TROPICAL RAINFOREST DESTRUCTION AND BIOFUEL SOURCING

Early day motion 1568, tabled 6 February 2006 by Rudi Vis (Labour). Signed by 69 members.

That this House notes that tropical rainforests are a crucial part of the world's remaining carbon sinks as well as home to indigenous peoples and a wealth of natural heritage; further notes that growing markets for palm oil, soya oil and bioethanol are among the key drivers of further rainforest clearance, and yet such imports for biofuel currently will qualify towards the fulfilment of the EU biofuels directive and the UK renewable transport fuels obligation, in particular South East Asian palm oil and the cheap biodiesel derived from it; further notes the huge carbon dioxide releases occurring from peatlands in deforested areas; therefore urges the Government to make the strongest protestations to the relevant EU bodies in order to remove, throughout the EU, the application of this incentive for such imports from tropical rainforest belt countries; and calls on the Government and EU further to explore ways of helping to improve protection of the world's remaining rainforest and to minimise carbon dioxide releases associated with clearances.

Signatures by party: Labour 40, Liberal Democrat 18, Conservative 5, DUP 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Respect 1.