfill all requirements in the new
law to avoid being liable and prosecuted. If they continue with 'business as
usual' they will be found out.
“This law ends a long period of impunity in the timber industry. Any timber
operators caught selling illegal timber on the EU market will now risk being
prosecuted and facing sanctions. There is no other option for the industry
but to comply,” said Danielle Van Oijen, forests campaigner with Greenpeace
International.
“With strict enforcement from EU governments, this new law can promote a
change of behaviour in the global timber industry, including in the DRC and
to help stop forest destruction.”
A total transformation of the logging sector in the DRC is needed. To
achieve this, Greenpeace is calling on the government to reinforce the
existing moratorium and cancel all existing illegal permits, prosecute
infractions, publish all logging contracts, strengthen anti-corruption
measures, and enable communities to manage their forests for their own
benefit.
To read Cut it Out: Illegal Logging in the DRC:
http://www.Greenpeace.org/africa/Global/africa/publications/forests/GP_Congo
rapport_UK.pdf
To view and download news video: http://tinyurl.com/d266rdo
For press enquiries contact: Irene Wabiwa, Forests Campaigner, Greenpeace
Africa, phone: +243 997 853 171, irene....@greenpeace.org
Danielle Van Oijen, Forests Campaigner, Greenpeace Netherlands. Mobile: + 31
6 15 00 74 04, Danielle....@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace International pressdesk hotline: +31 (0)20 718 24 70
From: <aaron.gr...@greenpeace.org>
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2013 12:33 PM
Subject: [press-release] 'Organised chaos' in DR Congo logging sector
threatens to cut off access to European market
------------- * ENWL * ------------
Ecological North West Line * St. Petersburg, Russia
Independent Environmental Net Service: http://www.bellona.ru/enwl/
Russian: ENWL(discussions), ENWL-inf(FSU information), ENWL-misc(any topics)
English: ENWL-eng (world information)
en...@lew.spb.org, enwl...@lew.spb.org, en...@lew.spb.org, en...@lew.spb.org
Subscription, Moderator: vf...@lew.spb.org or en...@enw.net.ru
Archive: http://enwl.bellona.ru/pipermail/
and http://groups.google.com/group/enwl/
SEE ALSO: http://www.bellona.org (English)and http://www.bellona.ru
(Russian)
RSS: http://groups.google.ru/group/enwl/feeds?hl=ru
(C) Please refer to exclusive articles of ENWL
-------------------------------------
ONLY if your address is subscribed:
Enwl-eng mailing list
Enwl...@enwl.bellona.ru
http://enwl.bellona.ru/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/enwl-eng
is in a state of “organised chaos” according to a new report from Greenpeace
Africa, threatening to cut off trading with the European Union (EU), the
world’s largest timber market. A new regulation banning illegal timber came
into effect in the EU yesterday (March 3).
Cut It Out: Illegal Logging in the DRC details how the so-called “battle
against illegal logging” launched by the DRC government is failing and
reveals the devastating impact that the lack of governance, law enforcement
and transparency is having on part of the world’s second largest rainforest.
“Logging companies, including multinationals, are routinely flouting
Congolese law, with complete impunity,” said Irène Wabiwa, forests
campaigner with Greenpeace Africa. “Many are involved in large-scale timber
laundering and as a result, the government is denied tax revenues. Illegal
logging is impacting directly on millions of Congolese citizens who depend
on forests for their livelihoods.“
Compiled through research and field trips to Bandundu province, the report
shows how companies are getting around a moratorium on new industrial
logging permits in the country through the illegal use of artisanal permits,
which are officially only to be used for small scale logging.
Upon visiting Kinkole port near Kinshasa, Greenpeace Africa witnessed log
ends being removed and painted with new markings to hide illegal activities
and to enable export.
The European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) prohibits illegally harvested
timber (and timber products) from being traded on the European market.
Timber traders are required to act with due diligence to minimise the risk
of illegal timber from entering their supply chains.
The state of the sector in the DRC and the lack of independent systems there
to verify legality mean it is extremely difficult under current
circumstances, if not impossible, for traders based in the EU and dealing in
timber from the DRC to comply with the legislation.
Companies in Europe need to ensure they fulfill all requirements in the new
law to avoid being liable and prosecuted. If they continue with 'business as
usual' they will be found out.
“This law ends a long period of impunity in the timber industry. Any timber
operators caught selling illegal timber on the EU market will now risk being
prosecuted and facing sanctions. There is no other option for the industry
but to comply,” said Danielle Van Oijen, forests campaigner with Greenpeace
International.
“With strict enforcement from EU governments, this new law can promote a
change of behaviour in the global timber industry, including in the DRC and
to help stop forest destruction.”
A total transformation of the logging sector in the DRC is needed. To
achieve this, Greenpeace is calling on the government to reinforce the
existing moratorium and cancel all existing illegal permits, prosecute
infractions, publish all logging contracts, strengthen anti-corruption
measures, and enable communities to manage their forests for their own
benefit.
To read Cut it Out: Illegal Logging in the DRC:
http://www.Greenpeace.org/africa/Global/africa/publications/forests/GP_Congo
rapport_UK.pdf
To view and download news video: http://tinyurl.com/d266rdo
For press enquiries contact: Irene Wabiwa, Forests Campaigner, Greenpeace
Africa, phone: +243 997 853 171, irene....@greenpeace.org
Danielle Van Oijen, Forests Campaigner, Greenpeace Netherlands. Mobile: + 31
6 15 00 74 04, Danielle....@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace International pressdesk hotline: +31 (0)20 718 24 70
From: <aaron.gr...@greenpeace.org>
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2013 12:33 PM
Subject: [press-release] 'Organised chaos' in DR Congo logging sector
threatens to cut off access to European market
------------- * ENWL * ------------
Ecological North West Line * St. Petersburg, Russia
Independent Environmental Net Service: http://www.bellona.ru/enwl/
Russian: ENWL(discussions), ENWL-inf(FSU information), ENWL-misc(any topics)
English: ENWL-eng (world information)
en...@lew.spb.org, enwl...@lew.spb.org, en...@lew.spb.org, en...@lew.spb.org
Subscription, Moderator: vf...@lew.spb.org or en...@enw.net.ru
Archive: http://enwl.bellona.ru/pipermail/
and http://groups.google.com/group/enwl/
SEE ALSO: http://www.bellona.org (English)and http://www.bellona.ru
(Russian)
RSS: http://groups.google.ru/group/enwl/feeds?hl=ru
(C) Please refer to exclusive articles of ENWL
-------------------------------------
ONLY if your address is subscribed:
Enwl-eng mailing list
Enwl...@enwl.bellona.ru
http://enwl.bellona.ru/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/enwl-eng
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages