Disastrous help

1989/06/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

The International Fund for Nature (WWF) has stated that the Japanese foreign aid program, the largest in the world, is helping to destroy the world rainforest.

Japan is the world's largest importer of tropical timber: In 1986 it occupied 29% of the international market. This wood is mainly used in the booming construction industry of Japan. According to WWF, 70% of the timber coming to Japan comes from the Malay states of Sarawa and Sabah. The forests that are expelled in these regions retain the most interesting ecosystems from the biological point of view of the world.

The WWF report notes that Japanese foreign aid drives these practices. The report notes that Japan, newly arrived in the external aid zone, is repeating to a greater extent the same mistakes as previous ones. For example, aid for improved communication in remote regions (roads and infrastructure) allows Japanese timber companies to approach them and dump the forest.