Bai Shan Lin is wrecking our forest; it is an environmental shame

Aug 19, 2014 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Over the last few days, we have had to endure startling revelations of harvesting operations in our forest by Bai Shan Lin: It is an environmental shame. Bai Shan Lin is wrecking our forest.
Worse is that those institutions with specific and general responsibilities to protect this natural asset appear to be ready to defend the plunder of it by this company. No, they are not expected to be curators of our natural assets, but to ensure that such assets are transformed into value that could benefit citizens and lift them out of poverty. Instead of the Guyana Forestry Commission and other allied Ministries and agencies protecting our national, natural assets and securing the future of this and the next generation, they are allowing Bai Shan Lin to export raw logs without the requisite documents.
We are saying that those agencies, the Guyana Forestry Commission, in particular, should not be engaging in public relations (publishing policies, which are not necessarily enforced) to defend what is clearly a breach of certain policies in the extractive sector, in this country. They ought to be making genuine efforts to educate the public about the rules governing forestry operations. Until that happens and citizens are better informed about what is happening with this natural asset, the authorities will adopt gesture politics.
In poor societies like Guyana, regulation of the natural environment and its resources can be no better than popular understanding of why it is needed, and the rules that govern our assets will reflect any misunderstandings.
The misunderstandings of ordinary citizens provide fertile grounds for special interests. Regulation not only protects, it redistributes. Regulations can be manipulated by large corporations, companies, governmental and state bodies, agencies and interest groups to their advantage. This is exactly what is happening in the case of Bai Shan Lin.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made it clear that it has not issued Bai Shan Lin with licence to export logs from Guyana. This is a very serious issue, because the EPA is the body set up by the state to protect and preserve the health and general integrity of the natural environment and its resources. If that body has not issued Bai Shan Lin the required permission to export logs, then who did?
Also, if this body – EPA– was bypassed, as is suggested, then we have no way of knowing the nature and extent of damage done to our natural environment and how the operations of that company are affecting the ecosystems and residents in that and other areas contiguous to the operation of Bai Shan Lin. In the circumstances, it has to be admitted that Guyana has weak governance in this sector. The consequence? Plunder of our natural resources.
What should have been the lifeline by which our people pull themselves out of poverty, has instead produced zero opportunities. It is dragging local communities down when it could have elevated their standard of living. How many jobs are created by the exportation of raw logs by Bai Shan Lin, as against how many jobs could have been created if that company was conducting a value added operation in Guyana? Local communities are really none the better for the large scale exportation of raw logs carried out by this foreign company.
But the management of Bai Shan Lin should make a deliberate effort to demonstrate corporate social responsibility.
First, they should ensure that their operations comply with: A Guide on Sustainable Overseas Silviculture by Chinese Enterprises, Beijing, the People’s Republic of China, August 27, 2007.
Under that guide, fundamental requirements include:
· Manage and utilize the forest resources legally. Chinese enterprises participating in the overseas investment concerning the management and utilization of forest resources shall file an application with the relevant departments of the host country to obtain the documents approved by the departments concerned, and manage, utilize and process the forest resources in strict accordance with the requirements such as the approved business place, area, quantity, type, operational scope, etc. no operations beyond the prescribed scope may be conducted.
· Any contracted project, labour service cooperation, purchasing and management of timber and wood products, etc. concerning the forest management and utilization shall meet the requirements of the relevant laws and regulations established by both sides.
· Manage and utilize the forest resources rationally. Give full play to the wood in the logging area, reasonably conduct cross-cutting so as to increase the multipurpose timber utilization rate in an all-round way.
· Possess due forest fire prevention and forest pest and disease prevention and control facilities and measures.
· Establish the multi-stakeholder publicity and consultation system.
· Proclaim the main contents of the effective and legal documents of forest management and utilization to the local communities and the parties concerned. Make clear the form, content, time limit, etc. in accordance with the requirements of the local governments on establishing the pre-harvesting publicity and consultation system of forest harvesting and utilization.
· The large scale harvesting shall be proclaimed in the local area; the forest harvesting units (individuals) shall also establish public signs in the wood-cutting areas and the surrounding traffic arteries, and proclaim the main content, operational period, etc. of legal harvesting documents approved by the departments concerned.
· Take actions that suit local circumstances, adopt scientific and rational harvesting ways and operation measures, minimize the impact of forest harvesting on biological diversity, habitats of wild fauna and flora, ecologically fragile areas, natural landscape, water quantity and quality of forest watershed, forestland soil ecosystem and the regeneration of seedling and sapling, and ensure rapid recovery of the functions of forest ecosystem.
· Take the corresponding measures to protect the forest, especially the forest with high conservation value.
· When conducting felling area design, the enterprises concerned shall take full account of the undesirable effects of forest harvesting operation on surface rainfall and underground water resources, slow down soil corrosion, control soil and water erosion and avoid serious destruction to forest catchment due to harvesting.
Judging from the partial contents of this guide, it seems quite clear to us that Bai Shan Lin may not be aware of this document. If it is aware, then it is not faithfully following this guide.
In light of the aforementioned, we have made three requests:
1. That the Guyana Forestry Commission put a hold on Bai Shan Lin’s Operation, in all areas of Guyana, until it is properly regularized in accordance with the laws of Guyana
2. That the Guyana Forestry Commission publish Bai Shan Lin’s contract and its contents thereof; and
3. That the Environmental Protection Agency conducts the necessary tests and reports on the extent of damage done to the natural environment, in areas where Bai Shan Lin is harvesting trees.
Finally, we, in Guyana, owe it to ourselves and the next generation to develop our economy in a sustainable way. Our watch words must be: good governance, accountability transparency, sustainability and environmental ethnics.
It is time, high time, for all those, who are concerned about the health and well-being of the natural environment to act. Let us act now!
Royston King
Executive Director
Environmental Community Health Organization

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