NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #19/NN_1992_19.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/6191

Text File | 1992-08-31 | 15.9 KB | 361 lines

Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
Path: sparky!uunet!wupost!mont!pencil.cs.missouri.edu!rich
From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
Subject: NGO Rio Forest Treaty
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: [e-mail]
Sender: [e-mail]
Nntp-Posting-Host: pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 04:40:42 GMT
Approved: [e-mail]
Lines: 346

/** headlines: 209.0 **/
** Topic: Forest Treaty **
** Written 12:05 pm  Aug 31, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:headlines **
From: News Desk <newsdesk>
Subject: Forest Treaty

/* Written 10:09 pm  Aug 30, 1992 by web:greenweb in cdp:unced.treaties */

                              FOREST  TREATY

(Note: This Forest Treaty was negotiated between representatives
from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) of many nations from
the South and the North, at the Global Forum in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, during June 1992.  The Treaty was negotiated over a
period of six days of intense discussions using three working
languages: Portuguese, Spanish and English. All decisions were
arrived at by consensus and the participants in this Treaty-
making process experienced deep feelings of community with each
other.  The Green Web had two representatives in the NGO Forest
Treaty negotiations.  We are taking the initiative to enter this
Treaty into the computer network, because we are not aware that
others have so far done this.)

The following definitions are provided for the purpose of this
Treaty:

Natural forests are ecosystems dominated by trees or shrubs
   (growing)in an original or nearly original fashion through
   natural regeneration.  This definition includes mangroves.
Restored forests are forests planted, seeded,or otherwise
   restored in such a manner as to emulate the original natural
   forests of an area.
Plantations are crops of trees artificially established,
   primarily for specific commercial purposes.
Sustainable forest management means securing benefits for human
   needs while maintaining the structure, functions, and integrity
   of ecosystems on a bioregional basis, incorporating in perpetuity
   complete forest successions in each bioregion.
Colonists are non-aboriginal and traditional people who have
   recently moved into an area.
Native, indigenous, and aboriginal peoples are those who have
   lived in relative harmony with the environment for many
   generations, and whose origins, as a people, are in that area.
Traditional peoples are  non-native populations who have
   established non-destructive relationships with their environment
   and have lived there for generations.

PREAMBLE:

The undersigned Non-Governmental Organizations, recognizing
the vital role of all types of forest in maintaining
the ecological processes of the Earth; in protecting ecosystems,
watersheds, freshwater resources, coastal areas, estuaries, and
adjacent seas; as a rich storehouse of biodiversity; and in
carbon fixation:

Recognizing also that all types of forests embody complex and
unique ecological processes which are the basis of their present
and potential capacity to provide resources to satisfy the
biological needs of all forest dependent species, as well as
environmental, cultural, historical, and spiritual values:

Believing that forestry issues and opportunities should be
examined in a holistic manner, taking into consideration the
multiple functions and uses of forests, including living space
and cultural survival of the indigenous forest people:

Recognizing that many traditional forest dwelling people have had
their territories and their ability to pursue their historic
cultural activities encroached upon or destroyed:

Noting that the world's forest ecosystems have been dangerously
reduced and degraded during more than a century, and that in
recent decades the rate of reduction and degradation has been
accelerating due to many kinds of exploitation:

Noting also that the consumption of wood products commercially
and for fuel wood is at a non-sustainable level; and is being met
from natural forests rather than from plantations, recycled
materials, and other sources:

Noting further the leading part that national and transnational
corporations play in degrading forest ecosystems during
exploitation and in trading forest products, with minimum benefit
to the people in the locality of origin, often displacing them in
the process, and often causing social/economic, environmental,
and cultural damage;

Observing that indigenous forest land-tenure systems are highly
structured and defined, and are commonly overridden by law,
political, and market interests, which reshape access to and
control over forest resources:

Observing also that the concentration of power and control over
natural resources has resulted in an increase of poverty and
deprivation putting increased pressures on forest ecosystems:

Emphasizing that the concentration of property and usufruct of
forest land and resources in the hands of a few owners and
national and multinational corporations, is a major factor
responsible for the deforestation and degradation of forests in
many countries; and that this limits the ability of local people
to influence the uses of the land:

