Published by Russian NGOs Forest Club
and Socio-Ecological Union Informational Coordination Center
N 35 (march 1999)
DIALOG STARTED AT KOLA
March 1, Apatity (Kola) - roundtable on nature conservation problems
related to mining research was held between official Murmansk Committee on
Geology, Murmansk and Kola geological expeditions representatives and NGOs -
Ekonord Environmental Center, Geia, Kola Biodiversity Conservation Center
and SEU Biodiversity Conservation Center.
This meeting was the first positive result of once endless NGO efforts to
start dialog with geologists on nature conservation problems, as it is well
known that for Kola nature mining is much bigger threat than logging.
The highest point of the conflict became one of the Finnish companies,
Outkumpu, attempt to start mining research within the territory known as
Lapland forest, which is a part of Green belt of Fennoscandia. This unique
forest that has preserved its structure and is a habitat of endangered
species was negotiated for conservation between Muemansk and Finnish
governments, and also is a part of logging moratorium.
Letter by NGOs sent to the Murmansk Administration pointed out that
international NGO community action will be taken in order to preserve
Lapland forest. It also contained proposal for a direct dialog during a
meeting gathering all parties interested.
Administration preferred negotiations to warfare. Roundtable resulted into
agreement on information exchange between parties interested. NGO will pass
to Murmangeolkom maps of the most valuable nature territories, while
Murmangeolkon will inform NGOs about mining licensee issue plans for the
coming 2 years.
TRN Russian Trade Project
Taiga Rescue Network activists are working on the largest timber exporters
directory. Thousands of different companies are logging today in Russia, but
RTP participant plan to include around 50 largest exporters and then work
with them directly on oldgrowth conservation problems.
The data will be gathered by the project members in Sweden, Norway, Finland,
Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the Great Britain.
Companies representatives will be asked to fill out the questionnaires
concerning the region of activities, amount of timber logged and if the
company support the moratorium.
However, we should not rely fully on information we receive, as many
companies may not reveal the full information. We already have cases when
company declares moratorium support but keeps on buying timber from the
moratorium areas.
STORA - ENSO and UPM Kummene prolonged the moratorium.
On March 4 in St- Petersburg, Russia, meeting between Russian NGO Forest
Club and STORA - ENSO and UPM Kummene representatives was held. Different
oldgrowth logging moratorium aspects were discussed, new maps of large
undisturbed massifs in Karelia, Murmansk, Vologda, Arkhangelsk regions and
the Komi republic were presented.
After the meeting companies confirmed they commitment to the old-growth
moratorium.
The Italian company "Star-contract" will invest 26 mlns of dollars into
Buryatia forest industry development, according to the ITAR TASS
information. Agreement on the project start was achieved by company heads
and Buryatia president.
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