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VERONA – Roads in the forest made to pbad the log trucks leaving the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). That's the picture – writes Marta Gatti on Nigrizia – which refers to the recent report published by Global Witness titled " total bankruptcy of the system ". The non-governmental organization, after two years of research, points to a European timber company that illegally exploits 90% of its DRC licenses. The report highlights how Congolese political practice does not punish crimes (as it is affected by widespread corruption) and how European states support logging activities, despite ongoing regulatory violations. The company in question is the Norsudtimber, based in a tax haven: Liechtenstein. It operates in Congo through three subsidiaries and has obtained forest concessions over 40,000 square kilometers. In 2017 alone, it managed nearly 60% of the international timber market in the African country.
Violations and Wrongdoing. Global Witness defines the company in question as "secret", given the difficulty of tracing the true owners and the complex structure that connects it to other companies registered in Hong Kong and Dubai. The report identifies numerous illegalities committed by the company. According to the badysis, many concessions would not have presented the twenty-five-year management plan of activities in the terms established by law. Through satellite badysis, Global Witness has also been able to document illegal logging activities outside the annual scope. To these violations also adds the cutting of trees considered as threatened or vulnerable species. These are violations that Congolese law punishes with the cancellation of the contract, but none of this has happened. The allegations of illegal activity were described as unfounded by Norsudtimber's subsidiaries, consulted by Global Witness, who announced the imminent delivery of documents relating to the accuracy of their operations.
Lack of control. Global Witness highlights the failure of all parties responsible for monitoring the operations of the company. First and foremost the Congolese State which has not sanctioned or sanctioned the illegalities committed. The government would also seek to expand concessions for logging and endanger forests by granting extractive concessions, degrading areas of natural parks such as Virunga. To these elements also adds the limited ability to monitor a huge territory with few human resources available. The role of bankruptcy of the state is complemented by donor countries, including Norway, France, Germany and the United Kingdom participating in the Central African Forest Initiative, a cooperative partnership between Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea. and Gabon. The coalition supported by the European Union aims to preserve the value of the forest, mitigate climate change and contribute to sustainable development. The report highlights the lack of contrast between forest societies in donor countries, despite the continuing denunciation of violations
Political Hypocrisy . The NGO highlights the general failure of forest sustainability policies in the Congo River Basin. The French Development Agency is listed as one of the leading promoters of the expansion of industrial timber cutting in the ground floor. In March 2017, France proposed an $ 18 million project for a new forest policy that, according to Global Witness, could lead to the enlargement of the cutting area, up to three times the current area. . The report also shows the failure of compensatory work for local communities. Access to health and education has not improved and the economic impact has been minimal.
The role of importing countries. Norsudtimber timber importing countries have failed in control mechanisms: lack of laws or inefficient enforcement. Between 2013 and 2017, the biggest importers of timber cut in the Norsudtimber Rdc were China and Vietnam. 11% were directed in Europe, particularly in Portugal and France. We must not forget the impact of cutting trees on wildlife, the environment and the climate. According to the estimates reported in the report, between 2013 and 2014, the degradation and loss of forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo would have resulted in carbon emissions equal to those of 50 coal plants operating for a whole year.
* Marta Gatti, written for Nigrizia
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