27 February, 2003
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) today applauded the announcement by HM Customs of the largest seizure of illegal wood products ever seen in the UK, but stressed the need for new laws to tackle the flood of illegally sourced timber and wood products entering the country. Illegal loggers are rapidly destroying the world's forests, devastating the livelihoods of local peoples and wiping out wildlife. Much of this cheap wood is being imported into the UK.
"The UK imports more illegal tropical timber than any other country in Europe. This seizure is welcome but it is the tip of the iceberg" said Sam Lawson, EIA Forest Campaigner. "Millions of pounds worth of illegally sourced timber come into this country each and every week."
The seized wood was in the form of thousands of metres of picture frame mouldings made from ramin, an endangered tree species from Indonesia and Malaysia. It was imported from Indonesia under a false name, but the wood was seized on arrival at Folkstone port following information provided by EIA.
Investigations by EIA and Indonesian campaign partners Telapak have shown that ramin is being illegally logged in National Parks in Indonesia including the world famous Tanjung Puting in Borneo. Indonesia's National Parks are some of the last refuges of the critically endangered orangutan, one of mankind's closest relatives. Less than 20,000 orangutans remain in the wild and if the logging is not stopped scientists predict they may be extinct within ten years.
"Many people in this country are unaware that they have pictures hanging on their walls made from a rare wood which is being illegally logged in one of the world's most important protected areas" Mr Lawson said. Around 10-15 percent of the wooden picture frames in the UK are made from ramin.
The seizure was made possible only because ramin had been listed on an international convention governing trade in endangered plants and animals. "This is great work by UK customs and will send an important message to the wood industry in this country" said Sam Lawson, EIA Forest Campaigner. "But ramin is a special case. For most illegally sourced wood entering this country there is no UK law stopping companies from importing and selling it."
Illegal logging is a leading cause of forest destruction and in many countries including Indonesia and Brazil it represents more than half of timber production. The multi-billion dollar international trade in illegally sourced wood is being driven by uncontrolled demand for cheap timber in major consuming countries such as the UK. There is currently nothing stopping most of this wood being imported into the UK or anywhere else.
"The UK and other countries must urgently enact new laws banning the import of illegally sourced timber and timber products." Mr Lawson stressed. "Until then imports of cheap illegal timber will continue to drive forest loss and undermine efforts in poor producing countries to halt forest crime"
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