Rainforest Conservation – Page 2

RELEASE: Rainforest Action Network Expands Misleading Greenwashing of Primary Forest Logging

June 12, 2010August 25, 2021 Dr. Glen Barry 5 Comments

RAN's recent "rainforest safe" book and luxury shopping bag campaigns show they value greenwashing primary forest logging [search] and sustaining old growth timber markets more than ecological science showing without primary forest logging ban biosphere collapses. EcoInternet renews demand that RAN stops promoting primary forest logging as a false solution to rainforest loss and diminishment,…

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RELEASE: Papua New Guinea’s Indigenous Landowners Stripped of Land Rights as Chinese Communist Influence Grows

June 8, 2010August 25, 2021 Dr. Glen Barry 5 Comments

PNG government amends Environment Act [search] with no debate to remove powers from landowners to challenge in court resource development projects on their customary land. Move reflects increased pressure by foreign developers, particularly Chinese government's mining agency, whose efforts to dump uncapped 100 million tons of mine waste on ocean floor in Madang Province has been thwarted by pressure exerted by successful legal efforts and campaigning.
(Madang, PNG) – Indigenous landowners have been stripped of ancestral and constitutionally-protected land rights [search] by the government of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The fact that 97% of land has been under communal, customary land tenure has long been a source of pride, provided an important social safety net, and protected against resource corruption. Similar efforts pushed by the World Bank in the 1990s were met with national protests and over-turned. Ultimate power to irrevocably issue resource development environmental permits will now reside with the Department of Environment secretary, an office who's current and past occupants have long been known for flagrant corruption.
The government, through the Environment Minister, Benny Allan, made changes to sections of the Environment Act 2000 to prevent landowners and concerned Papua New Guineans from "interfering" with industrial resource development projects destroying oceans and rainforests -; like the Chinese Ramu Nickel Mine in Madang and Exxon-Mobil Liquid Natural Gas project in the Southern Highlands. Without any warning or consultation, on May 27, 2010, the government of PNG introduced emergency legislation that dissolved the Constitutional rights of all landowners in PNG, including the right of Indigenous People to own land, challenge resource projects in court and receive any compensation for environmental damage. The bill was passed without being seen or debated by parliamentarians.

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VICTORY! Madagascar Reinstates Rainforest Protections Following EI Led Global Public Outcry

March 29, 2010August 25, 2021 Dr. Glen Barry 9 Comments

Madagascar's transitional government last week reinstated a ban on rosewood logging [search] and exports, following prolonged and growing pressure over illegal logging of its national parks spearheaded by EcoInternet. As reported by Mongabay, the decree (no. 2010-141) prohibits all exports of rosewood and precious timber for two to five years. With the export ban in place, the fate of 10,000-15,000 metric tons of already illegally logged rosewood awaiting export remains uncertain. It is also unclear whether illegal loggers and traders will be prosecuted [1].
"These issues, getting this moratorium to be permanent, and working to demonstrate community development from standing primary and restored rainforests will require continued vigilance and campaigning. Yet, two important points have been made. It is again demonstrated that it is possible to end rainforest logging. And the emergence of an empowered global movement committed to protecting and restoring old forests -; and other ecologically sufficient policy necessary to achieve global ecological sustainability -; is again powerfully demonstrated," says Dr. Glen Barry, EI President.

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RELEASE: French President Sarkozy’s Dangerous Deforestation Doublespeak

March 15, 2010August 25, 2021 Dr. Glen Barry 2 Comments

Pledges to work to end deforestation as French company prepares to ship illegal logs from Madagascar
From Earth's Newsdesk, a project of EcoInternet (EI)
You can still TAKE ACTION on this matter at:
http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=madagascar_landgrab

