Human Rights and the Environment

Case Study: Illegal Logging

Country: Cameroon

Region: Africa

Issues: Resource Extraction, Trade, Displacement, Corporate Accountability, Indigenous People

Illegal and destructive logging practices in Cameroon forests pose a severe threat to the land on which the indigenous Baka pygmies depend for food, shelter, and medicine as well as cultural and spiritual survival.[1] As one of the largest logging conglomerates in Africa, Vicwood-Thanry, a French-owned company, is largely responsible for the destruction of these ancient forests. According to Cameroon's Environment and Forest Ministry, "Logging as practised by this company puts in jeopardy the whole forestry policy and the sustainable management of our resources... this company is the most disorganised of all those visited."[2] Since March 2000, Vicwood-Thanry has been fined over U.S. $1.3 million for illegal logging practices, such as tax evasion, logging outside legal boundaries, logging after permits have expired, cutting undersized trees, and logging in unallocated concession areas.[3]

In response to the declining prices of cocoa and coffee in the mid-1980s, the government increased its export of ancient forest products to help overcome its growing deficit and economic crisis.[4] However, lax regulatory guidelines in destination countries have allowed Vicwood-Thanry to operate and profit from its illegal activities. [5] Vicwood-Thanry's logging practices have had devastating impacts, particularly for the Baka indigenous community. Large-scale deforestation has killed many of the animals on which the Baka depend for food, and forced the Baka to relocate without adequate compensation.[6] Additionally, the Baka's spiritual leader, the Jengi Spirit, lives within the forests that are being cut down, violating the Baka's right to religion and culture.[7]

In July 2004, the European Commission initiated a licensing scheme designed to curtail illegal logging.[8] Under the terms agreed upon at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, the scheme introduces a legally binding licensing system with participating countries, ensuring that only legally produced timber is imported by EU member states.[9] However, experts and environmental organizations are skeptical about the licensing scheme's potential for success. Only three timber producing countries have decided to participate – Ghana, Indonesia and Malaysia – and only one form of processed timber, plywood, is on the list for processed products that require a license.[10]

[1] See Greenpeace, Cameroon's Forests of the Great Apes (April 2002), at www.greenpeace.org.uk/MultimediaFiles/Live/FullReport/4785.pdf (last visited Mar. 7, 2005).

[2] Id.

[3] See Greenpeace, Partners in Crime: the UK and the Destruction of the Forest of Great Apes (Nov. 2002), at http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/MultimediaFiles/Live/FullReport/4791.pdf (last visited Mar. 7, 2005).

[4] See Paul Salopek, The Silencing of Africa's Great Forests, The Chicago Tribune (Jan. 22, 2003), available at http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=53 (last visited Mar. 7, 2005).

[5] See Robert Nurden, Baka Beyond (Apr. 22, 2001), at http://www.theecologist.org/archive_article.html?article=123&category=63 (last visited Mar. 7, 2005).

[6] Id.

[7] See Paul Salopek, supra, n. 236.

[8] See Chris Melville, EU Introduce Voluntary Scheme to Eradicate Illegal Logging, WMRC Daily Analysis (July 21, 2004), on file with Earthjustice.

[9] Id.

[10] Id.

Last Updated: 09/09/05