by www.portadelmedioambiente.com Sept. 30, 2003 6:56:48
(info@fcsf.org)
on 25/Nov/2004 at 04:43:02
The Japanese Consortium EUCAPACIFIC was denounced by the FENOCIN and Ecological Action for having initiated in Quitito and Tortuga, without permission of the Environmental Ministry, the cultivation of 1.800 hectares of Eucalyptus Tree with risks of having deep impact on the ecosystem of this tropical zone.
Pedro de la Cruz, President of Fenocin, said that EUCAPACIFIC in a consortium of Japanese enterprises if which the Japanese government is the largest shareholder and the Walts Int’l of Chilean an DUS capital, who was blamed for the environmental damage and social conflict over 10.500 hectares in the Esmeraldas province.
Fenocin and Ecological Action will start a national and international campaign to defend the territorial and nutritional sovereignty that is now threatened by these transnational companies taking away land from the Ecuatorians on a basis of lies and false job offers as they take over productive land.
The indigenous leader alerted the community about the possible purchase of lands in the Reserve Mache Chindul bye EUCAPACIFIC, which would be against Ecuatorian law as protected territories cannot be sold. He also pointed out that eucalyptus monocultures lead to problems in fragile ecosystems which can be fatal.
Pedro de la Cruz explained his preoccupation because the plantation of eucalyptus is dry and has a high level of acidity on the ground and doesn’t possess biodiversity, is not a source of life, and also because the bio richness of natural forests cannot be recuperated after the plantations. The study of Environmental Impact recognized the grave social impacts that this project could impose.
Impact
In the plantations of eucalyptus there are always these effects:
-Water resource: less water for domestic use, worse draughts, less water for urban centers, water could be contaminated due to use of chemicals required in these plantations.
-According to EUCAPACIFIC studies, 40% of the cost of production would utilize herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, and fertilizers—all highly toxic and which would end up in water sources. The Rio Bunche, Matangal where water is picked for the project for potable water of Muisne and other villages would have a diminished amount of water and would be contaminated.
Biodiversity: Plantations of eucalyptus eliminate biodiversity and facilitate the development of diseases and plagues that may extend to other zones.
Source: Portal del Medio Ambiente
Edited on 27/Oct/2005 at 11:06:16 by Webmaster
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