Les panélistes : Philippe Mondielli, Directeur scientifique Fondation Prince Albert II
Raoul Viora, Président de MC2D
Marcel Roggi, Directeur adjoint du service des Travaux Publics de Monaco
Bastien Sachet, Directeur du développement TFT
Stéphane Guéneau, Président de FSC France.
Le photographe Cyril Ruoso avec SAS le Prince Albert II de Monaco.
Copyright Charles Franch / Palais Princier

The tropical rainforests house at least 75% of the world’s biodiversity. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the association MC2D have decided, for 2010 - the Year of Biodiversity - to focus on the necessary and essential protection of these ecosystems.

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, in partnership with the association MC2D, has decided to launch a campaign entitled “Monaco makes a commitment against deforestation” to promote, in Monaco, the use of wood harvested from sustainably managed forests.

Destruction of the tropical rainforests accounts for more than 20% of greenhouse gas emissions and furthermore leads to soil degradation, loss of biodiversity and the exclusion of the local populations.

 

One of the most effective ways of combating this scourge is to give the forests an economic value through appropriate management. Rational forestry practices enable us to target certain species of tree and of a certain age only, while respecting biodiversity-rich areas and the people living there.  Rational forestry practice enables forest regeneration and generates economic value for the parties concerned, foresters and the indigenous people alike.

 

One of the concrete catalysts for change resides in the production, marketing and utilisation of certified wood under the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) label, which is currently the most important forest certification label for the tropical rainforests.

 

In the Principality, several efforts have already been made in this respect:

 

·         His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco is patron of UNEP’s “one billion tree campaign”. As such, and through the activities of his Foundation mentioned below, he has become one of the pacesetters for forest protection.

 

·         The “Association Monégasque de la Protection de la Nature” carries out reforestation activities on a regular basis in the forest areas bordering Monaco, in cooperation with the French National Forestry Commission.

 

·         The Government of Monaco has implemented a responsible purchasing policy for all state construction programmes, recommending the use exclusively of certified wood in its specifications.

 

·         The Foundation supports an expert training project in the Congo Basin which helps foresters to achieve FSC certification, a project for the education and cultural strengthening of the Kayapo Indians in the Amazon Forest, a conservation project for the Siberut primary forest in Indonesia, a study with the Global Canopy Program on the economic value of the tropical rainforests, and finally a project to create new nature parks in the heart of Amazonian Peru with the Field Museum in Chicago.

 

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and MC2D are keen to support these efforts by developing the use of certified wood and paper throughout the territory and consequently make the Principality a model for the protection of the tropical rainforests and the fight against global warming.

In the early afternoon of Thursday 28^th January the first round table on this initiative was organised in Monaco, the goal of which was to promote the use of certified wood in the Principality.

This round table was moderated by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the association MC2D, FSC France and the Forest Trust. Executives from the yachting, building and trade sectors attended the meeting and avenues for developing this initiative have already been opened.

 

The day concluded with the opening of the exhibition “The wealth of the tropical rainforests” at the Galerie des Pêcheurs in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. The photographs were taken by Cyril Ruoso and present the result of a long and diverse journey of discovery, meetings and shared experiences in the rainforests of the world.  They unveil fascinating but extremely endangered places, often little known and little understood. The exhibition is open until 28^th May 2010.