In brief

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New FSC certificate for Wijma Douala: Wijma Douala in Cameroon has been granted a new FSC certificate for its 80 800 ha large FMU 11-005. These are exiting news considering the fact that they concern a forest management unit managed in collaboration with the Cameroonian company Cafeco.
For more information, please contact 

Sébastian Delion : s.delion@wijma-cm.com

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A global carbon tax could relieve the timber industry from an “important handicap”, according to Michel Rocard : A global carbon tax could relieve the timber industry from an “important handicap”, according to Michel Rocard
The decision made by the French Constitutional Council to cancel the carbon tax is based on “a bad economic appreciation of the CO2 quota system”, declared Michel Rocard, former Prime Minister and president of the conference of experts on the carbon tax (Les Echos, January 6, 2010). However, continued Rocard, within the context of “the failure of Copenhagen negotiations” and with 2012 approaching, a date on which the first generation quotas comes to an end worldwide, one should “cease the opportunity to eliminate the European trading system of carbon quotas and replace it by a global carbon tax implemented in all European countries”, in compliance with the Swedish proposition. Replacing the quota market by a tax would at the same time replace ”all problems of tax equity that could eventually arise within European countries”, clarify the situation for economic operators and remove a “serious handicap” for the timber industry. 

Increased use of timber as a substitute to other construction materials constitutes “the only solution to massive CO2 reductions”. Yet, “according to the planned system, timber producers would pay full carbon tax rates since they are not subject to the quota system”.

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Rougier Gabon supports agricultural projects through Cadaho : The Rougier Gabon Group intends to support a certain number of projects in Haut-Ogooué in Gabon in relation to food security, populations’ health care and educational programs for children.  These three key points have been identified by the Committee Supporting Agricultural Development in Haut-Ogooué (CADAHO), a platform of consultation and actions set up in July 2007 upon Rougier Gabon’s request.  Goals: allow for the developing of an agricultural, private community fabric, protective of the environment. Concrete achievements today are clearings of some 20 ha and 8 ha of cultivated land, 2000 banana plants handed over to associations, without forgetting training sessions on new plantation methods.

AGENDA

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  FSC Certified wood: the possibility for everyone to make some responsible purchases.  

Two days event in Paris, the 27th and 28th of May

FSC France is organizing on the 27th and 28th of May, an event which goal will be to :
- Inform the audience and the public and private prescribers on FSC’s system (Impacts of FSC forest certification
around the globe, information on FSC systems, etc.)
- Give the prescribers the technical tools to help them taking into account FSC in their concurrence calls.
- Show to the consumers the types of FSC certified products existing (wood, furniture, flooring, paper, etc.) and the possibilities of wooden projects in architecture and in construction.
- Promote the companies engaged in an FSC policy and their certified products.

More practical information on www.fsc-france.org

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11th Carrefour International du Bois: 
The 2-3-4 June 2010, Parc des Expositions de la Beaujoire, Nantes. Do not miss conference IFIA / FSC International / WWF, Thursday, June 3 from 15h to 16 pm, Hall 4.