International Day of Action against
Industrial Tree Plantations
What is the Day of Action?
The following history of the International Day of Struggle Against Monoculture Tree Plantations is taken from World Rainforest Movement:
21 September, the International Day of Struggle Against Monoculture Tree Plantations, is a day for organizations, networks and movements to celebrate resistance and raise their voices to demand: “STOP the Expansion of Monoculture Tree Plantations!”
These plantations invade territories and affect the life of peoples and communities. The Day was launched in 2004 at a meeting of a community network struggling against industrial tree plantations in Brazil; September 21 was chosen because it is the Day of the Tree in Brazil.
Plantations are not forests!!!
Take Action! Sign the letter below in support of communities devastated by the social and ecological impacts of industrial tree plantations
Sign the letter below in support of Indigenous and local communities devastated by the social and ecological impacts of industrial tree plantations, and threatened by the planned future use of GMO tree plantations.
Sign the letter below in support of Indigenous and local communities devastated by the social and ecological impacts of industrial tree plantations, and threatened by the planned future use of GMO tree plantations.
The following demands have been compiled from Quilombola Communities and Landless Workers Movement (MST) representatives in Northern Espirito Santo and Southern Bahía, Brazil. These communities are directly impacted by the effects of eucalyptus plantations and the potential ramifications of GMO eucalyptus trees. Read more here.
- We call for an end to the aerial spraying of pesticides. Spraying eucalyptus plantations and other production monocultures by drones or planes results in the poisoning of soils, crops, livestock and water that communities depend on for survival.
- We call for immediate access to safe water for communities that have had their water sources sucked dry by eucalyptus plantations or poisoned by aerial pesticide spraying.
- We call for a ban on genetically engineered trees which, if planted, will intensify problems associated with industrial tree plantations. History shows that GE crops with herbicide tolerant traits result in an increased use of pesticides.
- We call for the removal of eucalyptus plantations and prosecution of Suzano for their illegal activities including land theft.
- We call on Brazil’s national government to return land to Indigenous, Quilombola, and peasant farming communities and accelerate the demarcation process to secure their land titles into the future.
- We demand legal, financial, and policy support from official bodies for farmers wishing to pursue agroecology and other ecological production methods for growing healthy food for their communities.
Background:
Large scale eucalyptus plantations have been taking over Brazil’s native forest landscape for decades. Brazil-based Suzano, one of the world’s largest pulp and paper companies, is a key driver of plantation expansion and ongoing land theft from Indigenous, Quilombola, and peasant farming communities. In addition to the forced displacement of traditional communities, eucalyptus and other industrial forest plantations result in the poisoning and depletion of land and waters, and loss of biological diversity.
The social and ecological problems posed by these plantations will intensify if Suzano begins to plant its genetically engineered (GE, GMO or genetically modified) eucalyptus trees. As of August 2023, Brazil’s national government has approved seven GE trees for commercial planting, but none have been planted yet.
During May and June of 2023, the International Campaign to STOP GE Trees brought people from Argentina, Canada, Chile, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, to Brazil to advance plans to stop the development and commercial release of genetically engineered trees, and to support and highlight opposition to pulp company Suzano’s ongoing destruction of native forests, expansion of industrial eucalyptus plantations, and potential use of GE eucalyptus trees modified to tolerate toxic herbicides.
The Campaign met with Brazilian NGOs, Indigenous and Quilombola communities, and MST members in order to learn, document and amplify the voices and concerns of rural communities who are on the front lines of resisting industrial eucalyptus plantations and their devastating social and ecological impacts.
The demands in this document come from these communities.
As an international campaign, we stand in solidarity with communities who say NO to industrial tree plantations and NO to GE trees.
JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THE DEMANDS OF THESE COMMUNITIES!
Click below to read more:
Article: Profit Trumps People and Planet in Brazil’s Eucalyptus Industry (August 2023)
Report: The Global Status of Genetically Engineered Tree Development: A Growing Threat (August 2022)
Report: Genetically Engineered Trees: No Solution to Climate Change
Firme la carta a continuación en apoyo a las comunidades indígenas y locales devastadas por los impactos sociales y ecológicos de las plantaciones industriales de árboles, y amenazadas por el uso futuro planificado de las plantaciones de árboles transgénicos.
Firme la carta a continuación en apoyo a las comunidades indígenas y locales devastadas por los impactos sociales y ecológicos de las plantaciones industriales de árboles, y amenazadas por el uso futuro planificado de las plantaciones de árboles transgénicos.
