Page 1 of 7

[Passed] Rainforest Protection Act

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:52 pm
by The Scientific States
The General Assembly

Recognizing tropical rainforests as are forests characterized by high rainfall, home to many unique ecosystems with a variety of creatures, flora and fauna

Aware that tropical rainforests play a crucial role in maintaining a stable climate by absorbing and encapsulating vast amounts of CO2

Believing that the preservation of tropical rainforests is beneficial because they absorb vast quantities of carbon dioxide

Further believing that tropical rainforests are home to millions of different species, and contain many beneficial aspects to help the planetary climate

Concerned that continued degradation will tip the balance and transform them from carbon sinks into carbon sources, thus increasing the rate of global warming

Further concerned that the practice of slash-and-burn agriculture destroys vast swaths of tropical rainforests each year.

Noting that tropical rainforests may contain as yet undiscovered plant species who's potential medicinal properties may lead to important advances in medical science.

Further noting that tropical rainforests are home to many non-industrial tribes who's lives and lifestyles are threatened by deforestation and contact with diseases that they have no immunity towards.

Further concerned that there has yet to be a WA resolution to tackle the issues generated by tropical rainforest deforestation, which include extinction of species, displacement of native residents, and drastic environmental consequences.
Defining the following terms:
a. Tropical rainforest – a forest ecosystem characterized by mean annual temperatures above 24 °C and annual precipitation greater than 800 cm;
b. Slash-and-burn agriculture – an agricultural technique which involves cutting and burning of forests or woodlands to create fields.
c. Protected area – An ecosystem with an area of at least 1000 hectares of natural habitat, not altered by exploitation or occupation that is subject to special legal protection and restrictions to exploitation

Hereby

Mandates that tropical rainforest areas be given protected area status.

Bans the use of slash-and-burn techniques in rainforest areas of WA nations.

Also Bans the exploitation of mineral resources in tropical rainforest areas through any techniques that damage the surface ecosystem, in part or in full.

Exempts non-industrial tribes from those provisions that would lead to the destruction of their lifestyles.

Establishes the Tropical Rainforest Protection Agency (TRPA) to oversee exploitation and reforestation of tropical rainforest areas in WA nations.
Authorizes the TRPA to:

-(I)conduct inspections of national tropical rainforests in order to determine the state of said rainforests

-(II)establish, on a case by case basis, the quantity of timber that may be exploited from a nation's tropical rainforests.

-(III)monitor reforestation efforts and the effects mineral resource extraction for the purpose of establishing quotas and certifying compliance.

Prohibits WA nations from accepting imports of timber or mineral resources that are not obtained in a manner compliant with this resolution.

Strongly encourages nations to seek the development of new and more sustainable agricultural techniques that can improve the lives of farmers living in or around tropical rainforest areas.
Co-Author Grobladonia

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:53 pm
by The Scientific States
Also, any help would be appreciated whether it regards the format or the resolution itself.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:56 pm
by North America Inc
So it's only protects forests that are tropical is that correct?

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:58 pm
by The Scientific States
North America Inc wrote:So it's only protects forests that are tropical is that correct?


Pretty much, it's usually tropical rainforests that are at threat from deforestation and other practices, so Grobladonia and I made it for tropical rainforests.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:59 pm
by Grobladonia
Yes. I focuses on tropical rainforests since most of the arguments used in the resolution refer to those types of rainforest.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:03 pm
by North America Inc
How exactly do you plan to fine nations who fail to achieve you quota? How are you going to enforce it?

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:05 pm
by The Scientific States
North America Inc wrote:How exactly do you plan to fine nations who fail to achieve you quota? How are you going to enforce it?


It sounds like a dumb answer, but the TRPA is govern authority to put fines on businesses who fail to reach the quota.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:09 pm
by Corporation de Apple
What happens if a large part of a nations economy relies on this type of farming?

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:12 pm
by North America Inc
The Scientific States wrote:
North America Inc wrote:How exactly do you plan to fine nations who fail to achieve you quota? How are you going to enforce it?


It sounds like a dumb answer, but the TRPA is govern authority to put fines on businesses who fail to reach the quota.

I don't think you will be able to enforce that. Also timber is an important economical export for many NS developing nations. This can hurt them dearly and/or the poor farmer that use the wood.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:14 pm
by The Scientific States
North America Inc wrote:
The Scientific States wrote:
It sounds like a dumb answer, but the TRPA is govern authority to put fines on businesses who fail to reach the quota.

I don't think you will be able to enforce that. Also timber is an important economical export for many NS developing nations. This can hurt them dearly and/or the poor farmer that use the wood.


