24
Apr 2009 - Primorye, Russia – Loggers in
Russia’s Far East increasingly are cutting
down Korean cedar pine, raising concerns
that the endangered Amur tiger could lose
critical habitat and its prey could lose
a major food source.
Under pressure from
the ongoing economic crisis, loggers are
turning to the more lucrative Korean cedar
pine (Pinus korajensis) as commodity prices
for other types of wood fall, which in turn
has led to large-scale illegal logging operations
in the Ussuriiskaya taiga in Primorye, according
to WWF-Russia.
“Chinese importers of
the Far Eastern wood have sharply dropped
prices and demand for oak and ash wood as
an answer to the world crisis,” said Denis
Smirnov, head of the forest program at WWF-Russia’s
Amur branch. “These species were the most
desired ones for poachers before, but the
demand was reduced after export customs
duties for these species of timber had been
increased from Feb. 1.”
“At the same time, Korean
pine wood is still highly demanded both
in domestic and international markets and
is sold at rather high prices,” Smirnov
said.
Russia’s Far East Korean
cedar pine forests were heavily logged during
the second half of the 20th century, particularly
in the late 11000s, which resulted in a
50 percent reduction and left only around
2.88 million hectares of the forests today.
Although P. koraiensis
is not nationally protected in Russia, its
logging is either prohibited or regulated
in certain provinces of Russia and China.
However, loggers typically exploit loopholes
in regional regulations to launder illegally
logged wood, often taking advantage of lax
customs controls or by under-declaring the
volume of legal exports.
“This rampant and mindless
logging is shocking and disturbs the habitat
and prey base of some of the rarest animals
in the world including the Amur tiger and
Amur leopard,” said Dr. Susan Lieberman,
Director of the Species Programme for WWF-International.
In the Amur region,
tiger conservation hinges on protecting
the Korean cedar pine. Pine nuts from the
tree represent an integral food source for
the Amur tiger’s prey, such as wild boars.
Korean pine-broadleaved forests also provide
habitats for the Far Eastern leopard, Asiatic
and brown bears, sika deers and many other
species. These pine nuts are also sold internationally,
benefiting local communities as well.
Awareness of the recently
increased demand for Korean cedar pine surfaced
after WWF staff, with members of Russia’s
Internal Affairs Department, the Primorskii
Province Forestry Department and Rosselkhoznadzor
-- the Federal Service of Veterinary and
Phyto-Sanitary Supervision – raided a wood
exporter platform in January in the city
of Dalnerechensk.
They found about 10
to 15,000 cubic meters of Korean cedar pine
originating from illegal logging sites in
Dalnerechenskii, Krasnoarmeiskii and Lesozavodskii
districts in central and northern Primorye.
Two largest of logging
sites, with total volume exceeding 3,000
cubic meters, were found close to the village
of Malinovo in an area leased by one of
the biggest logging companies in Primorye
– JSC “Dalnerechenskles,” which is part
of the “Dallesprom” group.
Before enforcement of
a new Russian Forest Code in 2007, Korean
pine held a special status as a species
protected from commercial use, which contributed
to its conservation. Korean pine has now
lost its protective status and increased
demand for Korean pine timber along with
the complete inaction of regulators and
forest control services to address the need
for a new special status for the Korean
pine have made it an easy target for illegal
logging.
The only way to stop
the complete destruction of the Far Eastern
Korean pine forests is to impose a moratorium
on its harvesting, according to WWF. The
conservation organization asks that provincial
and federal authorities come up with a proposal
to urgently add Korean pine into the list
of species forbidden to harvest, and to
inform importing countries accordingly.
The Amur tiger, which
can weigh up to 300 kg and measure around
three metres from its nose to the tip of
its tail, has come back from the brink of
extinction to its highest population for
at least 100 years. Only about 40 were alive
in 1950 but nowadays there are around 450,
one of the strongest tiger populations in
the world.
+ More
Europe’s new buildings
get welcome push to produce as much energy
as they use
23 Apr 2009 - Brussels,
Belgium – WWF has welcomed a European Parliament
vote today that proposes a 2019 deadline
for all new houses, offices and shops built
in the European Union to produce the same
amount of energy they consume. The deadline
will be 2016 for all new public buildings.
“We commend the vision
of the legislators in making zero net energy
buildings the cornerstone of the revised
directive,” said Arianna Vitali Roscini,
WWF’s Policy Officer for energy conservation
in buildings.
“Technically and economically
there is nothing standing in the way of
an earlier deadline for all new constructions,
which could help the EU achieve the 2020
emissions reduction targets.”
The vote, revising a
law aiming at improving energy performance
in buildings, needs to be confirmed by the
Council of the Ministers later this year.
“There is huge potential
for buildings to consume less energy and
produce renewable energy on site” Vitali
Roscini said.
“Promotion of energy
efficiency is a winning strategy for Europe.
It improves energy security, reduces greenhouse
gas emissions, encourages technology development
and creates new jobs. This is a structural
change within reach, it is up to political
will to make it happen.”
WWF is also satisfied
that energy efficiency standards will apply
to all major renovations, not only to those
of surfaces above 1,000 square meters, as
it was in the previous law. This is particularly
relevant because existing constructions
represent the majority of the European building
stock (approximately 25% of residential
buildings in Europe were built before 1945).
In Europe buildings
use 40 per cent of energy and are linked
to 36 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.
Much of that energy and CO2 can be saved
with better insulation, improved heating
and cooling systems, double glazing, efficient
lighting and smart meters.
This week WWF has organised
an exhibition at the European Parliament
in Strasbourg to showcase the new generation
of efficient buildings in France, Germany,
Greece, the Netherlands, Romania and the
United Kingdom.
Note to the editors:
• The WWF exhibition, taking place from
21st to 24th April in LOW building1st floor,
European Parliament in Strasbourg, is sponsored
by MEP Silvia-Adriana Ticau. It features
six super-efficient buildings:
WWF offices in Zeist, the Netherlands
Promitheus residential building in Athens,
Greece
Star Dome One project in Rucar, Romania
ruralZed residential project in Grande Synthe,
France
Kingspan Lighthouse in Garston, England,
UK
Arthur Woll Haus, university building in
Siegen, Germany.
For further information:
(In Strasbourg) Arianna Vitali Roscini,
WWF’s Policy Officer for energy conservation
in buildings
(In Brussels) Claudia Delpero, Communications
Manager at WWF European Policy Office
