17
Jan 2009 - Oslo, Norway - Norwegian communities
and conservationists today launched a campaign
to ban oil exploration and development from
parts of their Arctic coast, linking up
with WWF-supported campaigns already underway
in Alaska and Russia to protect vulnerable
fisheries and communities.
The campaigns are supported
by studies showing oil returns would be
less than those provided in the long term
through the protection and sustainable exploitation
of resources.
“It is complete madness
to trade in a sustainable fishery that could
continue to accommodate the interests of
both people and nature for generations,
for a few years of quick and dirty profits
from oil,” said Rasmus Hanssen, Secretary
General of WWF Norway.
“In Norway, the Lofoten
and Vesteralen areas have almost unparalleled
natural values: unique cold water reefs;
pods of sperm whales and killer whales;
some of the largest seabird colonies in
Europe, and the spawning grounds of the
largest remaining cod stock in the world.
We cannot and should not afford to risk
these.
“The Norwegian government
must declare these areas off limits to oil
and gas.”
In Alaska, WWF is part
of a coalition of local people and organizations
opposing oil and gas exploration and development
in Bristol Bay. Oil and gas drilling there
would bring in an estimated $7.7 billion
over the 25-40 years that it would take
to suck dry the petroleum reserves. In contrast,
the area’s fishing industry brings in $2.2
billion per year, a total of $50-80 billion
over the same time period.
In Kamchatka, WWF is
working with a similar coalition, where
it is asking the Russian government to suspend
oil exploration and development on the west
Kamchatka shelf until Specially Protected
Natural Areas (SPNAs) have been designated
for the most important areas. Almost a quarter
of Russian fish and other marine resources
come from west Kamchatka.
“It’s the same story
across the Arctic,” says Neil Hamilton,
Director of the WWF International Arctic
Programme. “Governments are being pushed
to drill in places that have a far higher
to local people and to the world if they
are simply left alone. WWF has called for
a moratorium on further offshore oil development
across the Arctic, until oil and gas companies
can demonstrate they have the ability to
clean up major oil spills in ice covered
waters. We would like to see that respected,
however, there is a particularly urgency
to protect some highly valued and productive
places.”
+ More
Participate in the 2009
GFTN BOLIVIA BUSINESS TRADE MISSION
16 Jan 2009 - The Bolivia
Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) is
organizing the third GFTN Bolivia Business
Trade Mission for those companies that are
part of the GFTN and interested in establishing
trade relations with certified Bolivian
producer companies or those in process of
certification and members of the GFTN Bolivia.
The third Business Trade
Mission will take place from March 23rd
to 28th, 2009 and allow for the business
men and women to participate in the 7th
Forest, Wood and Technology Fair known as
EXPOFOREST 2009, as well as its Business
Roundtable from March 26th to 27th, 2009.
The last Business Roundtable in 2008 brought
together more than 200 companies from 18
countries, a number that is expected to
improve next year. For further information
please visit: http://www.fexpocruz.com.bo/expoforest/
The 2008 GFTN Bolivia
Business Trade Mission resulted in more
than US$ 3,500,000 in business intentions
between Bolivian GFTN companies and companies
in Belgium, Spain, Chile and the Netherlands.
Bolivia has 48 million
hectares of natural forests, of which almost
29 million have been declared “Permanent
Forest Production Lands”. Nine million are
under sustainable management and approximately
two million of these have Voluntary Forest
Certification (under the Forest Stewardship
Council - FSC - label). Based on the aforementioned,
Bolivia´s commitment to forestry has
been more than demonstrated and its leadership
worldwide has also been confirmed in terms
of sustainable forest production, with more
than two million hectares of certified native
tropical forest.
The Bolivia FTN invites
all companies that are a part of the GFTN
to participate in this Business Mission
which includes technical visits to production
forests located in northern Bolivia, as
well as important industrial companies in
the cities of La Paz and to participate
in the Business Roundtable organized by
the Bolivian Forestry Chamber in Santa Cruz
de la Sierra. The objective of the Business
Mission is to show visiting businessmen
the potential supply of Bolivian forestry
companies and members of the FTN and in
this way, facilitate market links between
supply and demand.
GFTN Bolivia Business
Trade Mission: March 23 -28, 2009 include
Expoforest Business Roundtable: March 26-27,
2009
PROGRAM:
March 23, 24 and 25: Business mission organized
by the Bolivia FTN. Meeting aimed at bringing
together visiting companies -wood and /
or forestry product buyers- GFTN participants
with members of the Bolivia FTN.
The Mission includes:
Technical visits to wood companies located
in La Paz who manufacturer doors, parquet,
garden furniture, decking and sawn wood.
Trips to the sawmill, industry and forests
in Ixiamas (North of the Department of La
Paz).
Meetings between visiting buyer companies
and Bolivian producers from Ixiamas organized
by the Forestry Chamber of Iturralde and
Forest Trade Network from Bolivia.
Technical visits to the forest.
Tour in Rurrenabaque, Bolivia’s richest
forestregion.
March 26 and 27: Business
Roundtable organized by the Bolivian Forestry
Chamber with support from WWF Bolivia. Bilateral
meetings (maximum time 20 minutes) with
companies that have been pre-selected by
each participant (buyer and/or producer).
LOGISTICS & COSTS:
Visiting companies will have to cover their
travel and lodging expenses.
WWF-GFTN Bolivia will register (at no cost)
the visiting companies and current GFTN
Bolivia members in the 2009 EXPOFOREST Business
Roundtable.
WWF-GFTN Bolivia will cover food costs for
visitors during the three days of the Business
Trade Mission.
WWF-GFTN Bolivia will provide logistical
support related to lodging, transportation,
coordination and support during the meetings
held at the Business Roundtable.
María del Carmen Carreras
GFTN Bolivia Forest and Trade Coordinator
