The world's ancient forests threatened by European governments and banks

Press release - 16 May, 2003
Greenpeace activists today continued their protest in France this morning by bringing all timber activities in Sète Harbour to a halt when they chained themselves to the entrance to the harbour and unfurled a banner that read "France official partner in ancient forest destruction." While in Germany, activists brought evidence of rainforest destruction and contamination from the WestLB Bank's investment in an oil pipeline that runs through the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Greenpeace activists are arrested by French police for blocking an entrance of Sete Harbour to prevent the importation of contentious timber from the tropical rain-forests in Western Africa. Greenpeace is currently campaigning to protect the world's remaining ancient forests.

Every two seconds, an ancient forest area the size of a football pitch is being degraded or destroyed. Greenpeace is campaigning to protect the world's remaining ancient forests by promoting ecologically sustainable and social responsible forest use and the establishment of protected areas. Protected forest areas are dedicated to the conservation of their biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and are established and managed respecting traditional land rights-particularly those of indigenous peoples. They are protected from road building and industrial activities.

In France, Greenpeace condemns the use of timber from destructive, illegal or conflict sources by the French government in public buildings and projects. Over 25% of the tropical timber in France goes to use in the public sector. Yesterday, Greenpeace inspection of the harbour revealed that at least 70% of the logs found there are from contentious sources in Liberia and Cameroon.

"How does our government believe they can achieve responsible public procurement when they continue to buy timber such as what we saw here," said Ludovic Frère from Greenpeace in Sete.

Greenpeace is determined to continue to push the French government to phase out the use of timber from illegal sources and the destruction of the last ancient forests. The government announced last year concrete measures to integrate environmental criteria into their public procurement but nothing has happened so far.

In Germany, activists laid out a red carpet with oil stains and placed yellow oil drums before the head office of what is the biggest German public bank to demonstrate the extent of the destruction of the rainforest by German investment.

"This is the evidence of WestLB's true record, "said Sandra Pfotenhauer of Greenpeace in Germany. "Contaminated rivers that flow through what until recently was a pristine forest."

VVPR info: Stills and footage available from Greenpeace International Photo Desk, John Novis (m) +31 65 381 9121 and Video Desk, Hester van Meurs, (m) +31 629 00 11 35

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