Using rainforest wood is not banned in the proposal, just regulated. The only thing not allowed is mass deforestation caused by industry.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:16 pm
by Araraukar
And what happens if a nation should lie completely in the tropical zone so that ALL of its forests were rainforests? They could never again fell a tree?

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:18 pm
by The Scientific States
Araraukar wrote:And what happens if a nation should lie completely in the tropical zone so that ALL of its forests were rainforests? They could never again fell a tree?


The proposal says nothing about never being able to use wood from a rainforest.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:32 pm
by Grobladonia
So long as those nations work to replenish the rainforest as well, then timber exports can continue. Some types of timber may be completely banned because they are very rare, crucial to the ecosystem and/or regenerate too slowly, but the others would just have quotas. And the odds of a nation having forests composed exclusively from banned types of timber is pretty close to zero.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:39 pm
by Corporation de Apple
The Scientific States wrote:
Araraukar wrote:And what happens if a nation should lie completely in the tropical zone so that ALL of its forests were rainforests? They could never again fell a tree?


The proposal says nothing about never being able to use wood from a rainforest.

How would they consume food? How would they grow it?
Where would they live?

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:41 pm
by The Scientific States
Corporation de Apple wrote:
The Scientific States wrote:
The proposal says nothing about never being able to use wood from a rainforest.

How would they consume food? How would they grow it?
Where would they live?



Im assuming you mean farmers or citizens, and they could grow and consume food without slashing and burning rainforests. Plus very few people live in rainforests except for indigenous tribes who are exempt from this proposal, as said in the proposal.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:42 pm
by Araraukar
Grobladonia wrote:And the odds of a nation having forests composed exclusively from banned types of timber is pretty close to zero.

OOC: Considering this is the NS, I would be surprised if there wasn't such a nation... :roll:

The Scientific States wrote:Plus very few people live in rainforests except for indigenous tribes who are exempt from this proposal, as said in the proposal.

NS =/= RL. Try again.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:57 pm
by Grobladonia
Corporation de Apple wrote:What happens if a large part of a nations economy relies on this type of farming?

This is perhaps the hardest question to answer. On the one hand you have small farmers that rely on this king of agriculture, on the other there is the long term impact that destruction of the rainforest has on the global climate. It's not easy to choose one or the other, but in this case the global climate (since it impacts everyone) should be considered more important. I included the point #5 (Strongly encourages...) in order to counterbalance this, but I realize it's an imperfect answer. There really is no answer that solves both problems at the same time.

North America Inc wrote:How exactly do you plan to fine nations who fail to achieve you quota? How are you going to enforce it?


There may be a need to change the language of the resolution a bit, but in essence a nation that does not meet its quota for reforestation would be blocked from exporting all types of timber that originate in tropical rainforests. That would be the means of enforcing it.

Corporation de Apple wrote:
The Scientific States wrote:
The proposal says nothing about never being able to use wood from a rainforest.

How would they consume food? How would they grow it?
Where would they live?


I think I see your point. A nation covered completely in rainforests in unlikely to even exist or to have large populations and/or the sort industrial-scale logging that could truly impact the rainforest.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 11:53 pm
by Araraukar
Grobladonia wrote:It's not easy to choose one or the other, but in this case the global climate (since it impacts everyone)

Only those that live on the same planet. Remember, not all member nations reside in the same universe, not to mention the same planet.

Grobladonia wrote:A nation covered completely in rainforests in unlikely to even exist or to have large populations and/or the sort industrial-scale logging that could truly impact the rainforest.

Again, RL =/= NS. (And Araraukar is mostly tropical rain forests, except for the mountainous north. We already have strict policies about protecting the non-urban areas, though. Humans come in second, after environmental concerns.)

PostPosted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 12:15 am
by Grays Harbor
Grobladonia wrote:A nation covered completely in rainforests in unlikely to even exist or to have large populations and/or the sort industrial-scale logging that could truly impact the rainforest.

How is a nation covered in rain forests any different than a nation covered in any other forest? What drives you to make a statement such as that?

(As has been pointed out, NS =/= RL. NS =/= Brazil. NS =/= the Amazon.)

PostPosted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 2:03 am
by Krasnyi
Krasnyi will not support this act as it can and will have severe economic impact on nations that rely on this type of industry for their economy and this would also affect others who buy from said nations.

PostPosted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 5:08 am
by Grobladonia
Araraukar wrote:
Grobladonia wrote:It's not easy to choose one or the other, but in this case the global climate (since it impacts everyone)

Only those that live on the same planet. Remember, not all member nations reside in the same universe, not to mention the same planet.


