Sold down the river - Salva le Foreste

6SOLD DOWN THE RIVERLocalcommunities seejust a tinyfraction, if any, ofthe moneygenerated by theinternationaltrade in timber…On the otherhand, the arrivalof large-scaleforestry operationsdisrupts theexisting locallivelihood baseand access toforest resources.brings long-term benefits equitably to all local people, whilst safeguarding the ecologicalimportance of the forests, are rarely considered. At worst, such opportunities are lostaltogether as resources become degraded.Whilst those who promote industrial forestry as the best development option for CentralAfrica’s forests highlight the direct benefits of employment provision and infrastructuredevelopment such as schools, clinics and churches, evidence from the ground presents acomplex and far from positive picture of the impact of such operations on local developmentand livelihoods.Part of the rationale for promoting industrial timber production is that the sectorcontributes to poverty alleviation in the region. This rationale needs to be challenged. A 1991Oxfam report concluded that opening up Africa’s forests to exploitation would “cause anincrease in poverty rather than its resolution”, whilst a 1990 report for the EuropeanCommunity stated that “forestry development and deforestation generally go hand in handwith the redistribution of wealth from the poorest … to a national elite and foreign companies(and) widen the gap between the rich and the poor in tropical countries”. 1 In February 2000, aworkshop organised by the UK government’s Department for International Development(DFID) found that industrial timber production in Cameroon “tends to benefit a smallminority (often foreign investors), and its contribution to poverty alleviation is minimal.” 2The workshop made a series of recommendations which would need to be implemented beforelocal development could be equitably achieved, including greater transparency in the use of theincome generated by forest resources; equity in the redistribution of income; institutionaldecentralisation; and creating favourable conditions for local people to help alleviate povertythemselves. 3Timber is a valuable commodity, fetching high prices on international markets. In 1999, thevalue of timber imported into the EU from the Central African countries featured in this reportwas US$ 609 million. 4 Yet the producing countries struggle to provide even basic services tothe majority of their populations. Although specific social development projects may beoutlined in the logging agreement between the government and companies, these projects areThe Moabi issueBy Catarina CardosoGrowing up to 60 metres tall and 5 metresin diameter, Moabi is one of the largesttrees found in the forests of the CongoBasin. 1 Its timber is exploited in Cameroon,Gabon – where production is rapidlyincreasing - and, to a lesser extent, inEquatorial Guinea and the Republic ofCongo. 2 Moabi is very fragile in terms ofregeneration since it flowers late – not till 50or 70 years of age – and fruit productiononly occurs once every three years. 3Indiscriminate logging thus easily leads toits extinction 4 and in some areas Moabi hasindeed already been logged out. 5 Moabitrees are particularly important to the localpopulations and disputes with loggingcompanies over this species are frequent,especially in Cameroon.For Bantu villagers and Baka Pygmies(particularly the Bantu and Baka women),Moabi is important in economic, culturaland medicinal terms. 6 Moabi fruits areedible and from the bark of the tree theyextract remedies for dental and backproblems. 7 From the fruit seeds theyproduce Karité oil, which is used for bothconsumption and trade. Demand inCameroonian markets for Karité oil is higherthan supply and revenues from sellingmoabi oil represent an important source ofincome. Estimates suggest that oil revenuesfor a 10 year period surpass timberrevenues for a tree of 100 centimetresdiameter, the minimum size trees mustlegally be when logged. 8 The tree’s nontimbervalue is not only recognised by localmarkets but also by the French cosmeticsindustry which has shown an interest in theoil. 9 Moabi is also valuable in internationaltimber markets and demand from SouthernEurope is particularly high. 10 However, inrelative terms Moabi does not appear torepresent a significant component ofcompanies’ revenues and country exports.In Cameroon, Moabi timber represents 10%of companies’ total production and between3.4% and 5% of the total export value oflogs of all species. 11 The main Moabiexporter is Gabon, whose exports haveconsiderably increased in the last threeyears, from 26,052 cubic metres in 1996 to39,724 cubic metres in 1998. 12 Cameroonproduced 33,000 cubic metres in 1997 and35,000 cubic metres in 1998. 13 In EquatorialGuinea production is also on the rise, andestimates suggest that it doubled from1,000 cubic metres in the early 1990s, to2,000 cubic metres in 1999. 14Moabi trees located within 5 kilometresof the village cannot be logged unless thechief of the village agrees to it and in such acase the population must be compensated.In practice, most Moabi trees near villageshave been logged and the local populationhave not always been compensated. 15 Localpopulations in Cameroon have oftendemanded recognition of their rights butwithout success. 16Moabi logging practices are generallyunsustainable and the species maydisappear in a large part of its original areasof distribution in 10 to 20 years. 17 In the Djaforests of Cameroon nearly all valuable treesare logged without companies undertakingany initiative to ensure the regeneration ofspecies. 18 Over-harvesting occurs becausecompanies do not comply with the law aswell as because the law itself is notsufficiently protective of Moabi. Companiesregularly disrespect the legal requirementthat trees of less than 100 centimetresdiameter should not be logged. 19 In July1999, for example, logs of only 65centimetres and 85 centimetres diameterwere found in the French port of Nantes-St.-Nazaire. 20 However, even if only trees of100 centimetres diameter were cut, theregeneration of Moabi would still be atserious risk. 21 Specialists argue that it isnecessary to increase the minimumdiameter of trees logged and to implementmeasures to conserve “mother trees” thatcan ensure regeneration of the species. 22World Bank staff go further, advocating atotal ban on Moabi logging and arguing that“management plans must be devised incollaboration with local people to banlogging of similar [to moabi] trees”. 23