Sold down the river - Salva le Foreste

REGIONAL OVERVIEW 11Little has been done by consuming countries to address the issues of unsustainable levels oftimber production and consumption, the trade in illegally felled logs and the smuggling oftimber. Any contribution that independent certification could make to tackling these problemswill be endangered if non-financial barriers to trade are reduced or prohibited under WorldTrade Organization non-tariff measures (NTMs) rules. Such NTMs might include ecolabellingand forest certification schemes, import and export quotas, log export bans,requirements for recycling, and subsidies. 25 Prohibition of potentially beneficial measureswould damage the prospects for the implementation of sustainable timber production,environmental integrity and poverty alleviation.CompaniesEuropean companies directly or indirectly control most of the forests in Central Africa fortimber exploitation, as concession holders and/or as sub-contractors (see maps pp. 34-39). Thecompanies who undertake logging are often the main point of contact between local peopleand the outside world. They operate almost as a surrogate state in many remote places, andare looked upon as the main provider of basic services. However, this dependence on therelative benevolence of a handful of foreign-owned private companies is not a basis uponwhich sustainable development can be assured. The company profiles in Part III of this reportindicate marked differences in European companies’ standards of operations, even by the samecompanies in different countries. The best claim to operate within the laws of each country,practise technically proficient harvesting, have committed to drawing up sustainable forestmanagement plans and provide social infrastructure for workers. The worst are involved inillegal felling of timber and/or provide no discernible benefits to workers, other than poorlypaid and insecure employment. Even the best, however, have some considerable way to gobefore their operations can be said to contribute to equitable long-term sustainabledevelopment for all local people that respects their rights and needs and ensures the integrityof forest ecosystems for future generations.Little has beendone byconsumingcountries toaddress the issuesof unsustainablelevels of timberproduction andconsumption, thetrade in illegallyfelled logs and thesmuggling oftimber.Table 1: EU-based forestrycompanies with loggingoperations in Central AfricaEU Parent Company Central African Country/ies of Operation Logging Subsidiaries in Country of Operation Concessions (ha)Alpi Italy 12 Cameroon Alpicam 128,449Grumcan 85,812Basso Italy 12 Gabon BTIG 450,000Bolloré France 123 Cameroon Forestière de Campo (HFC) 162,790SIBAF 134,765Bruynzeel The Netherlands 12 Congo (Brazzaville) Boplac (43.5%) 500,000Danzer Germany 124 Democratic Republic of Congo Siforco 2,900,000Congo (Brazzaville) UFA Est/SCBO 1,300,000DLH Nordisk Denmark 1234 Congo (Brazzaville) Boplac (43.5%) 500,000Feldmeyer Germany 124 Congo (Brazzaville) CIB 1,150,000Interwood France 12 Cameroon Coron 136,760Interwood Camerounnot knownGabon SHM 300,000 (estimate)Pasquet France 12 Cameroon R. Pallisco -Rougier France 124 Cameroon Cambois 145,176SFID 68,292Congo (Brazzaville) Mokabi 370,000Gabon Rougier Gabon 700,000SAFI Spain 12 Equatorial Guinea 30,000Sonae Portugal 12 Gabon Leroy Gabon 654,000Thanry France 12 Cameroon CFC 215,000J Prenant 54,457Propalm 125,490SAB 60,838SEBC 223,130Central African Republic Thanry Centrafrique 228,000Sofokad 131,200Gabon CEB 505,000EFG 100,000Vasto Legno Italy 12 Cameroon SEBAC 88,796SEFAC 62,597Wijma The Netherlands 12 Cameroon Wijma (Douala) -SARLWonnemann Germany 12 Congo (Brazzaville) SOCOBOIS Not knownTOTAL 11,010,552Key 1 Logging (including as subcontractor) 2 Processing 3 Transport 4 Trade in timber