Global Witness - Breaking the links between natural resources, conflict and corruption
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Forest governance in Honduras
Global Witness first started working in Honduras by designing, implementing and subsequently handing over to a local organisation an Independent Forest Monitoring (IFM) project between 2005 and 2006.
As well as continuing to liaise with the local monitor and provide support as needed, Global Witness is complementing IFM work by continuing to undertake its own investigations in Honduras in order to document illegality, poor governance and mismanagement in the country’s forest sector. In so doing, we support efforts toward achieving a lasting reform in the forest sector that will guarantee the preservation of Honduran forests, the respect for local people and the equity and transparency in the distribution of revenues generated by the legal and sustainable use of forests.
In January 2009, Global Witness published the report “Illegal logging in the Rio Plátano Biosphere. A farce in three acts”, which exposes how governance failure resulted in illegal logging of large amounts of mahogany in the country’s biggest protected area. Click here to read the full report and the press release.
Latest Publications
September 2010
Global Witness stands by findings on Sudanese oil data
Global Witness today refuted claims that it had apologized for the findings of its September 2009 report, Fuelling Mistrust, on the lack of transparency in Sudan's oil sector. The organisation said that although very important commitments on improving transparency were made recently by the Government of National Unity (GoNU), the full disclosure of oil revenue data and the results of an independent audit remain necessary to prove the concerns were unfounded.
August 2010
Global Witness welcomes Norwegian government disinvestment from predatory loggers Samling
Global Witness welcomes the Norwegian Government Pension Fund's decision to disinvest from the notorious Malaysian timber giant Samling. Global Witness has previously exposed illegal logging by Samling in Cambodia as well as evidence of legal breaches by two Samling-associated companies in Liberia.
Global Witness welcomes new commitment to transparency in Sudan
Global Witness has participated in a landmark seminar on oil revenue transparency in Khartoum, organised by the Sudanese government and attended by foreign oil companies. We welcome the commitment to increase transparency, including an audit of the oil sector and publication of key production and revenue figures.
Global Witness applauds RBS penalty over terrorist financing
Global Witness welcomes the decisive action taken by the UK financial regulator, the FSA, which has fined the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) £5.6 million for failing to check whether its customers were on the UK terrorist sanctions list.
Campbell testimony shines light on blood diamonds and the importance of international justice
Global Witness is attending the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor in The Hague as supermodel Naomi Campbell is called to testify. The event offers a useful reminder of the role of natural resources in funding conflict, and of the importance of pursuing justice for the victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