Las siguientes demandas han sido compiladas por representantes de las Comunidades Quilombola y del Movimiento de Trabajadores Sin Tierra (MST) en el norte de Espírito Santo y el sur de Bahía, Brasil. Estas comunidades se ven directamente afectadas por los efectos de las plantaciones de eucaliptos y las posibles ramificaciones de los eucaliptos transgénicos. Lea más aquí.
- Pedimos que se ponga fin a la fumigación aérea de plaguicidas. La fumigación de plantaciones de eucaliptos y otros monocultivos de producción por drones o aviones resulta en el envenenamiento de suelos, cultivos, ganado y agua de los que dependen las comunidades para sobrevivir.
- Pedimos el acceso inmediato al agua potable para las comunidades que han sido succionadas por las plantaciones de eucaliptos o envenenadas por la fumigación aérea de pesticidas.
- Pedimos la prohibición de los árboles modificados genéticamente que, si se plantan, intensificarán los problemas asociados a las plantaciones industriales de árboles. La historia muestra que los cultivos transgénicos con rasgos tolerantes a herbicidas resultan en un mayor uso de pesticidas.
- Pedimos la eliminación de las plantaciones de eucaliptos y el enjuiciamiento de Suzano por sus actividades ilegales, incluido el robo de tierras.
- Hacemos un llamado al gobierno nacional de Brasil para que devuelva tierras a comunidades indígenas, quilombolas y campesinas y acelere el proceso de demarcación para asegurar sus títulos de tierras en el futuro.
- Exigimos el apoyo legal, financiero y político de los organismos oficiales para los agricultores que deseen perseguir la agroecología y otros métodos de producción ecológica para el cultivo de alimentos saludables para sus comunidades.
Antecedentes:
Las plantaciones de eucaliptos a gran escala se han apoderado del paisaje forestal nativo de Brasil durante décadas. Suzano, con sede en Brasil, una de las compañías de celulosa y papel más grandes del mundo, es un motor clave de la expansión de las plantaciones y el robo de tierras en curso de comunidades indígenas, quilombolas y campesinas. Además del desplazamiento forzado de las comunidades tradicionales, los eucaliptos y otras plantaciones forestales industriales resultan en el envenenamiento y agotamiento de la tierra y las aguas, y la pérdida de la diversidad biológica.
Los problemas sociales y ecológicos que plantean estas plantaciones se intensificarán si Suzano comienza a plantar sus eucaliptos genéticamente modificados (transgénicos, transgénicos o modificados genéticamente). Hasta agosto de 2023, el gobierno nacional de Brasil ha aprobado siete árboles transgénicos para la siembra comercial, pero ninguno ha sido plantado todavía.
Durante mayo y junio de 2023, la Campaña Internacional para DETENER los Árboles transgénicos trajo personas de Argentina, Canadá, Chile, Alemania, Irlanda, etc. Japón, Nueva Zelanda, el Reino Unido y los Estados Unidos, a Brasil para avanzar en planes para detener el desarrollo y la liberación comercial de árboles genéticamente modificados, y para apoyar y destacar la oposición a la destrucción continua de bosques nativos de la compañía celulosa Suzano, la expansión de plantaciones industriales de eucaliptos, y la expansión de la industria de la producción de árboles. y el uso potencial de eucaliptos transgénicos modificados para tolerar herbicidas tóxicos.
La Campaña se reunió con ONG brasileñas, comunidades indígenas y quilombolas, y miembros del MST con el fin de conocer, documentar y amplificar las voces y preocupaciones de las comunidades rurales que están en primera línea de la resistencia a las plantaciones industriales de eucaliptos y sus devastadores impactos sociales y ecológicos.
Las demandas en este documento provienen de estas comunidades.
Como campaña internacional, nos solidarizamos con las comunidades que dicen NO a las plantaciones industriales de árboles y NO a los árboles transgénicos.
¡ÚNETE A nosotros PARA APOYAR LAS DEMANDAS DE ESTAS COMUNIDADES!
Haga clic aquí para leer nuestros informes:
Assine o abaixo-assinado em apoio às comunidades locais indígenas devastadas pelos impactos sociais e ecológicos das plantações industriais de árvores e ameaçadas pelo futuro plano do uso de plantações de árvores geneticamente modificadas (GMO).
Assine o abaixo-assinado em apoio às comunidades locais indígenas devastadas pelos impactos sociais e ecológicos das plantações industriais de árvores e ameaçadas pelo futuro plano do uso de plantações de árvores geneticamente modificadas (GMO).
