Posted on 25 May 2011
Brasilia, Brazil: Brazil’s reputation as
a country that is serious about preventing
deforestation and minimising climate change
is in the hands of the country’s Senate
and president, following parliamentary approval
of sweeping reductions to forest protection
last night.
“These changes are not
in the interest of Brazilian society, and
nature, go against Brazilian national and
international commitments, and put climate
stability at great risk,” said WWF-Brazil
Conservation Director Carlos Alberto de
Mattos Scaramuzza.
“For the narrow economic
benefit of particular private interests,
Brazil’s National Assembly is proposing
to cast aside the basis of our country’s
remarkable and much praised achievements
in reducing the rates of deforestation.
”The dramatic surge
in deforestation rates that has occurred
just in anticipation of this law shows the
sort of destruction that Brazil is looking
at if the changes to the Forest Code pass
the Senate and are accepted by the president.”
Brazil's protection
against erosion and devastating floods
Drastically cut back
in the proposed new Forest Code are the
"areas de preservacao permanente -
APP(s) or permanent preservation areas)
that protect forest and other ecosystems
in the most sensitive areas, alongside rivers,
on steep slopes and elevated watersheds.
“This is Brazil’s protection
for water tables and biological corridors
and against erosion, and devastating floods,”
said Scaramuzza.
Other "set-asides"
("reserva florestal - RF), which offered
a basis for sustainable use of forests and
avoiding climate change causing emissions,
have also been greatly cut back.
“As the proposed changes
were approved last night, these provisions
for the protection of sensitive areas will
be reduced, with thinner bands along rivers
and smaller properties of up to 400 hectares
not being required to keep the "set-asides
possibly just a first step in even more
drastic wind-downs of forest protection,”
said Scaramuzza.
“In what is possibly
one of the great motivations for this assault
on the forest code, protection is to be
taken from the forests and given to state
governors who are susceptible to political
pressures. More than this, requirements
to restore some illegally deforested areas
will be dropped. "
Brazil’s States are
also to be given the right to further wind
back the regulations protecting forests.
Senate more likely to
uphold Brazilian achievement
“WWF-Brasil expects
that the Brazilian Senate will be more likely
to represent the legitimate interests of
Brazilian society, and the role of Brazil
in the community of Nations,” said Scaramuzza.
“Brazil’s new President Dilma Roussef is
also not going to wish to squander the reputation
of her predecessor, or to be the host of
the approaching Rio+20 international environmental
summit with these shameful changes wreaking
havoc across the Amazon.”
"The vote at the
House of Representatives was one of the
steps," said WWF-Brazil CEO Denise
Hamú, "WWF-Brazil remains engaged
to lobby with the Senate, the next step
in this process. We hope that the Senate
elects a rapporteur who will live up to
the complexity and sensitivity of this issue,
and who is competent and unbiased.
"We will also keep
society engaged, and we are confident that
President Dilma Roussef will exercise her
power of veto if necessary, in order to
fulfil her commitments to the Brazilian
society regarding environmental protection
and to the international community regarding
the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
and biodiversity conservation.
+ More
Kiwis want over a third
of New Zealand oceans protected
Posted on 26 May 2011
Wellington, New Zealand - New Colmar Brunton
polling has revealed that New Zealanders
want more than a third of their oceans protected
in marine reserves – a 100-fold increase
on current levels.
The research, commissioned
and published by WWF-New Zealand today has
found more than nine in ten New Zealanders
(96%) think more of New Zealand’s oceans
should be protected in ‘no take’ marine
reserves - areas set aside as off limits
for extractive activities such as fishing
and mining.
On average New Zealanders
stated they want about a third (36%) of
the country’s oceans protected in marine
reserves, 100 times greater than the area
currently under protection.
Commenting on the findings
of the research, WWF-New Zealand Marine
Programme Manager Rebecca Bird said:
“New Zealand’s oceans
are home to a globally significant diversity
of wildlife and habitats, and WWF is campaigning
for a national network of marine reserves
to safeguard our unique marine biodiversity.
“The research shows
that protection levels for our seas are
a drop in the ocean compared to the scale
of protection New Zealanders want. Currently
marine reserves cover a tiny percentage
of our oceans.”
“For marine wildlife
to be protected and thrive, the government
needs to respond to New Zealanders’ views
and create more reserves that will act as
national parks for the sea,” said Ms Bird.
Strong public support
New Zealanders’ attitudes to marine protection
have remained constant over the last few
years – polling conducted in 2005 and repeated
in 2011 found over nine in ten New Zealanders
support more protection of their marine
environment in reserves. On average the
proportion they feel is right to protect
has remained consistent at 36%.
The Colmar Brunton poll
also asked respondents to estimate how much
of New Zealand’s ocean they thought was
already protected in marine reserves. On
average, New Zealanders estimated 31% of
our oceans is protected, yet in reality
the figure stands at just 0.3%. By comparison,
nearly 20% of New Zealand’s land mass is
under equivalent protection, such as national
parks.
WWF-New Zealand is calling
on the Government to reinstate the stalled
Marine protected areas process and bring
about the marine protection New Zealanders
want to see. Despite many years of promises
by successive governments, very little progress
has been made towards the government’s own
target of protecting 10% of the marine environment
in marine reserves.
“The proportion of our
oceans protected in marine reserves is wholly
inadequate to safeguard our marine environment
and wildlife. New Zealand’s oceans are under
pressure from commercial and recreational
fishing, from pollution, and from new threats
such as exploration for oil and gas.
“The research reaffirms
that as a nation, New Zealanders value our
oceans, and we are conservation-minded people.
With a general election looming, the government
should seize the opportunity to respect
the views of the vast majority of New Zealanders
by taking action now to protect our seas.”
said Ms Bird.
