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30 March 2006

A dolphin and the definition of illegal logging

Dolphin
Dolphin off the bow
© Greenpeace/Cooke

Posted by Sophie, blogger on the Warrior

We are sailing through the beautiful area of Raja Ampati - characterised by small forested islands, coral reefs, lagoons and deep blues seas. The warm sweet smell of the forest wafts over on the breeze, together with the screeches and melodic calls of birds. The locals on board tell us there are two kinds of Birds of Paradise in these parts. In the distance we can see Marabu, dark mighty hardwoods, which are called 'Indonesia's mahogany". It's one of the main species targetted by illegal loggers in this area.

So what exactly is illegal logging? And what's the difference between illegal logging and destructive logging? It's not just when companies go in without permission (called having a concession) to areas and take trees. It's more complex than that.

Illegal logging includes:


  • Obtaining concessions illegally, via corruption and bribery, or without proper consultation to the communities living on those lands

  • Felling protected tree species or from a protected area

  • Taking out trees outside an agreed area like close to water courses

  • Felling trees that are too big, too small or more of them than agreed

  • Illegal processing and export of timber

  • Fraudulent documents or declarations to customs of the amount of timber being exported

Destructive logging is described as:


  • Large-scale logging that destroys the ecosystem of the forest and the homes of communities

  • Logging that occurs without proper consultation with the traditional landowners, so they understand what the loggers are proposing to do with their lands

  • Logging that has destructive impacts on communities, heavy machinery, over harvesting, damage to other trees around not due for felling, and polluting the rivers and streams

And there is a whole lot of both going on around here. Kinda hard to believe how much is already destroyed as we pass beautiful coastlines, covered with forested hills and mountains. But two million hectares of ancient forest a year is destroyed in Indonesia - that's a forest the size of Wales.

To the call of "Dolphin off the bow!" there's an excited scurry from the campaigns team and everyone new to ship life. The crew just watch us, amused. It's beautiful! The rest of the pod are off in the distance, but this one has come to play with the Warrior. We all gather around 'Dave the Dolphin', the carved wooden dolphin taking up the Ttitanic position on the front of the bow, and look down at the clear water below as it ducks and dives under the ship, splashing up to the surface.

   

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Comments

Dear Sophie,
wow, your brief explanation refresh my mind actually about what is going on in this land. so many forests are lost just for the greedy people without think about the future. you and all crews are lucky to pass such beautiful scenery of the Raja Ampat islands. hope you can come to Manokwari again. miss U. send my warm regard to all crews of Rainbow Warrior.

Posted by: maya at April 1, 2006 6:13 AM

hi,
it doesn't look like a dolphin on your picture...
Are you sure of that?

Posted by: anne at April 6, 2006 9:10 AM