Subject: BIOD: Suriname Rainforest Update *********************************************** WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS Suriname Rainforest Update *********************************************** Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises http://forests.org/ic.net/~blazingta.htmlm 11/15/97 OVERVIEW, SOURCE & COMMENTARY by EE The World Rainforest Movement provides a detailed account of recent developments in the Suriname's rainforest conservation movement. The note the further intensification of forest harvest, providing many details of recent developments. g.b. ******************************* RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE: Title: Suriname Information Update Source: Forest Peoples Programme, World Rainforest Movement Status: Distribute freely with accreditation given to source Date: November 5, 1997 /** rainfor.genera: 57.1 **/ ** Written 4:42 PM Nov 5, 1997 by gn:wrm in cdp:rainfor.genera ** FOREST PEOPLES PROGRAMME Suriname Information Update 1 November 1997 On October 7, Errol Alibux, Suriname's Minister of Natural Resources and the Dutch Ambassador to Suriname signed a contract worth US$30 million for the Forestry Production Control Project. This project, supported by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, is intended to monitor logging activities by using mobile inspection units. This is one component of a larger project that will support reconstruction of the Forest Service's infrastructure that was destroyed in the Civil War (1986-92) and the establishment of a Timber Institute to control logging and promote investment in the Forestry Sector. Alibux also stated that protected areas would be increased from 5% of Suriname's total area to 10%. The Global Environmental Facility has just completed a preliminary assessment to identify additional areas for protection. Both control over logging and increased protection of biodiversity were said to be part of Suriname's quest for sustainable development and larger responsibility to the World. They were also essential, he concluded, as Suriname intends to intensify logging activities in the near future. Alibux didn't say, however, that logging concessions have already been granted and operations have already begun therein. Berjaya Bhd., a notorious Malaysian logging company was granted an exploratory concession in August of this year. Berjaya has been working illegally in Suriname for the past year and a half through a front company called Suriname American Wood Industries. Government officials were well aware of this. An exploratory concession gives Berjaya the right to conduct an inventory of commercial timber and to develop a management plan within two years. Subject to approval of the management plan, it can then begin cutting. Berjaya has already started constructing roads inside its concession and (unverified) reports have surfaced that it is already cutting timber. This concession is directly adjacent to the Bronsberg Nature Reserve. Reports (unverified) have also been made that Berjaya is cutting inside the Nature Reserve. At least two other large concessions have also been granted. One of these is on the South-east point of the Van Blomenstein reservoir. This is way beyond the bounds of the existing forestry belt. To whom it has been granted is unknown. A joint Surinamese-Chinese company, operating under the name of NV Tacoba obtained a concession in October 1996. This concession covers a large area beginning near the Bronsberg Nature Reserve and South to within 3 kilometres of the Maroon community of Pokigron. Representatives of Tacoba, described in the press as "English-speaking Chinese," were recently in the Maroon communities of Guyaba and Nieuw Aurora. They said that they were about to commence logging operations in the area. When the communities objected, stating that approval had not been obtained from the village councils, the Tacoba representatives said that they did not need to do so as they had made a deal with the Saramacca Maroon Granman (paramount leader), Songo Aboikoni, to work in his concession. This 127,000 hectare concession was obtained under the name of Sorejo Mining NV, although it is unclear whether it has officially been granted yet. Guyaba and Nieuw Aurora, and the other communities in the concession are outraged. They say that the Granman has no right to give Maroon land to loggers as the land belongs to the clans that make up Saramaccan society, not to the Granman. They intend to hold a krutu (gathering) of all the affected villages soon to make their objections know to the government and the Granman. In particular, they will demand that the government withdraw the concession, remove Tacoba and legally recognise their rights to their lands and resources. Tacoba meanwhile has started to construct roads into the concession. Indonesian company Barito Pacific Timber Group was recently in Suriname to investigate the possibility of investing in oil palm production. The meeting was attended by the Indonesian Ambassador to Suriname and the Surinamese Ambassador to Indonesia. Barito is Indonesia's largest plywood producer with close ties to the Indonesian government. It has not ruled out the possibility that it also interested in logging in Suriname. Indeed, it was looking into the possibility of buying into Brunzeel, the Surinamese parastatal timber company. According to company documents, it needs to secure additional log supplies to maintain its plywood production operations at optimal levels. Surinamese President Wijdenbosch flew to Indonesia on the 11th of October. Rumors have it that a deal will be signed with Barito while he is there. Stating that Suriname is moving away from traditional donors and investors in favour of regional (Brazil in particular) and Asian partners, the President said that he will also discuss Indonesian investment in logging, mining and the energy sector. "Energy sector" means the Kabelebo dam project that will submerge a large area of pristine rainforest to provide power for, among others, bauxite and gold mining and logging in West Suriname. Given the controversy and intense international pressure inspired by Suriname's plan to hand out 3-5 million hectares of rainforest to Berjaya, MUSA and Suri-Atlantic in 1995, it is understandable that the government is being very cautious about granting logging concessions. Increasing protected areas, provided Indigenous and Maroon rights are recognized and respected, and increasing the capacity of the Forest Service appear to be positive measures. Serious questions must be raised however, about the sincerity of the government and other issues must also be addressed. For instance, Indonesian company, MUSA, is still operating with impunity throughout the interior. Its operations jump around from place to place with no regard for the bounds of its concession. It continues to induce local communities to strip their communal forest areas. This is illegal under Surinamese law. It has also been accused of cutting experimental forest plots used for studying sustainable forestry practices. MUSA's operations are so bad that Skephi, an Indonesian NGO, felt it necessary to inform the Indonesian parliament. MUSA's operations have violated Surinamese laws on multiple counts and it has never been fined, let alone prosecuted despite widespread awareness of these abuses. It is assumed that MUSA is being protected by former military dictator, Desi Bouterse, himself active as a third party timber buyer. Also, the government must reform timber royalties and export duties. These rates are ridiculously low. In fact they have barely changed from rates applicable in 1947. Regulations raising the rates have been drafted and approved but have never been published. A law cannot be implemented until it is published. In recent years, government revenue from logging has been as little as US$500.00. When expenses related to the Forestry Service and the Ministry of Natural Resources are added up, the government actually loses money on logging. Undoubtedly, the low rates have been maintained due to the influence of powerful local elites, like Bouterse. If royalties and duties are not reformed, government assertions that logging is needed for revenue generation must be considered as dishonest. Last, but by no means least, Indigenous and Maroon rights to land and resources are still not legally recognized in Surinamese law. The government continues to give out vast tracks of their ancestral lands to logging and mining companies without their consent or knowledge. Failure to recognize and respect these rights violates international human rights standards voluntarily accepted by Suriname and threatens peace and stability in the interior. Indigenous peoples and Maroons have stated as recently as one year ago that they will fight to defend their lands against miners and loggers. Also, recent government statements on protected areas indicate that Indigenous and Maroon rights will be neither recognized nor respected. If Alibux gets his way these areas will be prohibited to humans with the exception of paying ecotourists. For more information, please contact: Forest Peoples Programme 1c, Fosseway Business Centre Stratford Road Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9NQ United Kingdom Tel. 44. 1608. 652. 893. Fax. 44. 1608. 652. 878 Email : wrm@gn.apc.org ###RELAYED TEXT ENDS### This document is for general distribution. All efforts are made to provide accurate, timely pieces; though ultimate responsibility for verifying all information rests with the reader. Check out our Gaia Forest Conservation Archives at URL= http://forests.org/ic.net/~blazingta.htmlm Networked by Ecological Enterprises, grbarry@students.wisc.edu