Early day motion 1478

INDUSTRIAL LOGGING OF RAINFORESTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

• Session: 2006-07
• Date tabled: 15.05.2007
• Primary sponsor: Williams, Stephen
• Sponsors:
  • Featherstone, Lynne
  • Joyce, Eric
  • Morley, Elliot
  • Pelling, Andrew
  • Spink, Bob

That this House notes with concern the prospect of uncontrolled industrial logging in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the devastating threat this poses to those who live in and depend on the forests, to biodiversity and to the global environment, and the failure of logging to contribute to development elsewhere in the region; further notes estimates that by 2050 the loss of the forests will release up to 34.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the United Kingdom's total emissions for the last 60 years; calls on the Government to use its influence with both the World Bank and the DRC government to develop and implement effective governance reforms and safeguards; therefore urges the Government to press for the current review of existing logging concessions to be given more time and resources, and for concessions illegally granted after the 2002 moratorium to be cancelled; further urges the Government to press for the moratorium on new logging concessions to be maintained until an effective governance framework is in place, including a process of zoning and mapping forests with the participation of resident users to establish and protect their rights; and finally calls on the United Kingdom Government to address the urgent need to improve the capacity of DRC forestry bodies.