The best business in Panama. Conserving forests, promoting tourism and commercial reforestation.

China to WTO: Scrap plastic imports banned by year-end

By STEVE TOLOKEN    
http://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20170718/NEWS/170719892/china-to-wto-scrap-plastic-imports-banned-by-year-end

China told the World Trade Organization (WTO) July 18 that it will ban imports of scrap plastics and other “foreign garbage” by the end of the year, officially taking a step that had been widely rumored in the industry.

The move drew quick criticism from a recycling industry trade group in the United States, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), which said it would be “devastating” to the global recycling industry and cost thousands of U.S. jobs.

ISRI said the ban would include most scrap plastics, including PET, PVC, polyethylene and polystyrene, as well as mixed papers and slag.

China’s government said it was taking the action to protect public health and the environment.

“We found that large amounts of dirty wastes or even hazardous wastes are mixed in the solid waste that can be used as raw materials,” China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection said in a notification to WTO. “This polluted the environment seriously.”

“To protect China’s environmental interests and people’s health, we urgently adjust the imported solid waste list, and forbid the import of solid wastes that are highly polluted,” it said.

Washington-based ISRI said the move could cause severe economic harm in the United States.

“If implemented, a ban on scrap imports will result in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and closure of many recycling businesses throughout the United States,” ISRI President Robin Weiner said in a statement.

ISRI immediately relayed its concerns to the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Commerce, and briefed U.S. officials ahead of the July 19 U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue in Washington.

The association said one-third of the scrap recycled in the United States is exported, with China being the largest market. That includes 1.42 million tons (3.1 billion pounds) of scrap plastics, worth an estimated $495 million, out of $5.6 billion in scrap commodities exported from the United States to China last year, it said.

“Recycled materials are key inputs into the production of new, usable commodities for the use in value-add production,” ISRI said. “The trade in specification-grade commodities — metals, paper and plastics — between the United States and China is of critical importance to the health and success of the U.S. based recycling industry.”

The step had been rumored. ISRI leaders said at a mid-June news conference, after returning from a trip to China, that there were serious rumors of a ban on scrap imports, starting with plastics. That echoed earlier comments from Chinese plastics industry officials.

In a related development, a Chinese plastics recycling group said that a month-long crackdown on plastics recyclers that began July 1 had resulted in inspecting 888 factories by July 14. That’s about half of the 1,792 factories licensed to import waste plastics.

Related Articles in this Blog

Panama exports its plastic waste to Costa Rica.

https://apronadpanama.blogspot.com/2016/03/francisco-rivas-rios.html

The Plastic Recycling Market in Panama (updated).

https://apronadpanama.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-plastic-recycling-market-in-panama.html

Panama: towards a national organization for the forest carbon

The withdrawal of States United of the Paris agreement on climate change has given greater importance to the participation of enterprises and organizations of civil society. The United Nations Global Compact, for example, offers cooperation to mobilize a global movement of Governments, civil society and companies to "create the world we want".

March 29, 2017, published on our Blog the article entitled "Trump and climate change: is the time for non-State actors". On that occasion, we indicate:

"It is time to promote the participation of non-State actors, establishing various forms of partnerships, joint ventures and mutually beneficial agreements, aimed at strengthening the fight against climate change. And on this basis, define a new framework of coordination with government entities."

As part of this strategic vision, APRONAD is promoting the creation of a national representative instance, capable of promoting the conservation of forests associated with economic benefits, by emission Greenhouse Gases (GHG) reductions, which will be marketed in the voluntary carbon market.

The objectives of an organization of this kind arise in the following terms:

General objective: Contribute to turn Panama into a synonym for commitment to sustainable development, positioning it as a leading nation in the fight against climate change.

