-- Frequently Asked Questions --

Why is the Greenpeace targeting this region when ancient forests are threatened all around the world?

Saving the Paradise Forests of Asia Pacific, which extend across Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, is an important part of our global strategy, but it is only one out of many areas where we are working.

This past year, Greenpeace has sent major expeditions to the ancient forests of North America, the Amazon, and Chile. We have also intercepted shipments of illegal and destructively harvested wood coming into Europe from Africa, and are part of major campaigning efforts to save the ancient forests in Russia and Finland.

The Paradise Forests of Asia Pacific are special though because of the incredible amount of biodiversity here. Unfortunately, the rate of forest destruction in this area is also incredible - ten times that of the Amazon. In fact, the World Bank estimates some of the richest areas of forest in this region could disappear within 3 to 10 years.

Malaysia is hosting the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of the Parties this year in Kuala Lumpur. Because of this, Greenpeace wants to shine a spotlight on the problems in the Asia Pacific and to call on global governments to act, in order to protect the forests and bio-diversity of the world.

Aren't there any laws protecting these forests?

The problem is not the lack of laws, but that they are not being enforced. An estimated 73% of the logging in Indonesia is illegal. The logging in PNG is arguably all illegal due to the corruption and non-enforcement of the national law. Profits from illegal logging help fund political campaigns, pay off police and military officials, and are such a large part of the economy that the timber barons can operate with impunity.

Most people in this region do want to find a way to save the forests, but in the words of Indonesia's Environment Minister, "We must attack from both the supply side and the demand side". That is, the problem cannot be solved without the help of the wood buying countries, especially the EU, Japan, China and the US.

What is really at risk if these ancient forests are lost?

The Paradise Forests of Asia Pacific are home to more than 500 mammal species, 1,600 species of birds and around 30,000 species of higher plants. This includes the orang-utan, Asia's only great ape, which will be extinct in the wild within a generation if we do not act now. It is estimated that around five to seven percent of the Earth's bio-diversity is found in this region.

These forests are also home to millions of people that depend on them for their cultural, spiritual and (economic) physical well being. As the forests are destroyed so are these people's lives and cultures. In New Guinea alone there are more than 1,000 languages - one third of all the languages spoken on earth.

Degradation and loss of forest also leads to increased flooding, landslides, drought, and decline of water quality. Increased forest fires pollute the air with toxic fumes and greenhouse gases, adding to climate instability.

What types of wood are being logged, and what sort of products does it end up as?

Many different tree species are being logged in the Paradise Forests. Some of the most valuable include ramin, teak, merbau and meranti. This wood is used for purposes such as construction and form-work, and to make products such as window blinds, picture frames, futons and furniture.

What are the markets for this timber?

The majority of the timber logged in the Asia-Pacific is transported to regional countries such as China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand. Some quantities of logs and sawn timber make their way to the European and North American markets.

However, a high percentage of the manufactured goods made in these countries also go to Europe and North America.

A lot of these forests are in fairly poor areas; don't the people there need the money from the logging industry?

The simple answer is that once these forests are gone, there won't be jobs for anyone.

Workers are moving from logged out areas of Malaysia into Indonesia and PNG because there is not enough work for them in their home country. Illegal logging has also destroyed many fishing communities. With instant money on offer and the threat of violence to comply with the timber brokers needs, many communities have no choice but to break the law and work as illegal loggers. Illegal logging has also destroyed many fishing communities. When faced with quick money from illegal logging, and the threat of violence if they don't cooperate, many people have little choice except to join the illegal loggers.

Only sustainably managed forests provide long-term employment. Furthermore, because so much (around 73 percent in Indonesia) of this logging is illegal, virtually all of the profit goes in the pockets of the timber barons and corrupt officials.

The actual workers in the forest are very poorly paid. For example, Indonesian workers who cut down Ramin trees and drag them along wooden rails to collection points make only $2.20 (US) per cubic meter of wood. After being processed into moulding, this same wood will fetch about $1,000 per cubic meter when sold retail. In PNG Greenpeace has documented workers who are paid $20USD per fortnight (working seven days per week) to destroy their own forest. They pay for their food from the company store and end up with nothing in their wages. This is a modern equivalent of slave labour.

The destruction of the ancient forests is as much of a human rights issue as an environmental one because of the lawlessness, worker exploitation and displacement of forest dependant communities. Logging also destroys the culture and livelihoods of forest dwelling peoples.

Are even the nicest wood window blinds worth the loss of habitat, lawlessness and other environmental and human costs that went into getting that wood product to my local store?

No, obviously not when you think about it that way. Fortunately, there are responsible alternatives. Maybe try some nicely stained pine - best if it comes certified by the Forests Stewardship Council (FSC). Look for their tree logo - that way you know it's from sustainably managed forests.

What if they're really really nice window blinds, and I just want them for one room?

No, no and no! How can we make this any more clear? Look, you might as well pay the logger directly to cut down some of the most valuable trees on earth. In fact, it would be better if you did pay him directly - that way at least the money goes to the community. Instead, you're paying a bunch of thugs, unscrupulous middlemen and timber barons who are paying the workers a tiny fraction of the money they make from stealing wood that simply isn't theirs.

While you're at it though, maybe you should also buy some safety equipment for that logger, so he doesn't lose his leg in a chainsaw accident. And maybe you could fund a team of forest rangers to make sure the logging is being done sustainably. Due to the history of illegal logging in Indonesia civil society is demanding that it be included in any monitoring, as the past has showed us it's not good having the timber industry monitor itself. So you should also pay to fund independent third party certification of the end product as coming from sustainable sources - to keep the rangers and government officials honest.

Then it might be OK for you to buy the window blinds, but just look for that FSC label, OK?