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When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
John Muir
Naturalist and Writer
Remember, Wood comes from Trees!
I believe that a forest certification scheme like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a powerful tool for encouraging responsible forest management. It also provides an opportunity for individuals, companies and local authorities to play a role in supporting sustainable development.
Mr. Brian Cowen, T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs
A secret investigation has revealed how Chinese plywood – containing two species of endangered tropical hardwood - is being used for the refurbishment of the new Irish Aid Centre at Findlater House in Dublin.
The Irish Government currently has no official policy concerning the procurement of timber used on its own buildings, despite the fact that illegal-logging is causing widespread social, environmental, economic and ecological hardship for millions of people in developing countries. A 6-hour protest fast against the use of this illegally-logged timber by Just Forests, an Irish development education organisation, took place to coincide with the official launch by the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D., on Tuesday 22nd January outside the Centre at Findlater House, O’Connell Street, Dublin. The protest was held to highlight the on-going use of illegally-logged tropical timber in Irish construction and the absence of a Government procurement policy on buying timber.
By using endangered tropical hardwood in the construction of this building the Irish Government is trashing some of the world’s last remaining rainforests. It makes a mockery of its claims to lead on the issue of climate change, as forest destruction is one of the main causes of global warming. The Government needs to introduce a tough new policy on this, or it risks further scandal.
Tom Roche, Just Forests
Plywood samples taken from the site were tested and the results revealed that the species being used in the hoarding included bintangor and nyatoh (pencil cedar). Both these species are found in paradise forests of south East Asia, and often used in the manufacture of Chinese plywood.
An issue which has been highlighted in recent years, as these species are often logged illegally and unsustainably. For instance the vast majority of bintangor comes from Papua New Guinea (PNG) where illegal and destructive logging is rampant. Logging companies in the area have been accused of widespread illegality including human rights abuses. Much of this bintangor is shipped to China where it is used in the manufacturer of cheap throw away plywood-such as the hoarding seen on numerous building sites in Ireland.
In spite of all these issue, The Irish Government has not been able to give any assurances regarding the origin or sustainability of the plywood except that it comes from China. Chinese logging companies are also wrecking havoc in Tanzania’s forests, where illegal logging is rampant.
Tanzania is one of Irish Aid’s priority countries for development assistance. Government and companies can't continue to close their eyes and hope that the plywood and timber they purchase is from, legal and sustainable sources - ignorance is not a defence!
Left photo: Campaigner confronts Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern over the use of illegal timber in the Irish Aid Centre in Dublin. © Just Forests
Right photo: Tom Roche, Just Forests; Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Cowen; Mr. Jack Keyes, at the time Director of Services, Offaly Co Council and Mr. Tom Arnold, Chief Executive, Concern Worldwide at the launch of Just Forests' 'Good Wood Policy Guide' in the offices of the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland (RIAI) © Just Forests
This is not a new issue. As far back as 1990 Just Forests have been highlighting the urgent need for industry to ensure they use only timber and wood-based products from independently-certified forests worldwide. In more recent times (2006) the UK timber federation advised it members not to purchase Chinese plywood containing bintangor. Just Forests calls on the Irish Government to adopt a responsible Timber Procurement Policy that will help combat illegal and unsustainable extraction of timber from the world’s forests.
During his tenure as Minister for Foreign Affairs, our present Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen, launched Just Forests 'Good Wood Policy Guide' in the offices of the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland (RIAI) in Merrion Square,
Dublin 2, on 25th September 2002. The minister stated, “I believe that a forest certification scheme like the
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a powerful tool for encouraging responsible forest management. It also provides an opportunity for individuals, companies and local authorities to play a role in supporting sustainable development.”
Also during the Minister’s tenure as Minister for Energy, Mr. Cowen opened Just Forests’ Wood of Life Exhibition on two occasions.
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