Acknowledging that responsibility for forest management must be
accepted by governments, local NGOs, business, and individuals,
without prejudice to the rights of indigenous people:

Acknowledging also that indigenous territories including forests
must be exclusively managed by indigenous and local people in
cooperation with other interested sections of society as may be
decided by those indigenous and local people:

Declaring that all types of forest and especially wilderness
forest areas have intrinsic values of their own and are essential
for the conservation of biodiversity; and are a source of
knowledge, inspiration,and spiritual renewal for humanity:

Assert that this treaty applies to all types of forests, restored
forests, and plantations in all geographic and climatic zones:

And further assert that the purpose of this treaty is to ensure
the conservation, rehabilitation, enhancement, enlargement,
natural regeneration, planting, protection, and sustainable use
of the world's forests, as in each case is appropriate to the
particular ecosystem.

PRINCIPLES:

1. Forests are essential to life on Earth.  The structure,
function, and integrity of ecosystems must be seen to have
infinite value.  Every form of forest life is unique and requires
adequate habitat and protection.

2. Forests must be protected to supply the social, economic,
ecological, cultural, and spiritual needs of present and future
generations, subject to maintenance of the integrity of soil,
water, air, and the conservation of biodiversity.

3. Policies on forest conservation shall include the full
permanent protection of all forest ecosystem types, the
restoration and/or recuperation of degraded or fragmented
forests, and the sustainable management of areas under human use.

4. Forest policy must be developed with maximum public
consultation and participation especially with local forest
people and community groups, and the public must have the right
to appeal and enforce decisions made in the forestry sector.

5. Forests are the very life of many indigenous people, and
therefore their traditional territories must be legally
recognized, demarcated, and guaranteed.

6. Traditional forest knowledge and practices of indigenous
people must be guaranteed.

7. The struggle for forest conservation cannot be separated from
the struggle for agrarian reform in some countries, and the
general principles of democratization, social justice, and
respect for the environment.

8. The rights of indigenous and traditional people who make a
living from the non-destructive extraction of forest products
(such as rubber tapping and nut picking) should be legally
guaranteed in areas they have traditionally occupied.  These
extractive processes should be recognized, protected, and
promoted as a form of sustainable forest management, to alleviate
pressure on the forests, to benefit local economies, and to help
the global environment.

9. Existing monocultural and exotic plantations which have been
planted for timber production should be preferentially harvested
in order to take the pressure off the cutting of natural forests.
These plantations should generally be converted to mixed
plantations of native species.

10a. In order to maximize biological diversity, natural
regeneration of trees should be employed wherever possible.

10b. The role of plantations, restored forests and tree crops
(such as fruits and nuts) as sustainable and environmentally
sound sources of renewable energy should be recognized, enhanced,
and promoted.  Plantations and rehabilitated forests can be a
means of relieving commercial pressure on primary or old-growth
forest.  No land presently under natural or restored forest
should be converted to plantations.

10c. Plantation forestry should only occur on non-forested areas,
degraded areas, and areas no longer able to support natural
regeneration of native forests, and that are not suitable for
food crops.  Plantations should not be subject to chemical or
biological control or non-organic fertilizers.

10d. Restoring forests and establishing plantations on degraded
land can play an important role in providing regional employment
and development for the benefit of local people, national
economies and the global environment.  Before any plantation
project is undertaken, environmental impact studies should be
done to ensure there are no adverse effects on local economies or
the environment.

11. Logging practices that do not take into account habitat
destruction, soil erosion, loss of biomass, adverse cultural and
economic effects, or the securing of ecologically appropriate
regeneration, must be internationally condemned.

12. Environmental costs and benefits including economic, social,
cultural, and political values, should be incorporated through
green accounting into values put on forest resources by market
forces and mechanisms and national accounting, and reflected in
real prices, permit costs, and fiscal charges, in order to
achieve sustainable uses of forests.

13. Government forest agencies should not sell, allocate, or
otherwise dispose of forest products unless those transactions
show a profit based on the real value of all assets used
including trees, land, soil, and water in each forest area
involved.

14. Recycling of wood products, especially paper, along with less
wasteful logging and processing practices should play a
significant part in protecting environmental values and in
relieving pressure of demand for new wood.

