TAKE ACTION: The PNG government continues to approve rainforest destruction and diminishment even as they vocally seek to be paid with carbon market funds for their "protection". The oil palm biofuel industry -- the scourge of Asia and the world's rainforests -- is continuing to expand into Papua New Guinea (PNG). Malaysian company Vitroplant has been granted necessary permits by the PNG government to begin clearing 70% of the rainforests on biodiversity rich Woodlark Island, some 60,000 hectares, in order to establish a massive plantation of oil palm trees.

Expansion of oil palm plantations at the expense of primary rainforests runs contrary to PNG's government public support for preserving rainforests for climate and other benefits. An oil palm plantation on Woodlark Island will endanger the island’s flora and fauna, cause environmental upheaval, and result in drastic cultural change. The islanders of Woodlark have worked hard to draw international attention to this issue, and have issued an appeal for the support of international NGOs and citizens to pressure the government to withdraw the project. TAKE ACTION

Posted by Dr. Glen Barry at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Reacting to increasing Amazonian deforestation in recent months, Brazil has banned the sale of farm products from illegally deforested ares in the Amazon [ark | more\ark]. It should be noted deforestation rates [search] do not include rainforest diminishment caused by industrial first time logging and other activities that may leave some trees, but effectively destroy ancient rainforest ecosystems and release much of their carbon.

Policies announced included imposing fines for buying or trading illegally produced beef and soy, sending in seven hundred more troops, and establishing a land registry. The Brazilian government has recently been trumpeting 50% reductions in deforestation over the past two years. However, these decreases appear to have been more a result of declines in agricultural markets than any fundamental reduction in deforestation, and as markets recover deforestation and climate change soars.

Posted by Dr. Glen Barry at 7:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

It is widely reported that Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has revived a controversial plan to destroy a quarter of Mabira rainforest [ark | more2\ark2 | search] which is a protected area for a sugarcane plantation to produce biofuels. In the face of massive domestic protests and supportive international action by Ecological Internet, two times last year the government had announced the project was dead. The situation illustrates my long held contention that no rainforests are ever truly saved, they are just granted a temporary reprieve, until the next threat comes along and they need to be protected again.

Clearing rainforest to produce biofuel for their alleged climate benefits [search] is the ultimate demonstration of humanity's death wish. Mr. Museveni has shown himself to be a devious strongman, without honor or conscious. After sending millions of emails protesting his rainforest for biofuels policy, sadly our arsenal may be spent. EI has been blocked from sending protest emails to virtually all parties after repeated volleys. It is up to local citizens to again take to the streets if the project is to be stopped.

Posted by Dr. Glen Barry at 7:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)