(Paris, France) — French President Nicolas Sarkozy last week said rich nations must do more to help fight deforestation, as he hosted a Paris conference on saving the world's forests. Sarkozy stated defending the world's forests demanded more aggressive funding. “Those who don't want to do anything are those who don't want to pay,” he said in an opening address. He reiterated his appeal for a tax on financial market transactions worldwide that could be earmarked for a global climate fund. These are good ideas, yet President Sarkozy is guilty of dangerous hypocrisy as a French company continues to threaten Madagascar's rainforests.
As Sarkozy argued the need to stop deforestation, shipments of illegal rosewood are being readied for export in Madagascar by a French company with the tacit approval of the French government. Some 4,000-5,000 tons of rosewood will be shipped under the auspices of Delmas, according to Derek Schuurman, who has published papers on the illegal logging crisis for the Madagascar Conservation Journal and TRAFFIC. “An estimated 200-270 containers are likely to be exported in March,” says Schuurman. The French and mainstream media worldwide has largely been silent on the crisis even though it threatens Madagascar's rainforest, people, and wildlife. EcoInternet's global network has already delayed, though not permanently stopped, these illegal rosewood shipments[1].

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EARTH MEANDERS: The Rainforest Movement Is Dead

February 21, 2010 Dr. Glen Barry 24 Comments

By Dr. Glen Barry, EcoInternet Earth Meanders come from Earth's Newsdesk <img alt="The Rainforest Movement Is Dead

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RELEASE: Global Campaign to Protect and Restore Old Forests Gaining Traction

February 9, 2010August 25, 2021 Dr. Glen Barry 12 Comments

Campaigns to end industrial primary rainforest logging in Papua New Guinea and Madagascar based upon ecological science, and meant to end corruption and ecological harm
By Earth's Newsdesk, a project of EcoInternet (EI)
CONTACT: Dr. Glen Barry, glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org

EcoInternet's (EI) ongoing campaigns in Madagascar [1] and Papua New Guinea [2] (PNG) to end primary forest logging [search] (please continue to take action below), is part of EI's global network's campaign to globally protect and restore old forests. Ecological science reveals forest and other terrestrial ecosystem destruction to be a primary cause of climate change, biodiversity loss, water and soil degradation, and social disintegration. Yet forest policy-makers, including major environmental groups, continue to assert "sustainable forest management" and "FSC certified" logging of primary and old-growth forest logging is possible and desirable. They are wrong, as ecologically intact old forests are vital components of Earth's biosphere and are the optimal land cover to absorb and hold carbon long-term, while maintaining biodiversity and operable ecosystems, and the Earth System.
The term "old forests" is used to encompass primary unlogged forests, late successional natural regrowth, and planted mixed-species forests regaining old-growth characteristics. Forests logged industrially for the first time are permanently ecologically damaged in terms of composition, structure, function and dynamics. It is becoming abundantly clear that ending industrial diminishment and working for the full protection and restoration of old forests are a keystone response to climate change (to say nothing of biodiversity, ecosystem, water and poverty crises). More of the Earth's terrestrial ecosystems -; and old forests in particular -; have already been lost and diminished than required to maintain an operable climate, all species and a fully operable biosphere.

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EARTH MEANDERS: Ode to Madang

January 18, 2010August 25, 2021 Dr. Glen Barry 16 Comments

By Dr. Glen Barry, EcoInternet
Earth Meanders come from Earth's Newsdesk
Yet another paradise lost?

Prime Minister Michael Somare of Papua New Guinea is ruling as a Mugabe like thug bent upon becoming a tin-pot dictator. Once a great man that led his country to independence, Mr. Somare is now using his "Grand Chief" status for corrupt personal, family and tribal gains -; illegally and immorally allocating huge swathes of his great nation's forest and marine resources without landowners' prior and informed consent. On the bidding of Somare's increasingly despotic and erratic leadership, Papua New Guinea's (PNG) natural assets are being sold off to invading Asian business interests -; destroying rainforest, ocean, water and land -; as well as the resource and ecosystem rich nation's future development potential. Will one man -; big man Sana or not -; single-handedly destroy Earth's third largest remaining contiguous old rainforest expanses for personal gain?
Nowhere is this more evident than in Madang Province, PNG, which contains some of Earth's last remaining mostly intact tropical and marine ecosystems in the world. The "Jewel of the South Pacific" includes large ancient rainforest tracts, huge tuna and other fisheries, and barely explored mineral deposits; as well as beautiful, loving and peaceful people. Madang's rainforests and oceans feed and house all its citizens, regulate national and regional climatic patterns, and make the Earth habitable by providing global ecosystem services. As Somare flits about in his new high-end private jet (who paid for that?) signing illicit business deals with Asian cartels and otherwise stealing Madang and the nation's resources (including attempts to corner nascent carbon markets), Madang and PNG's infrastructure including schools, hospitals, police and roads are in shambles.