As seguintes reivindicações foram elaboradas a partir de representantes das Comunidades Quilombolas e do Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem Terra (MST) no norte do Espírito Santo e sul da Bahia, Brasil. Essas comunidades são diretamente afetadas pelos efeitos das plantações de eucalipto e pelas possíveis ramificações das árvores de eucalipto GMO. Leia mais aqui.
- Exigimos o fim da pulverização aérea de pesticidas. A pulverização de plantações de eucalipto e outras monoculturas de produção por drones e aviões resulta na contaminação de solos, culturas, gado e água de que as comunidades dependem para sobreviver.
- Exigimos acesso imediato a água potável segura para as comunidades que tiveram suas fontes de água secas pelas plantações de eucalipto ou contaminadas pela pulverização aérea de pesticidas.
- Exigimos a proibição de árvores geneticamente modificadas que, se plantadas, intensificariam os problemas associados às plantações industriais de árvores. A história mostra que plantações geneticamente modificadas com características tolerantes a herbicidas resultam em um aumento do uso de pesticidas.
- Exigimos a remoção das plantações de eucalipto e a responsabilização da Suzano por suas atividades ilegais, incluindo o roubo de terras.
- Exigimos que o governo nacional do Brasil devolva terras às comunidades indígenas, quilombolas e camponesas e acelere o processo de demarcação para garantir seus direitos de terra no futuro.
- Exigimos apoio legal, financeiro e político de órgãos oficiais para agricultores que desejam adotar a agroecologia e outros métodos de produção ecológica para cultivar alimentos saudáveis para suas comunidades.
Contexto:
Plantios de eucalipto em larga escala vêm substituindo a paisagem de florestas nativas do Brasil há décadas. A Suzano, uma das maiores empresas de celulose e papel do mundo com sede no Brasil, é uma das principais responsáveis pela expansão dessas plantações e pelo contínuo roubo de terras de comunidades indígenas, quilombolas e camponesas. Além do deslocamento forçado de comunidades tradicionais, as plantações industriais de eucalipto e outras árvores florestais resultam na contaminação e esgotamento de terras e águas, além da perda da diversidade biológica.
Os problemas sociais e ecológicos causados por essas plantações se intensificarão se a Suzano começar a plantar suas árvores de eucalipto geneticamente modificadas (GMO). Até agosto de 2023, o governo nacional do Brasil aprovou sete tipos de árvores GMO para plantio comercial, mas nenhuma foi plantada até o momento.
Durante maio e junho de 2023, a Campanha Internacional para PARAR Árvores GMO reuniu pessoas da Argentina, Canadá, Chile, Alemanha, Irlanda, Japão, Nova Zelândia, Reino Unido e EUA no Brasil para avançar nos planos de impedir o desenvolvimento e a liberação comercial de árvores geneticamente modificadas e apoiar e destacar a oposição à destruição contínua de florestas nativas, expansão de plantações industriais de eucalipto e uso potencial de árvores de eucalipto GMO modificadas para tolerar herbicidas tóxicos pela empresa de celulose Suzano.
A Campanha reuniu-se com ONGs brasileiras, comunidades indígenas e quilombolas e membros do MST para aprender, documentar e amplificar as vozes e preocupações das comunidades rurais que estão na linha de frente da resistência às plantações industriais de eucalipto e seus impactos sociais e ecológicos devastadores.
As reivindicações neste documento são provenientes dessas comunidades.
Como uma campanha internacional, nós apoiamos as comunidades que dizem NÃO às plantações industriais de árvores e NÃO às árvores GMO.
JUNTE-SE A NÓS NO APOIO ÀS REIVINDICAÇÕES DESTAS COMUNIDADES!
Clique aqui para ler nossos relatórios:
O Status Global do Desenvolvimento de Árvores Geneticamente Modificadas: Uma Ameaça Crescente (agosto de 2022)
Árvores Geneticamente Modificadas: Nenhuma Solução para as Mudanças Climáticas
Join GeaSphere’s Clubhouse Discussion (8pm – 10pm CAT (2pm-4pm EDT) on September 21, 2023), even if only for a few minutes!
GeaSphere aims to raise awareness regarding the impacts of large scale timber, and promote a change towards diversified forestry systems.
