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The World Bank and Congo deforestation

Dutch Timber Traders destroying Paradise

23 April 2007

A staggering 80% of the world’s ancient forests have already been destroyed or degraded and much of what remains is under threat from illegal and destructive logging. The member states of the European Union (EU ) play a key role in fuelling the international demand for timber products from illegal and destructive logging. Being a large importer and trader of timber in the EU , the Dutch timber industry also plays a significant role.

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Carving up the Congo - Executive Summary

11 April 2007

Executive Sumary of 'Carving up the Congo'.

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Forest reform in the DRC: how the World Bank is failing to learn the lessons from Cameroon

15 February 2007

The World Bank is presenting its DRC forest sector reform as a means of promoting sustainable forest management, increasing state revenue and - above all - helping to alleviate poverty. A new forest code was adopted in 2002 and related implementation decrees are now also gradually being adopted. Greenpeace is warning that the international community and the DRC government are far too optimistic about the expected results of this reform. A World Bank-led forest sector reform very similar to the one now being pushed through in the DRC was introduced in Cameroon more than 10 years ago and from an environmental Forest reform in the DRC: how the World Bank is failing to learn the lessons from Cameroon and development perspective it has been a major disappointment. Now is the time to learn from the Cameroon experience, rather than to repeat the same mistakes in the DRC.

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Partners in Crime: a Greenpeace investigation into Finland’s illegal timber trade with Russia

19 September 2006

Whilst the Finnish Government tries to assure the world that it upholds principles of sustainable forest management and forest protection, it continues to launder illegally and unsustainably logged Russian timber through its border into the European market and beyond. Between June and August 2006, Greenpeace documented widespread illegal logging in the Russian Karelian Republic and the subsequent transport of illegally logged timber into Finland.

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