Specific objectives: 1) to promote the sustainability of forest resources management; (2) set up a national organization of owners of forest resources and agricultural producers, based on the principles of representativeness, participation and decision making in a democratic way; (3) develop institutional capacities for the preparation and presentation of proposals, technical, legal and policy aimed at the payment for environmental services; (4) establishing mechanisms for national and international, public and private funding for the design and development of sustainable projects in the sector of agriculture, forestry and other land uses; (5) to conduct marketing joint bonds voluntary and regulated carbon markets, applying the principles of economic scale; (6) channel international and national technical assistance and training to the members of the Association; (7) expanding networks of contacts in the region and generate opportunities for collaboration.

The success of this organization depends on the application of the approaches of "social demand", organization of "bottom-up" and collective leadership based on consensus. The organization claims should express the demands and claims of its members, and not the opinion of a privileged circle. The process of structuring must be from the community organizations of Base (OCB) and leadership should be shared, thus, collective.

To illustrate the organizational model promoted, let the network of community organizations affiliated to FUNREGAAC. This Foundation has 13 associated OCBs and 2 that are considered friends, in the following way:

Each of these organizations, in a participatory manner, raised their reasons for participating in a national project of forest carbon. Let's look at the arguments of the Agroambientalista Association of Oajaca, located in the community of Oajaca, Corregimiento de Chiguirí Arriba, Penonomé district:

• Population: 500 families.
• Type of existing forest resources:

            - Primary forest.
            - Secondary forest.
            - Grasslands, bamboo.
            - Agriculture (crop type): citrus, coffee, vegetables, cassava, otoe, Yam, maize, timber..

• Priority community problems:

            - Weak community organization.

            - Inadequate equipment of the Local Development Board.

            -  Weaknesses the Committee of health.

            - Weaknesses the board administrator of the aqueduct Rural (JAAR)

            - Unemployment.

            - Roads in disrepair.

            - Poor transport service.

• Biodiversity:

           - Endangered species: Toucan mountain pichilargo

           - Proximity to protected areas: Cucuazal.

           - Illegal logging and burning.

           - Poaching.

           - Wildfires.

In this case, the project of forest carbon is associated with local development challenges. 15 community organizations associate and friends of Funregaac, has expressed interest in participating in a national organization, provided it is built "from bottom to top", on sound democratic principles.

The national organization which proposes APRONAD will be the sum of multiple efforts, involving various organizations of civil society related to the fight against climate change. In the coming weeks, will be presented the initiative at the national and international organizations. Those who are interested in learning more about the project and join the initiative can contact us at email: apronad@gmail.com.

OCBs of Cocle prepare proposals for Carbon Project

Civil society and environmental agenda in the Panama-China relationship

The establishment of diplomatic relations between Panama and China has created opportunities for a

relaunch of the Panamanian economy, through millions of Chinese investments in strategic sectors such as infrastructure and logistics. China is the second most important user of the Panama Canal, behind the US, and the first supplier of the Colon Free Zone (ZLC), the largest in the hemisphere, located on the Atlantic coast of Panama and has crossed An acute crisis.

There are also opportunities for relations between Panama and China to have a favorable impact on the Panamanian effort to comply with the Paris Agreement. While President Trump's government has decided to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, China and Germany have recently ratified their commitment to fighting climate change in the wake of Trump's withdrawal. We emphasize Chancellor Merkel's request to Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang to "contribute to the search for solutions" so that the German political foundations working in his country can carry out their task of "cooperation with civil society".

 

 Merkel's proposals can be adopted by the Panamanian government. The presence of China should also serve to bring civil society organizations closer to each other, with a focus on sustainable development, conservation and environmental protection. For example, Panama exports Panama to sell copper and aluminum waste to China, but this activity is carried out by the informal sector in working conditions, the Chinese cooperation could help to correct this problem.

 

An Environmental Agenda, with the active participation of the

civil society of both countries could include the following thematic areas:
1. The Integral Management of Solid Waste, with a special focus on improving the living conditions of the informal sector linked to recycling.2. Promotion of community-based tourism to expand and diversify tourism in Panama in anticipation of the expected influx of Chinese tourists.3. Support for the commercialization of forest carbon bonds (Voluntary Carbon Market) owned by communities, private forest owners and indigenous territories.