Sept 21 Webinar | In the Shadow of Monoculture Plantations: The Urgent Need to Redirect Finance away from False Climate Solutions
The Global Forest Coalition, as part of their efforts to support community struggles on the ground, invites you to their webinar to hear from experts on the impacts of monoculture tree plantations in different regions and discuss how so-called climate and green finance is contributing to the expansion of these harmful schemes, and why financing of false solutions and their support via subsidies and other incentives must be halted and shifted towards genuine, gender-just and rights-based solutions capable of tackling the root causes of the climate crisis.
When: September 21 at 12-1:30 UTC
Interpretation: available in English, French, and Spanish
Register here to find out more about why every monoculture plantation project is a choice to prioritise profit over the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, climate mitigation potential, biodiversity conservation, and food sovereignty.
Speakers: Omar Yampey, Henoi Centro de Estudios, Paraguay | Anabela Lemos, Justicia Ambiental, Mozambique | Souparna Lahiri, Global Forest Coalition, India | Hilde Stroot, Oxfam Novib, the Netherlands | Moderator: Chithira Vijayakumar, GFC
Further Information
Undisciplined Environments: Forest Sovereignty Against The Expansion Of Tree Monocultures
On September 19, 2023, Undisciplined Environments posted Forest Sovereignty Against The Expansion Of Tree Monocultures by Marien Gonzalez Hidalgo, in conversation with Joám Evans Pim and Pablo Reyes Huenchumán. This was done in solidarity with the daily resistance of local communities facing the expansion of tree monocultures .
The following is taken from the interview with Joám Evans Pim, an activist leading a de-eucalyptisation movement in the Galician communal forests, which can be read in full on Undisciplined Environments‘ website (also available in Spanish).
In Galicia, eucalyptus monocultures… … displace native forests, illegally occupy agricultural land for cultivation or extensive livestock farming, and threaten the integrity and well-being of communities by increasing the risk of fires, affecting springs and destroying our identity, which is intimately linked to our ancestral landscape. For a long time, eucalyptus monocultures applied chemical weedkillers, creating toxic wastelands in which soils have practically disappeared due to the dragging and which, in the face of climate change, represent a first step towards desertification.
Forest sovereignty means throwing off the yoke of productivism, which only benefits big capital at the cost of compromising the security, well-being, life and dignity of communities. The management of the territory by and for the communities must be at the service of their wellbeing and encourage the return of the population to the rural areas. Tree monocultures have never and will never facilitate this because they are based on the creation and expansion of their sacrifice zones.
Note: Joám supports the Campaign to STOP GE Trees through translating the Campaign’s international calls.
Article: Profit Trumps People and Planet in Brazil’s Eucalyptus Industry (August 2023)
Brazil is set to unleash several varieties of genetically engineered eucalyptus, which will worsen a bad situation. By Steve Taylor and Orin Langelle
This article was produced by Global Justice Ecology Project and is based on a trip to Brazil by the International Campaign to STOP GE Trees. It was syndicated by Earth | Food | Life, a project of the Independent Media Institute. It was published by dozens of outlets including the MST, MSN, Eurasia Review, LA Progressive and more. The article can be read here.
Delegation to Brazil (May – June 2023)
During May and June of 2023, the Campaign to STOP GE Trees brought people from Argentina, Canada, Chile, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, and the US to Brazil to develop plans for the international campaign to stop the development and commercial release of genetically engineered trees, and to support and highlight opposition to pulp company Suzano’s ongoing expansion of industrial eucalyptus plantations and potential use of genetically engineered eucalyptus trees modified to tolerate toxic herbicides. You can read about the trip here.
Photo Essay (2005)
The photos included in this 2005 photo essay are from a visit to a landless Workers Movement (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra or MST) encampment in Brazil named Galdino dos Santos, in Espirito Santo, Brazil.
Videos
Interview given to an international delegation of the Campaign to STOP GE Trees in May 2023.
PL 490 threatens to further erode land rights of the Indigenous people of Brazil.
Excerpt of a talk given to an international delegation of the Campaign to STOP GE Trees in May 2023 by instructors of an Ofaié school on land which the Ofaié People were forcibly relocated.
Excerpt from interview with Anne Petermann of the Campaign to STOP GE Trees, July 2023.
Excerpt of an interview given to an international delegation of the Campaign to STOP GE Trees in May 2023.
The MST create farms and communities on eucalyptus plantations. Eucalyptus plantations have been called “green deserts” as they rob the environment of biodiversity and poison the environment with agrotoxins. Genetically engineered eucalyptus threaten to worsen the destruction.
