Plantations, poverty and power - Critical Information Collective

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Other parts of the guidelines are meaningless: “selecting indigenous species for the establishment of
planted forests if they are equal to or better than introduced species for the purpose intended.” Decades of
research into fast-growing eucalyptus species for pulp production ensures that this guideline can easily be
met. There is a large global market in eucalyptus pulp. To plant industrial tree plantations with indigenous
species for the pulp industry would require decades of research, the development of a new market and
millions of dollars of investment. No company is likely to undertake this research.
Other parts of the guidelines clearly reveal FAO’s bias in favour of industrial tree plantations. Principle 4
states that guidelines should include “deriving methods to better reflect the full value of planted forests in
justifying investments by governments and private-sector investors (both corporate and small-holder)”.
FAO seems to be suggesting developing new ways of justifying plantations. This is not a guideline for
implementing plantations, it is an invitation for plantation proponents to produce propaganda in favour of
plantations.
In another example, the guidelines recognise “the role that planted forests can play in relieving harvesting
pressures on naturally regenerating forests and in providing habitats for indigenous flora and fauna.” Both
of these arguments are used frequently by the pulp and paper industry. The reality however is that
industrial tree plantations often increase the pressure on forests and on other ecosystems such as
grasslands.605 Industrial tree plantations have no impact whatsoever on reducing the underlying causes
of deforestation such as the expansion of cash crops like soya, sugar or oil palm. Neither do industrial tree
plantations have any impact on reducing road construction through native forests or the construction of
massive hydropower dams which flood forests and result in the eviction of people from their land and
homes.
While indigenous flora may sometimes be found within industrial tree plantations, it is more common
(particularly in South Africa) that plantations provide habitat for alien invasive weed species. In any case,
plantation managers do not encourage the growth of any species other than the trees which provide raw
material to industry. Indigenous fauna can also be found in industrial tree plantations, but fewer species
than in native ecosystems.
In yet another example of bias in favour of industry, the guidelines state that:
“Where stakeholders are communities, they may not always be in a position to communicate confidently
with government or the corporate private sector due to their limited capacity and capability. In these
instances, reputable non-governmental, community-based or other organizations are encouraged to work
with them to strengthen their capacity and capability.”606
Nowhere do the guidelines mention the limited capacity and capability of governments and corporations
to listen to what communities are saying. No mention is made of strengthening corporations’ capacity and
capability in this regard. Instead, FAO recommends that NGOs should work with communities to teach
them how to communicate.
605 See Ricardo Carrere (1999) “Ten Replies to Ten Lies”, World Rainforest Movement, August 1999.
http://www.wrm.org.uy/plantations/material/lies.html
606 FAO (2006) “Responsible management of planted forests: voluntary guidelines”, Planted Forests and Trees Working
Paper 37/E, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, page 25. http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/j9256e/J9256E00.htm