Canada's clearcut logging; Canada blocked forest summit progress.
Although delegates and minsters recognised that the world´s
"biodiversity is being destroyed by human activities at
unprecedented rates," they failed to take the necessary action to
stop further loss, and admit that their efforts so far have been
"too few, too little and too late".
Some countries such as France, Germany and Russia supported
action to stop the ongoing destruction.
However, Brazil, Canada and Malaysia spent two weeks watering
down the action program, blocking progress and failing to reverse
forest loss and tackle illegal logging.
Governments took only minor steps that fail to match the scale
of the crisis. Governments will not be able to justify this to
future generations who will inherit the results of their
failure.
Adriana Carvalho dos Santos, 17, from Brazil, one of a thousand
young people from the Greenpeace Kids for Forests, representing 19
countries, who came to the Hague to express their concerns and
hopes said, "I do not understand what games are played here. All
they care about is money and their own interests. Our forests are
our future. Within my lifetime the jaguar and the gorilla may have
nowhere left to live. I just can´t believe it!"
The culprits
Each day during the conference, non-governmental organizations gave
a "stump of the day" award to the country that had done the most to
block progress to protect ancient forests.
The winners are:
Brazil
Brazil received two stump awards and the final award of the golden
chainsaw for failing to take measures that would help Brazil fight
illegal and powerful loggers within their own country.
Brazil also consistently obstructed agreements on strong and
meaningful text for the convention, did not want a priority on
illegal logging and related trade, and the Brazilian minister
failed to show for the meeting.
Canada
Canada was unanimously awarded a stump for its unwillingness to
agree on international priorities, greenwashing of its own forest
industry and, despite being the wealthiest forested nation in the
world, blocking prioritisation of forests within the
agreement.
The United States
Although the US is the wealthiest nation on the planet, and
recently increased its military budget by $100 billion, it makes
the most miserly contributions in overseas development in relation
to its GDP. The US is also one of a small group of countries that
has failed to ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity. That
group also includes Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands was awarded a stump for allowing illegally logged
timber to enter the country despite the destruction it causes. As
the host of the meeting, the Dutch did not show sufficient
political leadership for action to protect ancient forests.
Malaysia
Malaysia was awarded a stump for not even wanting to discuss
forests as an issue under the Convention of Biological
Diversity.
Governments failed to:
- Stop further industrial activities in intact ancient forests
until responsible plans for forest conservation and sustainable use
are agreed [Moratoria];
- Ensure that timber and other forest products are produced and
traded in a legal and ecologically responsible way [Measures];
and
- Commit to even the most minimal funds to pay for forest
conservation and sustainable use [Money].
The last ancient forests are now in the hands of heads of
government who will meet at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg later
this year.
Greenpeace will continue to do what's right for the forests and
the people who live in and depend on them for their livelihood and
culture. We will continue to expose all those who threaten their
survival.