A fair point, but the arguments for the resolution still stand. If a planet has an Earth-like climate the odds are that it also has tropical rainforests that absorb large amounts of CO2, so this resolution would protect those and the stability of its climate. If the planet is too cold and/or too arid then it will not have tropical rainforests, so they will be unaffected by this resolution. If their ecosystem is made up of non-oxygen breathing species and/or species that are not carbon-based then they will again not be affected since they will have nothing resembling a rainforest.

Araraukar wrote:
Grobladonia wrote:A nation covered completely in rainforests in unlikely to even exist or to have large populations and/or the sort industrial-scale logging that could truly impact the rainforest.

Again, RL =/= NS. (And Araraukar is mostly tropical rain forests, except for the mountainous north. We already have strict policies about protecting the non-urban areas, though. Humans come in second, after environmental concerns.)


If you nation already has strong protections for tropical rainforest areas then odds are that you are already in compliance with this resolution.

Grays Harbor wrote:
Grobladonia wrote:A nation covered completely in rainforests in unlikely to even exist or to have large populations and/or the sort industrial-scale logging that could truly impact the rainforest.

How is a nation covered in rain forests any different than a nation covered in any other forest? What drives you to make a statement such as that?

(As has been pointed out, NS =/= RL. NS =/= Brazil. NS =/= the Amazon.)


Well, a nation that is completely covered in other types of forest would not be affected by this resolution since it focuses exclusively on tropical rainforests as defined within it.

Also, if a nation is both technologically advanced and completely covered in tropical rainforests, then it's a fair assumption that they probably don't practice either large-scale logging, mining or slash-and-burn agriculture, so they are probably already in compliance with this resolution.

Krasnyi wrote:Krasnyi will not support this act as it can and will have severe economic impact on nations that rely on this type of industry for their economy and this would also affect others who buy from said nations.


I understand your concerns, but over the long run protecting tropical rainforests and the stability of the climate may be more advantageous economically. If these forests are exploited without any attention payed to the consequences then the resulting instability of the climate may lead to an increase in extreme weather phenomena who's impact on the economies of many nations will likely be much greater than the impact of this resolution on the economies of some.

George Grognarius,
USSG Ambassador to the World Assembly

PostPosted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:27 am
by Araraukar
Grobladonia wrote:If you nation already has strong protections for tropical rainforest areas then odds are that you are already in compliance with this resolution.

We also execute people summarily and don't care a whit about their human rights. In other words, Araraukar isn't a WA nation (OOC: as my siggy says). Doesn't mean I couldn't argue for some sanity in proposals (OOC: and also I have a WA puppet nation).

I understand your concerns, but over the long run protecting tropical rainforests and the stability of the climate may be more advantageous economically.

To whom? Not the nation with the rainforests, I'm surmising. (OOC: And again, not all nations reside on the same planet.)

PostPosted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:50 am
by Alqania
"The Queendom is delighted to see a proposal on preservation of tropical rainforests", said Princess Christine with a broad smile. "For those representatives that may not be aware of it, I should add that Alqania proper has a tropical climate and that all of our forests there would fall within the tropical rainforest definition of this proposal. And on a personal note, I care greatly about this topic, not the least because I happen to own a bit of rainforest. We do have a few critical comments to offer however."

The Scientific States wrote:The Tropical Rainforest Preservation Act


"Category and strength or area of effect?"

Description: The General Assembly

Recognizing tropical rainforests as are forests characterized by high rainfall, home to many unique eco systems with a variety of creatures, and flora and fauna.

Aware that tropical rainforests play a crucial role in maintaining a stable climate by absorbing and encapsulating vast amounts of CO2.

Believing that the preservation of tropical rainforests are is beneficial because they absorb vast quantities of carbon dioxide.

Further Believing that tropical rainforests are home to millions of different species, and contain many beneficial aspects to help the Global Climate.

Concerned that continued degradation will tip the balance and transform them from carbon sinks into carbon sources, thus increasing the rate of global warming.


"The second to fifth of these clauses could probably be merged into a single clause, perhaps something like this would be enough:"

Believing that tropical rainforests, through their biodiversity and absorption of vast amounts of carbon dioxide, often play a crucial role in maintaining a stable climate on a planetary level.


Further concerned that the practice of slash-and-burn agriculture destroys vast swaths of tropical rainforests each year.

Noting that tropical rainforests may contain as yet undiscovered plant species who's whose potential medicinal properties may lead to important advances in medical science.

