2001年11月のニュースです

　オランダの４大銀行のうち３つの銀行が油ヤシプランテーション開発への融資に制限を行うとのことです。
林地を焼かないもの、熱帯雨林を皆伐しないもの、地域住民の権利や意志を尊重するもの、インドネシアの法と関連する国際条約を遵守したもののみが融資の対象となります。
違法伐採や原生林／保全価値の高い森林の伐採に関与した場合にも、融資の対象にならないとも書かれています。

　油ヤシプランテーション開発の融資に関与しているのが欧州の融資機関であることから、こうした活動が行われてきたようです。
（ＪＡＴＡＮ小浜さんからの情報）

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FOREST CONSERVATION NEWS TODAY
Dutch Banks Commit to Rainforest Conservation
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Forest Networking a Project of Forests.org, Inc.
http://forests.org/ -- Forest Conservation Portal
http://forests.org/links/ -- Forest Conservation Links

11/07/01
OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY by Forests.org

Three of the top Dutch banks have decided to stop or substantially restrict the financing of oil palm plantations where tropical rainforests have recently been cleared for their planting.
Rainforest destruction from oil palm monocultures has been particularly problematic in Indonesia, but is a growing threat to many rainforests elsewhere as well. This is a landmark break-through in NGO efforts to engage business in forest conservation. ABN Amro Bank developed the most far-reaching policy that limits logging, pulp and paper, mining and oil & gas development in either primary or High Conservation Value forests. They have rightly concluded that　companies that engage in poor environmental management will suffer　financially.

The era of financial institutions enabling the destruction of nature　with impunity is drawing to a close. It is critical that all　remaining forest wildernesses (call them what you may; primary　forests, ancient old-growth, High Conservation Value forests, large　areas of big honking old trees) are strictly protected and allowed to　expand. The only management activities that should be allowed are　small-scale community based certified forestry, eco-tourism and other　benign and non-ecologically diminishing uses. These management　activities must be placed within a landscape matrix of large strictly　protected areas if landscape level sustainability is to be achieved.
Commercial forestry, Forest Stewardship Council certified or not, is　not consistent with maintenance of values associated with High　Conservation Value forests and is ecologically unsustainable.
g.b.

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Title: Dutch Banks Commit to Forest Conservation
Source: Focus on Finance News
Special issue, November 2001
Date: November 7, 2001

Three of the Dutch top-four banks - ABN AMRO Bank, Rabobank and　Fortis Bank - have decided to stop or substantially restrict the　financing of the development of oil palm plantations for which　purposely tropical rainforest is destroyed. This is the result of a　joint campaign by Sawit Watch Indonesia, Milieudefensie (Friends of　the Earth Netherlands) and Greenpeace Netherlands.

The 1997/98, 10 million hectares of forestland were burned in　Indonesia. The haze that covered the continent for several months　affected the health of some 70 million people in Southeast Asia.
Rather than calling for greater fire fighting capacity in Indonesia,　environmental NGOs sought a fundamental solution to combat the fires.
The NGOs went after the financial backers of the oil palm plantation　industry in Indonesia, the sector that was widely held accountablefor causing the forest fires.

All major Dutch banks have financial ties with several of the mainplantation company groups in Indonesia and these banks are frequently　in a solid position to influence the environmental policies of their　clients. In a series of meetings and actions that started last　January, Greenpeace Netherlands and Friends of the Earth Netherlands　demanded that the banks adopt sustainability criteria for investments　in the oil palm sector.

Last October 31, ABN-Amro Bank, Rabobank and Fortis Bank declared　that they subscribe to the investment criteria as put forward by the　NGOs. Oil palm plantation companies submitting investment proposals　to these banks should:

1.    Not be involved in burning forestland

2.    Not be clearing tropical rainforest

3.    Respect the rights and wishes of local communities

4.    Respect Indonesia's law and relevant international conventions.

The decision of the banks is a landmark break-through in NGO efforts　to engage business in forest conservation and management. It is　comparable to the decision of the major Do-It-Yourself chains such as　B&Q (UK), Intergamma (Netherlands) and Home Depot (USA) to phase out　the sales of non-certified lumber. The decision of the banks is also　timely, as many experts believe that the drought of El Niロo and　subsequent forest fires will hit Indonesia again in 2002.

Sawit Watch, the Indonesian NGO-network that is campaigning against　arge-scale expansion of oil palm plantations, called upon all banks　in the world, including Indonesian banks, to follow the steps taken　by the Dutch banks. Sawit Watch' policy researcher Joko Waluyo　stated: "the investment criteria not only guarantee the safety of　bank credits, even more important is the conservation of Indonesia's　forests."

The campaign is already beginning to spread to other European　countries, where environmental and conservation groups approach　investors and importers to justify their involvement in plantation　companies. Indonesia's pulp and paper companies such as Asia Pulp &　Paper (APP) and Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (PT RAPP) are already　high on the agendas of NGOs in Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Of the Dutch banks that have committed to new investment policies,　ABN Amro Bank developed the most far-reaching policy. Its policy　applies to all sectors that might affect forests, including logging,　pulp and paper, mining and oil & gas development. Mr. Herman Mulder,　head of ABN Amro's Risk Management division believes that the new　credit practise will be widely adopted quickly. "Companies that　manage their environment poorly will suffer financially. Clients and　shareholders walk away, employees will seek another boss" he was　quoted as saying in the Volkskrant.

ABN Amro will "no longer finance projects or operations, which will　result in resource extraction from, or the clearing of, either　primary or High Conservation Value forests". The bank will consider　exceptions only "where extraction is part of a carefully planned,　responsible national forest management program or where the company　is FSC certified for operations in that forest."

To avoid that plantation companies clear forests first and then apply　for credits, ABN Amro Bank will not invest in plantation projects in　forestlands that have been cleared less than 5 years ago. Rabobank　maintains a 3-year limit.

One of Rabobank's key criteria is that "no financial assistance is　given for the development or operation of oil palm plantations if the　related party is directly or indirectly (within the context of a　larger group) involved in illegal logging and/or commercial logging　of primary or High Conservation Value forests in the area designated　for the plantation". Rabobank will "not work with clients who do not　meet its investment criteria. If a client violates the criteria, the　bank will discuss the situation and if improvements are not made, the　relationship will be reviewed ('review' = possibly terminate)."

The NGOs have not yet come to an agreement with ING Bank. This bank　is not prepared to go beyond local government regulations. In the　Belgian newspaper De Morgen an ING representative was quoted today as　saying: "Illegal logging is not possible, but if forest clearing is　government approved, we are still prepared to finance."

For further information see:
http://www.focusonfinance.org/Dutchbanks2.htm

Focus on Finance Newsletter
November 2001

Research and editing:
Jan Willem van Gelder (Profundo): janwillem@profundo.nl
Eric Wakker (AIDEnvironment): wakker@aidenvironment.org

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