There seems to be a belief in some quarters that Greenpeace is anti-wood or anti-tropical hardwoods. Not so. For many years Greenpeace has campaigned for the use of wood from legal and well-managed sources. We remain opposed to the use of materials like PVC. Indeed, Greenpeace is pro good wood wherever it is from and supports the use of independently certified timber such as that which meets Forest Stewardship Council standards.
The reality today, due to the extent of illegal and destructive logging, is that a great deal of wood imported into the UK isn’t good. Some companies are changing that market through implementing their buying policies and changes in government procurement will also result in significant growth in the certified timber market. But there is still a long way to go.
The world’s ancient forests are in crisis. More than 180 governments that signed the Convention on Biological Diversity categorically agreed this was the case just three months ago at a meeting in the Netherlands. For additional information on the state of the world’s ancient forests look at the recent report from the World Resource Institute, www.wri.org/press/gfw_anniversary.html. This isn’t Greenpeace propaganda – it’s independently-funded research that shows that the crisis is worse than anyone has previously imagined. It also attests to the fact that illegal and destructive logging is a key factor in that crisis. Consequently it is essential that the timber trade plays a leading role in tackling it head on and pulling these forests back from the brink.
Recent Greenpeace research has again revealed that a significant amount of timber traded in the UK comes from some of the worst players in a logging industry rife with corruption and profiting from illegal and destructive logging in ancient forests. The UK government recognises that “illegal logging damages both the environment and society. It reduces government revenues, destroys the basis of poor people’s livelihoods and in some cases even fuels armed conflict” (Michael Meacher, July 28, 2000).
Agreeing with this statement isn’t enough. While parts of the industry continue to deal in uncertified or self-certified timber the reality is that that timber produced and traded legally from well-managed forest operations cannot compete.
Proof of good forest management has to come through certification that can be trusted, the promotion of good wood and the exclusion of illegally logged timber. Currently some wood is good, some is bad – the sooner we all acknowledge that, fight for the good wood and exclude the bad, the more chance there is that significant areas of ancient forests can be protected and that all forests can be well-managed. We want to work with industry, as well as government, to do this but have to ask questions about campaigns that confuse consumers by implying that the only environmental issues connected to wood relate to its durability and that growing it “helps to balance the environment.”
The Indonesian government has asked for our help in dealing with 70% plus rates of illegality in their timber sector. The Indonesian environment minister Nabiel Makarim stated that “We welcome Greenpeace’s presence in Indonesia and I will call on them to support us in dealing with illegal logging”.
Our campaign work to protect ancient forests around the world and to support independent certification is not going to go away. Greenpeace will continue to confront the parts of the UK trade linked to illegality and destruction in ancient forests. The question I leave you with, if you really believe in wood for good, is why don’t you join us in this work?