Further Noting that tropical rainforests are home to many hunter-gatherer tribes who's whose lives and lifestyles are threatened by deforestation and contact with diseases that they have no immunity towards.


"The Queendom would prefer if the 'hunter-gatherer' part were stricken, as that is not an accurate description of all the people living in tropical rainforests, nor is it only hunter-gatherers that are threatened by deforestation and new diseases."

Worried that continued destruction of the world's tropical rainforests will rob science of the chance to fully study this environment and its potential contributions to medicine.


"This could probably be merged with the earlier clause about medicinal potential."

Further Concerned That there has yet been a WA resolution to conquer the atrocities of tropical rainforest deforestation, which include extinction of animals, displacion displacement of native residents, and drastic environmental consequences that aren't limited to changes of Eco-systems and droughts,

Defining the following terms:

a. Tropical rainforest – a forest ecosystem characterized by mean annual temperatures above 24 °C and annual precipitation greater than 800 cm;

b. Slash-and-burn agriculture – an agricultural technique which involves cutting and burning of forests or woodlands to create fields.


Hereby establishes The Tropical Rainforest Protection Agency, which is dedicated to preserving large areas of rainforests from certain business practices, as well as managing industries use of rainforests regarding cutting down trees for paper and timber,


"The Queendom is hesitant to allow a WA agency to manage Alqanian lumber and paper industries."

The Tropical Rainforest Protection Agency creates and enforces the following rules,

1. Mandates that tropical rainforest areas be given national park or equivalent status, with all the protection that entails.


"Does national park status exist internationally?"

2. Bans the use of slash-and-burn techniques in rainforest areas in WA nations.

3. Also bans the exploitation of oil, natural gas or any other mineral resources in the tropical rainforests of WA nations.


"The implication that mineral resource exploitation is detrimental to forest preservation is not technology level neutral. It is perfectly possible that a member state with advanced resource extraction technology would be able to exploit mineral resources in tropical rainforests without endangering the environment, is it not?"

4. Exempts indigenous tribes from those provisions that would lead to the destruction of their lifestyles.

5. Strongly encourages nations to seek the development of new and more sustainable agricultural techniques that can improve the lives of farmers living in or around tropical rainforest areas.


6. Authorizes the TRPA to:

- conduct inspections of national tropical rainforests in order to determine the state of said rainforests

-impose quotas or bans on certain types of timber that is obtained from tropical rainforests

-make these quotas dependent on the reforestation of an equal or greater surface of land formerly classified as tropical rainforest

-levy fines on national and private entities that fail to comply to the terms of this resolution

Co-Authored by Grobladonia


"The Queendom is hesitant to allow a WA agency to impose quotas and bans on Alqanian lumber and paper industries. We find it perfectly possible to achieve sustainability without such draconian measures."

"The Queendom suspects that, as currently written, this proposal may be illegal for failing to do anything other than creating a committee."

PostPosted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:59 am
by Araraukar
One more thing to point out; the tropical rainforests aren't "CO2 sinks", nor do they produce excess amounts of oxygen. They produce about as much as they absorb; when things decompose, the carbon returns to the cycle, and the decomposition and all the creatures that breathe in oxygen (plants do that too), also produce CO2. If you want oxygen producers, look at plankton, and for carbon deposits, look at the "organic snow" that ends up on the sea bottom.

Biodiversity would be the only selling point for excessive tropical forests protections. And even then the same should be extended to any other widely diverse ecosystem.

PostPosted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:45 am
by Mediobogdum
Here in 'minnowsville' Mediobogdum we take a more pragmatic and softer approach to the protection of rain forests. We allow the development of mining, timber felling and other industrial activities along clearly defined rain forest borders which are outside the designated category of those inviolable 'pristine' areas which have been mapped out by government officials and environmental groups. There are Draconian fines and long terms of imprisonment for those individuals and corporate personnel who fell/mine, or allow the felling/mining, outside these agreed development areas The felling of areas rain forests within agreed areas prohibits the uncontrolled 'slash and burn' policy. Further, areas designated for development are strictly supervized by governement- appointed inspectors who are 'on the ground'. In addition, there is a requirement for the companies to replant, on a ten-for-one basis, trees that are felled for timber. As far as the mining for uranium, coal, and iron is concerned, strip-mining is against the law. Whilst this latter policy makes the company's profit margins much smaller, our governement feels this is a small price to pay to protect, as far as is practically possible, the marginal rain forest areas. In the end, who are we saving the rain forests for and why? Is it for ourselves, the wildlife that lives there, or for future generations to enjoy/destroy as they see fit? Surely a compromise is in order?