FYI; sorry about any cross-posts.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
A C T I O N A L E R T !
THE FOLLOWING ALERT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION:
NEW DANGER TO RAINFORESTS AND MAYAN PEOPLE OF BELIZE!
THE BELIZE GOVERNMENT IS ALLOWING THE DESTRUCTION OF TRADITIONAL
MAYAN HOMELANDS AND THREATENING THE CULTURAL SURVIVAL OF MAYAN PEOPLE
IN BELIZE BY CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE LICENSE OF A MALAYSIAN COMPANY
INDISCRIMINATELY LOGGING IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER FOREST RESERVE.
In Belize, descendants of the original Maya live in villages around
the Columbia River Forest Reserve in the remote Toledo District. The
Mayan people are treated as the lowest class of citizens in Belize
and are among the poorest people in Central America. Earning an
average daily wage of US $9/day, they are dependent on the forest for
their basic needs.
Without notifying the Mayan people, the Belize government gave a
Malaysian logging company, Atlantic Industries, a concession to
selectively log mahogany in 200,000 acres of the Columbia River
Forest Reserve for a reported 60 cents US per acre! Logging began in
September 1995. Although a weak management plan was established,
Atlantic Industries immediately began violating important provisions
of this plan.
ATLANTIC INDUSTRIES' BLATANT VIOLATIONS INCLUDE:
** Cutting prohibited species and untagged trees in prohibited
areas.
** Bulldozing to create roads in prohibited areas.
** Failing to obtain local community support for the management plan.
** Cutting during the rainy season, thus accelerating environmental
damage.
** Constructing a new sawmill without a legally required
environmental impact statement. This mill has greatly increased
the volume and intensity of logging in this region.
INDISCRIMINATE LOGGING OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER FOREST RESERVE WILL
SEVERELY HURT THE MAYAN PEOPLE.
In a recent Statement of Resolutions And Recommendations presented to
the Prime Minister of Belize, Mayan leaders voiced their concerns.
The following (in quotations) are excerpts from this statement.
"WE REPRESENT THE VOICE OF A VOICELESS PEOPLE. [We] the Mayan people
are the original inhabitants of this territory that is currently
controlled by the State [and currently being destroyed by
indiscriminate logging operations allowed by the State]. This
territory is the place where we find our origin, being, philosophy,
science, and the roots of our languages. --- We have agreed to claim
the land that we inhabit legally and that the 1992 Lands Act be
amended to serve this purpose."
"We are opposed to logging even a fraction of the Columbia River
Forest Reserve and all Indian Lands at this point in time for the
following reasons:"
"ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE
- We have nothing to gain...from this venture.
- We are manipulated by a few real beneficiaries of the timber
activities -- those who use us as a cheap labor force.
- Our position is: no logging until the Maya people are trained to
manage logging operations."
"TRADITIONAL PERSPECTIVE
- We [are] custodians of the forests; if any logging is to be done
by us, we cherish the area and are sensitive to it because we depend
on...forest products and medicinal herbs.
- We use this area for [sustainable] hunting and fishing. This [is
where] our rivers and streams find their origins.
- We regard as sacred the rivers, wildlife, birds, mountains, caves
and Mayan ruins in the Columbia River Forest Reserve."
"ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE
- This reserve is a critical watershed that reaps and recycles the
heavy rainfall so important to the productivity of agricultural lands
in [the] Toledo [district].
- The rainforest is the eeEarth's lungsAE.
- Scientists from Conservation International, Missouri Botanical
Garden, and the Belize Center for Environmental Studies reiterated:
"We can say without hesitation that the evergreen forests of this
area... are of great national and international importance as a
reservoir of biological diversity...the most species-rich plant and
animal communities occur in the Columbia River Forest Reserve."
* Indiscriminate logging of this area could alter rainfall patterns
resulting in a lowered water table which would create severe
hardship for Mayan communities dependent on their rivers for
washing, bathing, and transportation.
