SANITATION DEPARTMENT PLANS MAJOR USE OF RAINFOREST WOOD

On February 11, in a speech at the United Nations, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the release of a memorandum from his Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability titled Tropical Hardwood Reduction Plan.

In reading the 19-page memo it was obvious that the Mayor’s “plan” will not reduce the use of tropical hardwoods but instead actually allow for a doubling, if not tripling, of its use over the next two years. You can read the plan, the city’s press release and watch video of the mayor’s speech by going to NYC.gov and scrolling to Feb. 11.

Even with the increase, the announcement was a watershed moment in Rainforest Relief’s campaign, given that it was the first time the city's administration has ever acknowledged the need to reduce the use of these destructive materials.

The large-scale increase in use will come from the five planned marine transfer stations (MTSs) being built by the New York City Department of Sanitation.

Rainforest Relief will continue to campaign to end the city’s use of tropical hardwoods logged from old growth rainforests.

We have added a new subsection to the New York City Rainforest Wood campaign: Department of Sanitation.

Rainforest Relief began a campaign to eliminate the use of rainforest woods by the city in 1995 after recognizing tropical hardwoods at the Coney Island boardwalk. The ensuing campaign has included high-profile acts such as hanging a 125-foot-tall banner on the historic Parachute Jump in 1998, but also working with key city staff to shift use to alternative materials, such as recycled plastic lumber.

Logging for exported wood is the primary factor leading to tropical deforestation, as roads created by loggers hunting high-value species allow access to farmers and others who completely clear logged forests.

Last year a new grassroots group, New York Climate Action Group, joined the campaign to end the city’s use of tropical hardwoods as a way to address the city’s contribution to climate change.

Deforestation, mostly in the tropics, contributes an estimated 25 – 30% of human-caused greenhouse gases.

This is an essential and historic first step and we look forward to seeing NYC and the Bloomberg administration taking further actions to reduce the City’s contribution to rainforest destruction and climate change.

Many environmental groups have expressed concerns about at least one aspect of the Plan — the use of tropical woods certified by groups accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Logging in old-growth rainforests is not sustainable, even when certified by organizations accredited by the FSC. Roads are still bulldozed and species are still wiped out.

Also, the Plan does not address the use of tropical hardwoods by the NYC Transit Authority, a division of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), a state agency. To our knowledge, the only place MTA uses tropical hardwoods for track ties is in New York City. Any plan to eliminate the use of these woods by the city must include the subways.

There are many further flaws in the Plan, including misinformation about potential alternatives like recycled plastic lumber and certain domestic hardwoods.

Additionally, the Plan doesn’t address large-scale uses by public benefit corporations building parks and other infrastructure within the City.

The Plan also lays claim to an “immediate 20% reduction” of tropical hardwoods, citing changes by NYC Parks. Yet these changes were put into effect prior to OLTPS starting work on a Plan.

Rainforest Relief is about to release a response to the Plan that will outline the truth of the Plan as business-as-usual for the City's rainforest destruction.