13 September 2007 - Yungas
Rainforest, Argentina — Jaguars are tree
climbers, but there is no federal law to
protecting their forest - so our activists
have taken to the trees themselves. Dressed
as jaguars, they're camped in the treetops
of the Yungas in a bid to block the bulldozers
until a federal law can be passed.
For six days now, the activists have continuously
occupied trees inside a part of the Yungas
forest that's a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
They'll stay there until "la Ley de
Bosques" [the Forest Law], legislation
to protect Argentina’s remaining forests,
is agreed by the Argentinean congress.
Greenpeace Argentina is calling for 1 million
signatures to help get the law passed, and
has already collected over 600,000. If you
are Argentinean and have not yet signed,
please help by signing now. While support
from all is welcome, we need signatures
from Argentineans to get this law through.
The trees the activists are living in are
up to 25 metres high. A 'land team', camping
on the forest floor, supports the activists
in the trees, and all of them are trained
in jungle survival techniques.
Argentinean forests going fast
Argentina’s forests are in crisis. Forests
are being chopped down at a rate 8 times
faster than the world average, clear cutting
a massive 300,000 hectares a year. To put
that figure into context – Argentina destroys
an area of forest the size of 40 football
fields, every HOUR.
Clear cutting means just that; giant bulldozers
with anchor chains knock down all vegetation.
Any “debris” is then cleared with fire,
in a matter of days ancient ecosystems are
lost - forever. The land is then used to
grow genetically engineered soya, or for
cattle ranching. Jaguars are just one of
endangered species, facing extinction as
a result of Argentina’s rampant forest destruction,
others include armadillos and giant anteaters.
Deforestation is also one of the biggest
sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Worldwide
deforestation is second only to the energy
sector as a contributor to climate change
- responsible for up to one fifth of global
greenhouse gas emissions.
The Forest Law will establish a moratorium
on forest conversion for agriculture land,
until a legitimate scheme for sustainable
use of Argentina’s remaining forests is
established. This needs to be a transparent
process, including indigenous and campesinos
(peasant) communities.
Yungas Biosphere Reserve
The Yungas rainforest is considered an
international hot spot for biodiversity
by international bodies. Back in 2002, UNESCO
declared an area of the Yungas rainforests
in Argentina as ‘Biosphere Reserve’ because
of its rich and unique biodiversity. The
official name of the reserve is 'Reserva
de la Biosfera de las Yungas’. Greenpeace
volunteers have chosen to occupy trees inside
this reserve, to highlight how even protected
areas, are under threat.
Nearly 34,000 people live in the Reserve
and it is home to some 203 different bird
species, including the eagle and the military
macaw; its 89 mammal types include the jaguar
and the tapir.
The purpose of the UNESCO classification
is to contribute towards sustainable development
and conservation. The expansion of genetically
engineered soya cultivation in Argentina
makes a mockery of Las Yungas Biosphere
Reserve status, destroying its unique ecosystems
and peoples.
Our volunteers will remain in the treetops
until the Argentinean senators takes urgent
action to give green light to the forests
law and protect what’s left of Argentinean
forests.
