From sustag@BETA.TRICITY.WSU.EDU Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 05:45:46 -0700 From: "Tom Hodges (moderated newsgroup)" To: Multiple recipients of list SUSTAG-L Subject: THE DANGERS OF MONOCULTURE TREE PLANTATIONS (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 3 Oct 94 11:31:27 EST From: Net News Filter To: "Tom Hodges (moderated newsgroup)" Subject: THE DANGERS OF MONOCULTURE TREE PLANTATIONS I found this article interesting, and thought others may share the same view. Livinus THE DANGERS OF MONOCULTURE TREE PLANTATIONS This article highlights the ecological and social impact of large-scale monoculture tree plantations which service the export-led strategy of many Third World countries. A global network of NGOs has been formed to address this issue. By Ricardo Carrere Third World Network Features During the past two decades, tree planting has been increasing on a global scale. This has been encouraged by a number of multilateral financial agencies, as well as by national and international advisory and support agencies. Transnational corporations (TNCs) have also become directly involved through the implementation of large-scale forestry projects in diverse areas of the world. The reasons underlying these tree-planting activities may be very different; for example, tree planting for fuelwood needs at local community level, to halt desertification, and to supply raw materials for local timber and paper industries. Nevertheless, the main thrust arises from large wood and pulp transnationals attempting to secure a homogeneous, abundant and cheap supply of raw materials. To do this, TNCs are trying to locate plantations in regions which exhibit appropriate characteristics for achieving their goal: cheap land and labour force, foreign currency hunger, and environmental conditions that guarantee fast tree growth. Most Third World countries fulfil all these conditions, thus becoming potential suppliers of this raw material. The terms 'afforestation' and 'reforestation' lead to confusion because they are used to define extremely diverse situations. They are used to refer to monoculture plantations of exotic or native species, (in areas which were either previously covered by forest or used for some other purpose), and also to refer to native or exotic tree planting within agroforestry systems. This is why many people are surprised when environmentalists support certain types of afforestation but oppose others. In order to understand the problems, it is therefore important to define more precisely the concepts being dealt with. The term 'reforestation' should be applied only to the operation of planting local species, with the aim of trying to recover a degraded or clear-felled native forest. The term 'afforestation' should be replaced by 'tree crops' when referring to monocultures that include soil preparation, selected genetic material, agrochemical inputs, a high degree of mechanisation and market-oriented production. Agroforestry systems also imply tree planting, but these are part of the agro-ecosystem, having both directly productive functions (timber, fruits, leaves, resins etc) and support functions (nutrient recycling, shelter and shade etc). Finally, there are other possible types of afforestation, different from the above: protective landscaping, recreational afforestation. What matters then is not to be misleading. Tree planting in itself is not the problem. What has triggered concerns from both environmentalists and local communities has been, and still is, the establishment of large-scale mono-culture tree plantations, mostly composed of fast-growing eucalyptus and pine trees. These plantations are being promoted and established in vast areas throughout the world. The present pattern of industrial tree crops is leading to a number of negative environmental and social impacts. Environmentally, the adverse impacts of these large plantations on hydrological basins are being exposed. This is because the fast-growing species of trees commonly used in timber plantations consume huge volumes of water. Secondly, there are concerns about the possible irreversible changes of soils under plantations of exotic species, which could lead to desertification processes. Furthermore, these large plantations modify the native wildlife substantially . This could lead to a chain of adverse impacts on the different ecosystems involved. The above may also be aggravated by the polluting processes derived from transforming large volumes of wood into pulp and other wood products. It is likely that once plantations become productive, these industries will move to developing countries, given the growing trend towards relocation of polluting industries from industrial countries to the Third World, where standards in legislation for environmental protection are much lower. From a social point of view, large-scale industrial tree crops have in some countries resulted in open opposition at the local level. In many cases, this opposition arises from pre-existing conflicts over land tenure, where tree plantations have deprived local people of the lands they need for survival. In addition, plantations generate other problems arising from the competition between trees and agricultural crops and also from the proliferation of pests under the tree canopy. At the same time, these plantations give rise to a number of changes in the social structure of the affected communities and even within their culture. In some countries, the conjunction of these elements has led to conflicts, where peasants have attacked tree nurseries and uprooted or burned plantations, having suffered repression by the State powers themselves. The economic convenience of tree crops for Third World countries must be questioned. Despite the obvious contradiction in a world ruled by the neo-liberal ideology, tree plantations are being subsidised in a number of countries with support from a wide range of agencies, including the World Bank. The question is why? If investment in plantations were great business, subsidies would not be necessary. The answer lies in the industrialised countries' wish to secure the supply of this raw material at the lowest possible price. Subsidies, linked to credits and support, at the present price levels make this investment profitable. However, the increasing production of the vast plantations being established everywhere will result in a widespread price decrease in the mid-term. This would be one of the central aims of this North-driven strategy. This price decrease is already foreseen for the 1995-2000 period for eucalyptus wood in the Pacific area, as a report by the American consultancy Jay Gruenfeld Ass. Inc in May 1992 pointed out. Domestic markets would not be able to absorb all the timber on offer since it is an export crop, and the only way out would therefore be to export at any price, with the whole- hearted approval of importing countries. During the 1992 Earth Summit, a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) held a meeting and decided to create a global network to share information and implement joint actions on this issue. Among those who participated in this meeting were Project for Ecological Recovery (Thailand), Third World Institute (Uruguay), Sustainable Agriculture Forum (Laos), Greenpeace International (Netherlands), Indonesian Forum for Environment (Indonesia), Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (Philippines), Associao Gacha de Proteo ao Ambiente Natural (Brazil), Instituto Brasileiro de Analises Sociais e Economicas (Brazil), Pacific-Asia Resource Center (Japan), CEPEDES (Brazil), ACAPEMA (Brazil), Japan International Volunteer Center (Japan), Japan Tropical Forest Action Network (Japan), CDDH (Brazil) and the European Rainforest Movement (Netherlands). Initial concerns relating to monoculture tree plantations were broadened to include the issues of pollution derived from industrial processes of paper manufacturing, and the wasteful consumption of paper which leads to a continuous increase in demand for the raw material. In May 1993, the World Rainforest Movement organised a Southeast Asian Regional Workshop on Plantations, which was hosted by the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, in Manila, the Philippines. Local organisations from the region (the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan) were joined by representatives from IBASE (Brazil), the Third World Institute (Uruguay) and the British publication The Ecologist. During the meeting, participants described problems arising at the local level from large-scale forestry projects, and discussed the roles that governments, local business, TNCs, multilateral agencies and international consultancies play. The importance of NGOs and grassroot organisations from local communities was also discussed. Despite the different country specifications, a number of important common factors emerged, giving evidence to the increasing globalisation of the issue of tree plantations, particularly in the Third World. In view of the above, the need to strengthen the network born in Rio was re-affirmed, and a decision was taken to launch joint actions aimed at creating a trend to encourage forestry adapted to local needs, which arises from local communities and which is environmentally sustainable. In line with the latter, the network will campaign against industrial monoculture tree crops in all cases where they are considered to be incompatible with improving the quality of life of local populations, and with the long-term interests of these countries. --Third World Network Features - ends - About the writer: Ricardo Carrere is with the Third World Network in Montevideo, Uruguay. When reproducing this feature, please credit Third World Network Features and (if applicable) the cooperating magazine or agency involved in the article, and give the byline. Please send us cuttings. Published by Third World Network 87, Cantonment Road, 10250 Penang, Malaysia. 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