[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 839 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 839

  Condemning the illegal extraction of Madagascar's natural resources.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 15, 2009

Mr. Blumenauer (for himself, Mr. Payne, and Mr. Faleomavaega) submitted 
   the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                            Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Condemning the illegal extraction of Madagascar's natural resources.

Whereas Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island, and home to up to 
        150,000 species of unique flora and fauna;
Whereas during the last 20 years, with the support of the U.S. Government and 
        others, Madagascar has made substantial progress in stopping 
        environmental degradation, effectively managing natural resources and 
        preserving its unique biodiversity;
Whereas these natural resources provide essential benefits and services for the 
        basic needs of the majority of Madagascar's people, three-quarters of 
        whom live in rural areas and two-thirds of whom live on less than $2 per 
        day;
Whereas these natural resources also provide economic development in the tourism 
        sector, drawing an estimated $390,000,000 per year;
Whereas the Obama Administration has condemned Marc Ravalomanana's forced 
        resignation as President of the Republic of Madagascar, and Andry 
        Rajoelina's installation as de facto head of state, as tantamount to a 
        coup d'etat, undemocratic, and contrary to the rule of law;
Whereas in March 2009, the Obama Administration announced a suspension of non-
        humanitarian assistance to the de facto Andry Rajoelina government;
Whereas, given that \2/3\ of people live off the natural resources, decreased 
        assistance for conservation efforts is having dire humanitarian 
        consequences;
Whereas the African Union and the Southern African Development Community have 
        suspended Madagascar's participation until constitutional order is 
        restored;
Whereas in October 2009, the World Wide Fund (WWF), Conservation International, 
        and the Wildlife Conservation Society condemned an interministerial 
        order issued by the current administration granting sweeping 
        authorization to export raw and semi-processed hard wood as 
        ``legaliz[ing] the sale of illegally cut and collected wood onto the 
        market; allow[ing] for the potential embezzlement of funds in the name 
        of environmental protection and constitut[ing] a legal incentive for 
        further corruption in the forestry sector'';
Whereas the following natural resource degradation is occurring under the de 
        facto government's watch--

    (1) open and organized plundering of precious wood from natural 
forests, including World Heritage Sites such as Marojejy and Masoala 
National Parks;

    (2) intimidation and menace of legitimate local community management 
structures, and expropriation of revenue and benefits from them, causing 
suffering and impoverishment;

    (3) intensified smuggling of endemic and protected species and species 
parts and/or products to the national and international markets;

    (4) proliferation of destructive practices such as illegal mining and 
slash-and-burn agriculture within protected areas and environmentally 
sensitive areas;

    (5) degradation of forests, pushing some rosewood and ebony species to 
the brink of extinction; and

    (6) the degradation of the resource base upon which rural communities 
depend representing an immediate and future threat to local governance, 
local incomes, and food security; and

Whereas the vast majority of this precious wood is destined for global export 
        markets: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on people of Madagascar to immediately undertake 
        a democratic, consensual process to restore constitutional 
        governance, culminating in free, fair and peaceful elections;
            (2) strongly condemns the illegal extraction of 
        Madagascar's natural resources and its impact on biodiversity 
        and livelihoods of rural communities, including illegal 
        logging, smuggling of wild species, and illegal mining;
            (3) supports action by competent authorities and the people 
        of Madagascar to stop this illegal devastation and bring those 
        perpetrating these crimes to justice;
            (4) calls upon importing countries to intensify their 
        inspection and monitoring processes to ensure that they do not 
        contribute to the demand for illegally sourced precious woods 
        from Madagascar; and
            (5) calls upon consumers of rosewood and ebony products to 
        check their origin, and boycott those made of Malagasy wood, 
        until constitutional order is restored.
                                 <all>