This is what is Happening to The Tropical Rainforests

Tropical rainforests are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth. Supporting between 50 and 90% of the Earth's species of animals and plants, these systems are paramount to the ongoing functioning of the planet. Thousands of indigenous tribes live in rainforests (some of which have never been contacted by "Western" culture) and depend directly on these forests for their physical, spiritual and cultural survival.

Some rainforests have existed continuously for 65 million years. Now, through human action, they are doomed within *35 years*. The Earth loses one to one-and-a-half acres of tropical rainforest every second. Due mostly to this loss of forest habitat, global extinction rates are estimated by numerous scientists, such as author and scientist, Dr. E.O. Wilson of Harvard University, at between *50 and 300 species a day*.

Logging has been identified by World Wildlife Fund and World Resources Institute as the single greatest factor in the loss of Earth's forest ecosystems. In Southeast Asia, logging is the greatest direct cause of tropical deforestation.

The problem of unsustainable and illegal logging is especially acute in tropical areas due to pressures on the areas from shifting cultivators. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the majority of tropical forest loss due to shifting cultivation is precipitated by the roads and skid trails pushed into formerly inaccessible areas by loggers. A logged tropical forest is *8 times more likely to be completely deforested* than one remaining unlogged.

The Brazilian Environment Agency, IBAMA, is responsible for overseeing logging and issuing permits. Even IBAMA recently admitted that the vast majority (around 80%) of mahogany logging in the Brazilian Amazon is *outside the bounds of their control* (that is, it is illegal, as loggers invade indigenous lands and parks to get at remaining stands of mahogany). Somehow, the logs and wood from these illegal operations are exported with valid (but obviously illegally obtained) IBAMA documentation. According to one report, bribery is systemic and common.

Much of the logging of other species has also been identified as illegal. Ipe' and virola are two valuable species which are being cut by illegal crews along with mahogany. Ipe' is used extensively in New York City and elsewhere in the U.S. for decks, marinas, boardwalks and benches.

In Burma, the army uses forced labor, torture and beatings to extract logs and timber from village areas, much of which is then smuggled or illegally exported into neighboring Thailand, China and India, where it is processed into products such as furniture. Much of the resulting products end up in the U.S. as bookshelves, stereo cabinets, flooring and yacht and boat decks.

In Malaysia, for five years the indigenous Penan blockaded a logging road being built by Japanese loggers, enduring beatings, threats, imprisonment and exile.

In the Philippines, villagers are harassed and threatened by legal and illegal loggers and those that stand in the way of logging have been targeted for assassination.

In Africa, logging crews often transport illegally killed or captured wildlife to local and regional markets, thus exacerbating the already horrendous direct damage done by the logging itself. Logging has also led to territorial wars among some local populations of chimpanzees, leading to population losses of up to 80%. Some of the wood from these logging operations ends up here for use as railway crossties and truck body decks. Demand in the U.S. for tropical hardwoods is at an all-time high and is continuing to rise, fueling new and increasing incursions into formerly pristine areas of tropical forests. Increasing imports of hardwoods has been identified by the U.S. Forest Service as one way of meeting escalating demand for forest products in the U.S. in the future. This would have disastrous results and lead to further destruction of tropical forests, losses of biodiversity (extinctions) and conflicts between indigenous forest dwellers and loggers.

Clearly, demand must be reduced if tropical logging is ever to be sustainable. Reduction in demand can be achieved through public awareness, municipal selective purchasing legislation and use of alternative materials.

New York City Councilman Gifford Miller has introduced legislation into City Council that would bar the City from using tropical hardwoods unless they are certified as ecologically sound by independent certifiers. This is a major step in reducing demand for tropical hardwoods, since NYC is one of the nation's largest users.