ACTIONS:

1. NGOs will pursue all avenues open to them to ensure that the
intent and meaning of issues expressed in the Preamble and
Principles of this Treaty are understood, acted upon, and
implemented by all relevant sectors of society.

2. NGOs will take the initiative in supporting local populations
in the management, conservation, and recovery of forests, with
due regard for the integrity of the forests, preservation of
biodiversity and ecosystems, promotion of social justice and
democracy, and improvement of quality of life of the local
people.

3. NGOs, with other sectors of society will formulate global
proposals about forestry and climate policies, and will apply
pressure so that government decisions on these subjects be taken
jointly with other governments.

4. NGOs, in cooperation with local communities and any indigenous
people involved should participate actively in environmental and
social impact assessments of projects which impact upon forests
and their inhabitants to ensure that the results of these studies
are analyzed in a public forum before decisions are made
concerning the implementation of those projects.  NGOs will also
apply legal and political pressure so that the decisions which
result are respected and implemented.

5. NGOs will campaign for the conservation for forests, for the
survival and improvement in the quality of life for people living
in forests, the implementation of development projects which
reduce pressure on forests, and the elimination of pollutants,
particularly those contributing to acid rain.  NGOs will oppose
attempts to manipulate forest ecosystems using chemical or
biological pesticides.

6. NGOs will assist in channelling financial and technical
support by governmental and international agencies for forest
management and recovery programs.  NGOs will insist that such
agencies will develop policies in accordance with the spirit of
this Treaty.

7. NGOs should try to secure for local people prior consultation
and active participation, that is, power sharing at all stages of
decision making, in conservation management, and develop projects
affecting them, regardless of the ownership of the lands in
question.

8. NGOs will actively participate in education and information
exchange regarding environmentally sound forest practices.

9. NGOs will demand that governments monitor the management of
forest resources.  Frequent audited reports of the monitoring
process should be available to any interested member of the
public.

10. NGOs will vigorously oppose the industrial clear cutting of
remaining primary and old-growth forests, and will help to seek
alternative work and methods of survival for communities which
depend on this practice.

11. NGOs , recognizing the highly polluting character of the pulp
and paper industry, will encourage research on alternative raw
materials and alternative industrial processes for pulp and
paper.

12. NGOs will pressure local and national governments to confront
the causes of uncontrolled urban and rural growth in forested
areas, so as to prevent the speculative use of land in these
areas.

13. NGOs, having regard to the complexities of forest ecosystems
and sustainability, will support popular agrarian reform
initiatives based on criteria of social equity, that deal with
land distribution and forest use rights.

14. NGOs will fight against political pressures caused by
external debt, that increase the rate of deforestation and
degradation of forest ecosystems.  NGOs will suggest and
encourage alternative economic models compatible with
conservation of forest ecosystems.

15. NGOs will campaign for the inclusion into CITES (Convention
On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And
Flora) of those forest species threatened by extinction.

16. NGOs shall educate others about the importance of forests as
wildlife habitat.  NGOs shall fight to protect such habitat.

17. NGOs will take into consideration all traditional knowledge
of indigenous people and/or local communities when supporting or
developing conservation projects.

18. NGOs will denounce forest practices that accelerate soil
erosion and cause desertification, hydrological destabilization,
or habitat damage.

19. NGOs will encourage and organize recycling and reuse or
forest products, and the general reduction of waste where forest
resources are concerned.

20. NGOs will encourage coalition making and exchanges at
regional, national, and international levels, for the purposes of
this Treaty.

********************************************

About the Green Web:  We are a small independent research group
serving the needs of the environmental and green movements.  Our
network of information distribution and exchange exists on a
local, provincial, national, and international basis.  We have
produced or reproduced a number of Bulletins. Write for a list of
our publications.  We do not solicit or accept government or
corporate funding, but financial assistance from those who
support the work that we do, is much appreciated and needed. If
possible, send a donation when ordering, to cover the costs of
photocopying and postage. (It is policy of the group to absorb
the costs for any material requested from Southern countries.)
Address: the Green Web, R.R.3, Saltsprings, Pictou County, Nova
Scotia, Canada, B0K 1P0.  Telephone/Fax: [phone]. Or,
Email - WEB: greenweb.
** End of text from cdp:headlines **