 

Obviously, the Panamanian government will include other issues related to the interests of the logistics, financial and commercial sector. But an Environmental Agenda, with the participation of civil society would be an important contribution to local sustainable development and the pursuit of equity.

More ambition and innovation in tackling climate change (VCS)

We have received the April / May 2017 Spring Newsletter from Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). VCS was founded in 2005 by environmental and business leaders who saw the need for greater quality assurance in voluntary carbon markets. CEO David Antonioli speaks about President Trump's decision to withdraw the Paris Agreement. The statement follows:

"Dear Colleague,
More than anything, we see Trump’s decision to abandon the Paris Agreement as a call to continue the work we are already doing, and we look forward to working with all of you to push for more ambition and innovation in tackling climate change".

We saw it coming, and yet Trump’s decision to pull out of the landmark Paris Agreement was nevertheless deeply disheartening. While we were dismayed by the decision, we are no less motivated to keep working towards climate action. We stand with countries, states, cities, organisations and corporations worldwide that have signaled their commitment to stick with the Paris Agreement and continue to find ways of addressing climate change. Indeed, on the same day as Trump’s announcement, Colombia published what we think is a far-reaching and incredibly innovative decree setting out how companies subject to a US$5/tonCO₂e tax on fuels can reduce their tax liability by surrendering high-quality carbon offsets. This is just one of what we hope (and expect) to be many examples of countries and others taking the lead in forging solutions to fight climate change.

For VCS, supporting the Paris Agreement means continuing to provide frameworks that catalyze investment in activities that reduce concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It also means providing frameworks that will work in the context of a fully functioning Paris Agreement, which will require that we continue to make sure our projects and programs deliver measurable results and also deal with some of the challenges we see coming forward, including the need to address double counting and claiming".

Panama: APRONAD Presents Advances of the Forest Carbon Project

The technical team of APRONAD, presented this May 20, 2017, the progress of the Project: Reduction of GHG Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the Republic of Panama (Voluntary Carbon Market, MVC).

The goal of the Project is to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), equivalent to 3 million carbon credits, which will be traded in the Carbon Market (MVC). Moreover, objective of the Workshop was to know the methodology and its application in the realization of forest inventories (carbon stocks), to agree the hiring of the company that will carry out the validation of the project, and to inform the procedures that are done for the opening and registration of the Project, a fundamental requirement to achieve the bond issue.

The activity was carried out in the community of Coclesito, District of Donoso, Province of Colón. National coordinators representing private forest owners throughout the country, as well as members of communities, all interested in conserving forests, were involved in the face of advances in deforestation and degradation.

The Workshop served to review the main results of the forest inventory (carbon stock) in the District of Donoso.

• Results of the Forest Inventory in the District of Donoso.

A Temporary Sample Plot was selected in the District of Donoso. The methodology used for the inventory survey consisted of a UM whose dimensions were 100m x 100m (Square), with four subplots at the vertices of 12m x 12m; Established to take information from the forest on biomass and carbon. The variables that were measured were: DAP at 1.30 m of the soil, total height, commercial height. In the entire UM, all trees with DBH ≥ 50 cm were measured; In the subplots, all trees with DBH ≥ 10 cm. A 100 m transect was demarcated in the center of the plot to measure the necromass.

The study yields the following results:

The District of Donoso is home to the Tropical Humid Forest (bmh-T) according to Holdridge's classification of living zones; Is a zone of Very Humid Tropical Climate (Afi) according to the criteria used by Koppen. If we use the classification of the vegetation of Panama, in the District of Donosa predominates the Tropical Evergreen Forest with soils of type VI considering its agrological classification.