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA RAINFOREST: Madang Police Issue Violent Warning to Logging Opposition

December 18, 2009August 25, 2021 Dr. Glen Barry 1 Comment

By Earth’s Newsdesk and Asples PNG, projects of EcoInternet
http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/
CONTACT: Dr. Glen Barry, glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org

With logging stopped by court order, violence breaks out in Ramu logging area in Papua New Guinea. Two youths in custody for stealing from loggers shot as a warning to the community. With local opposition to Rimbunan Hijau and continued industrial logging growing, foreign logger turns to further bribery and intimidation.
(MADANG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA) – Logging has been stopped for nearly two weeks at the Ramu Block 1 concession held by Rimbunan Hijau (RH) of Malaysia in Madang, Papua New Guinea (PNG). Facing a court order, a plethora of other court proceedings, and rising local landowner discontent, RH has responded by calling on the police to send a warning to logging opposition, and widely making cash bribes to be allowed to resume logging.
Last week, drunken youth became angry with company employees and ill-advisedly robbed a tool shed. First thing the next morning two youth leaders were caught by officers (who were allegedly visibly intoxicated). While restrained and in police custody, the youths were shot at point blank range in the leg, and let go. The youths are recovering in the hospital, and information is being gathered for legal proceedings.
“Logging companies bribing police to send a warning to opposition is not ethical or just development. Violence has come to Madang Province, as various Asian logging, mining and fishing industries fall over themselves to harvest these resources immediately and incautiously,” notes EcoInternet’s President, Dr. Glen Barry. “Clearly PNG’s resource allocation processes have become corrupted and Madang’s three big development projects -; RH logging, tuna canneries, and Ramu mine -; must be stopped and thoroughly investigated.”

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RELEASE: WWF Confronted for Rainforest “Greenwashing” of “Sustainable” Palm Oil

November 5, 2009August 25, 2021 Dr. Glen Barry 11 Comments

By Earth's Newsdesk, a project of EcoInternet http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/ CONTACT: Dr. Glen Barry, glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org An Open Letter signed by more than 80 organizations from 31 countries was delivered yesterday to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) [search] and to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) co-initiator of the initiative. In the letter, they are urged to end…

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RELEASE: deRANged II The Sequel — Rainforest Action Network Endangers World’s Rainforests

September 27, 2009August 25, 2021 Dr. Glen Barry 20 Comments

By Earth's Newsdesk, a project of EcoInternet
http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/
CONTACT: Dr. Glen Barry, glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org
(EARTH) — Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has unexpectedly pulled out of nearly completed secret negotiations with EcoInternet to work jointly to reform the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to stop certifying as environmentally acceptable the first time logging of old forests [1]. After fifteen years of FSC membership, RAN still cannot say how much first time industrial primary and old growth forest logging FSC has certified as “well-managed” while implying environmental sustainability (no one including FSC board members can, or at least they are not talking). Estimates place it as high as 60 million hectares of old forests having been cleared with FSC certification for such necessities as toilet paper and lawn furniture, with an equal amount imminently threatened.
RAN's tropical rainforest campaign has collapsed into irrelevancy. For several years there has been no activity other than working on oil palm, fund-raising and throwing lavish parties. A year ago, after two years of protests and threats to disrupt their REVEL celebrity studded fund-raiser, they pledged to reinvigorate their rainforest campaign, starting with writing to FSC to find out just how much old forests they are destroying. Apparently being an FSC member has few benefits, as no response has been received. By supporting FSC, Rainforest Action Network is greenwashing rainforest destruction globally. FSC is only marginally better than competing industry certification schemes in that it depends upon old forest logging to meet market demand for throw-away consumer items. Old forest logging must end.

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