Tong Tana December 1999 - Bruno Manser Fonds

Switzerland
Rubber tree plantations
jk – In large Swiss wholesale stores one can find cheap
products such as kitchen boards, curtain poles and
more often also furniture made of rubber tree wood
(Hevea). The following words are often written on the
products, “Our contribution to the environment: this
wood is from plantations.” Information as to species
and origin is usually missing. Even environmental
organizations found it sensible to use the wood when
the tree stopped producing latex and no primary forest
had to be cleared. The Malaysian umbrella organization
of the timber industry MTC noticed the same thing.
Enthusiastically it reported on new developments with
genetically modified rubber trees which are not being
planted for their rubber anymore but only for timber
production. “Because the wood of the rubber tree is
accepted internationally,” as Datuk Ismail Awang of
the MTC stated. The BMF’s opinion is: ask for native
Maplewood with your next purchase – the best for your
household!
Source: The Star, October 13, 1999
In praise!
imagination. Where it was technically feasible, concrete
was replaced by wood throughout the entire superstructure.
Raw worked silver fir trunks serve as pillars.
Instead of exporting downgraded stifled
beechwood to Italy, it is made into massive wooden tables
here in Switzerland, which possess a unique
charm especially through their attractive colouring.
Many thanks to the three united associations of the
trades of Basel and the forestry school in Lyss for the
invitation and the tour.
Community campaign
db – We congratulate the following communities on
their decisions to renounce the use of wood from
the exploited virgin forests in public buildings: Würenlos/AG,
Rüte/AI, Schlatt-Haslen/AI, Wenslingen/BL,
Malans/GR, Utzwil/SG, Ramsen/SH, Stein am Rhein/
SH, Nunnigen/SO and Lucens/VD. In the meantime
260 communities with a total population of 2,7 million
and 5 cantons have made this decision. We are especially
happy that all parts of the Canton of Appenzell
Innerrhoden renounce the use of wood from exploited
virgin forests in public buildings. We are looking forwards
for the corresponding decision from the cantonal
government!
Increased use of native wood
bm – The Intercantonal Forestry School in Lyss proves
with its new building, finished in 1997, that wood possesses
unbeatable qualities if used with expertise and
Ban on use of timber from non
sustainable production permitted
according to international law.
bm – Public administrations can give preference to native
wood and desist from using wood from virgin
forests. They can request a serious proof of sustainable
production. The study thus refutes the reasons
stated by the Federal Ministry of Transportation (Bundesverkehrsministerium)
in Germany in 1997 which
suspended the 1989 ban on using tropical wood in the
construction of federal roads by decree; the reason
stated it would violate the International Tropical Timber
Agreement (ITTA, 1997). The legal report by Dr. Harald
Ginzky can be ordered directly from:
ROBIN WOOD, Postfach 10 21 22, D-28021 Bremen,
email: robin_wood@umwelt.ecolink.org
Halberds against tanks
bm – “If we compare the careful sustainable management
of Swiss forests with the industrial clearcutting
practices in Canada, it becomes obvious that we stand
no chance on the market; with our production costs,
it’s like fighting tanks with halberds.”
Remark of a Swiss forest owner, heard by a silent listener
in the train. It seems that forestry is in a global
state of war. The BMF’s suggestion for peace: local
supply.
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Forestry-school, Lyss