Forest on the banks of the Congo river system, Equatorial province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Greenpeace fact finding tour aimed at documenting the social and environmental impacts of industrial logging.
Newlogging concessions will be frozen in up to 40 million hectares of rainforestwhile the legality of all current logging concessions are examined by aninter-ministerial commission, assisted by a team of independent, international experts.If the review is conducted properly, Greenpeace expects that many of the 20million hectares already slated for logging in DRC will be returned to thestate.
TheCongo rainforest is the second largest in the world after the Amazon. It ishome to more plant and animal life than any other forest in Africa, includingrare species such as the Okapi and the Congo Peacock that are found nowhereelse in the world. It is also a refuge for three of the four Great Apes -chimpanzees, bonobos and gorillas.
"Thiswelcome move will give the Congo rainforest breathing space while corrupt andillegal logging companies are weeded out. Widespread illegal and badly managedlogging not only decimates the rainforest but causes social conflicts. It alsopushes chimpanzees and gorillas towards extinction and exacerbates the illegaltrade in bushmeat," said Greenpeace International forest campaigner, FilipVerbelen.
Greenpeacehas been investigating logging in the Congo and discovered that it does notcontribute to sustainable development and prosperity, as the logging industryclaims, but creates poverty, social conflict and wreaks environmental havoc.
"Untilnow, the logging industry has been a law unto itself, destroying the rainforestto supply wood to Europe, Asia and the USA. This decree is an important firststep towards responsible and socially just forest management, but this willonly be achieved in this post-conflict country with assistance from theinternational community," said Verbelen.
Greenpeaceis an independent campaigning organization, which uses non-violent, creativecommunication tools to put the spotlight on global environmental problems andto drive towards solutions essential for a green and peaceful future.
Other contacts: Filip Verbelen, Greenpeace International forest campaigner on +32 496 161586Stephan Van Praet, Co-ordinator of Greenpeace Africa campaign on +32 496 161580
VVPR info: Photos: John Novis on (m) +31 6 5381 9121Video: Maarten van Rouveroy on (m) +31 6 5350 4721
Notes: (1) President Kabila has confirmed the moratorium on the allocation of new logging concessions will be maintained until a process to review the legality of all existing logging concessions is finalised and until new rules for allocation of concessions have been defined. A copy of the decree is available on request (only in French).