* Wildlife near Mayan communities will be greatly reduced.
* Future opportunities for ecotourism will be eliminated.
* Logging opens the door for further exploitation of Mayan lands.
"RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BELIZE" as outlined by the
Mayan people living in and around the Columbia River Forest Reserve.
"1. We would like the Mayan people to become the true beneficiaries
of logging operations or business activity related to forest products
[i.e. chicle or ecotourism].
2. We ask the government to find resources to...train Mayan people
in [sustainable methods of] forest management, sawmilling,
engineering, tour guiding, road building, and all areas relevant to
this topic.
3. A development corporation should be set up to assist business-
minded Mayans [and others living in this region].
4. For any [logging] concession to be given, [the local] people
must be involved in the decision-making process.
5. We ask that we be given legal jurisdiction over all
[traditional] Indian Lands. We would log sustainably, not as
foreigners do."
IN SPITE OF CALLS FROM THE MAYAN PEOPLE AND THE BELIZE AUDUBON
SOCIETY, THE BELIZE GOVERNMENT HAS TURNED A BLIND EYE. NOT ONLY HAVE
THEY REFUSED TO CANCEL ATLANTIC INDUSTRIES' LICENSE, BUT IN JUNE OF
1996, THEY GRANTED ANOTHER CONCESSION TO A BRANCH OF ATLANTIC
INDUSTRIES. THIS TIME THE LICENSE OPENLY PERMITS UNSUPERVISED
CUTTING! IN ADDITION, IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THE BELIZE
GOVERNMENT GRANTED TEN MORE LOGGING CONCESSIONS ON MAYAN LAND IN THE
TOLEDO DISTRICT!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Belize government needs to know that people outside of the
country are aware of what's going on!
The government needs to hear from you! Write to:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rt. Honorable Manuel Esquivel
Prime Minister of Belize
Prime Minister's Office
Belmopan, Belize
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear President Esquivel,
I was encouraged to hear that the Government of Belize is about to
begin an open dialogue with the Mayan people regarding logging of
their land and recognition of Mayan land rights. The idea of allowing
the Mayan people to manage logging on the Columbia River Forest
Reserve is brilliant. As they have deep cultural respect for the
rainforest, it follows that the Mayan people will best manage the
land.
As Atlantic Industries has repeatedly violated your government
sanctioned management plan and taken advantage of Belize's natural
resources, I will be gratified to hear when their contract is
canceled. With continued progress in this area, I am certain that a
great many people throughout the world, like myself, will again
consider Belize as a desirable travel destination.
Thank you for planning a more sustainable and equitable future for
the people of Belize.
Sincerely,
Name
Also Write To:
Honorable Minister Dito Juan
Ministry Of Natural Resources
Prime Minister's Office
Belmopan, Belize
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Julian Cho, Chairman Santiago Coh, Chairman
Toledo Maya Cultural Council Toledo Alcades Association
Box 104 Silver Creek
Punta Gorda Town Belize, Central America
Belize, Central America 011-501-72-22199 fax
011-501-72-2102 work (messages)
011-501-72-2199 fax
Shaun Paul, Program Director Deborah Schaaf
EcoLogic Development Fund Staff Attorney
PO Box 3405 Indian Law Resource Center
Cambridge, MA 02238-3405 USA 602 N. Ewing Street
(617) 441-6300 Helena, Montana 59601 USA
(617) 441-6307 fax (406) 449-2006
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (406) 449-2031 fax
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
####################################################################
This alert was provided by the ECOLOGIC DEVELOPMENT FUND
([EMAIL PROTECTED]), P.O. Box 3405, Cambridge, MA 02238-3405 USA
EcoLogic is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the
destruction of biodiverse tropical ecosystems by advancing economic
development and self-determination among local communities in
threatened habitats.
####################################################################
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Stefanie S. Rixecker
Department of Resource Management
Lincoln University, Canterbury
Aotearoa New Zealand
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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