The data indicate that these forests store more than 140 t c / ha in the aerial biomass per hectare. If we compare our values with those of the inventory made in Donoso in 2016 by CEPSA and the one made for the Western Region of the Canal Basin by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), the values are very similar to both.

During the Workshop the following additional conclusions were discussed:

• The topography of the area is very irregular, with estimated slopes of up to 50%, which implies the loss of litter. In addition, since it is a forest with a broad canopy, the growth of grasses or other weeds is almost nil.

• The carbon in the soil is 72 t C / ha, reflecting its great richness in organic matter.

The complete inventory will be posted online after the Project (PPD) is validated and registered.

The results have been evaluated as positive. Inventories will continue throughout the country, in regions where forest owners, indigenous territories and grassroots community organizations are located.

• The validation of the Project.

Workshop attendees accepted the recommendation of the APRONAD technical team, to hire AENOR, with extensive experience in the validation of carbon projects in the forestry sector.

We recommend reading an article recently published in the corporate magazine of AENOR on the work on the GUATECARBON project in the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala http://www.aenor.com/revista/pdf/ene17/24ene17.

• Project Registration.

APRONAD has initiated the procedures for the opening of an Account and the Project Register, in an international entity. Once confirmed this management, will be released the data of the account and its registry.

New forest inventories in the month of June 2017. 

New forest inventories will be made during the month of June 2007 in the following locations: 

• Province of Veraguas.

• Penonomé (Sub-Watershed of the Zarati River).

• Province of Los Santos.

• Province of Panama (East Panama).

• Community of Arimae (Collective Land Emberá Wounaan). In this case, the inventories have been carried out by international organizations, therefore, the Project (PPD) will be developed.

The last defenders of the forests of Panama

Panama is characterized by a progressive and irreversible loss of forest cover, initiated since 1903. Forest fires, urban sprawl, extensive agricultural and livestock systems, the economics of banana and African palm plantations, among other factors, have led to Devastation of forests.

Since 2000, international cooperation, through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Development Bank of Latin America CAF, has channeled millions of dollars to conservation projects in Panama. But the loss of forest cover begun since 1903 has not been halted. Without prompt action, vast regions of the country will begin a desertification process. ¿What is the cause of this failure?

In this context, two "parallel universes" have emerged: the world of governmental and international agencies, gifted with generous technical and financial resources, and the domain of private landowners, rural and indigenous communities fighting a solo battle, trying to protect the remnants of forests. To date, a connection has not been established between the two sectors.

The owners of forests, rural and indigenous communities have decided to link the conservation of forest resources to the fight against climate change, exploring the opportunities offered by the Voluntary Carbon Market. The preparation of the Project Design Document (PDD) is fully funded with equity resources and voluntary work in the field, and also with contributions from local investors. In this way, the sector of the Non-State Actor Zone for Climate Action (NAZCA) has begun to be set up in Panama.

Panama's NAZCA sector has begun the process of creating a National Organization for Forest Carbon. The organization is divided into 4 divisions:

A) The Financing Commission: whose objective is to establish negotiations with the banking sector, to promote green financing.

B) The Marketing Commission, which will be responsible for promoting the sale of carbon credits.

C) The Commission for Training and Technical Assistance, with the purpose of channeling the scientific knowledge towards a sustainable forest management.

D) The Political Advocacy Commission: responsible for promoting legal initiatives to create a legal framework favorable to the conservation of forests.

At present, a team of Panamanian and other professionals, organized by APRONAD, carry out forest inventories to determine carbon stocks. The initial effort is carried out in the provinces of Colon and Penonomé, the collective lands of the Emberá - Wounaan (Darién), East Panama and Veraguas Province communities. With the satellite information an initial valuation of the properties that participate in the Project is made, the temporary sampling plots are selected and the information on the ground is raised.

This private initiative has the advantage of having the commitment and dedication of forest owners. It is a project that is born empowered by its beneficiaries. But the lack of technical and financial support from the government sector and international cooperation agencies slows development,