Press Release on Mahogany
2/1/93
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/** rainfor.genera: 147.0 **/
** Topic: PR on Mahogany from FoE (repost) **
** Written 7:15 pm Feb 1, 1993 by anthony in cdp:rainfor.genera
**
** Written 3:11 pm Feb 1, 1993 by gn:foetrf in
cdp:rainfor.genera **
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE RAINFOREST CAMPAIGN:
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
ENGLAND WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND,
26-28 Underwood Street,
London N1 7JQ.
Tel: (071) 490 1555
Fax: (071) 490 0881
E-Mail: foetrf@gn.apc.org
Embargo: 00.01 hrs, 2 February, 1993
'GREEN' TIMBER FIRMS IN ILLEGAL MAHOGANY TRADE
Friends of the Earth today unmasked British companies recently
dealing with Brazilian timber firms found to be stealing mahogany
from Indian reserves in the Amazon rainforests [1].
The revelations coincide with a meeting in the Brazilian capital
(Brasilia) between the British Timber Trade Federation (TTF),
Brazilian Government officials and Amazon mahogany exporting
companies [2].
British firms currently or recently dealing with the illegal
loggers include James Latham plc (By Appointment to Her Majesty
the Queen) [3], Richard Burbridge Ltd, (former Vice Chairman of
the timber industry's environmental counter-campaign, Forests
Forever) [4] and M and N Norman Timber Ltd (co-founder of the
environmental initiative, The Scottish Hardwood Charter) [5].
Evidence exists implicating several other prominent British
companies with those ordered to quit logging in Indian lands.
These include John Boddy Timber Ltd and George Sykes Ltd [6].
Research published by Friends of the Earth in 1992 showed how the
Brazilian mahogany trade leads to wholesale forest loss and to the
destruction of indigenous communities through diseases introduced
by loggers and by outright murder [7].
Tony Juniper, Tropical Rainforest Campaigner at Friends of the
Earth, said: "Household accessories made from mahogany are really
accessories to murder. Timber companies and the Government must
take action to ban imports immediately".
British timber firms have repeatedly dismissed evidence (including
that presented by Brazilian officials) indicating that the
mahogany trade is largely outside the law maintaining that their
suppliers are acting legally and responsibly [8].
Friends of the Earth and its affiliate organisation in Brazil, GTA
(Grupo de Trabalho Amazonico), are calling for an immediate ban on
mahogany cutting and for a suspension of mahogany imports to
Britain, Brazil's largest export market [9].
contact:
Tony Juniper
(071) 490 0336 Direct
(071) 490 1555 Switchboard
0831 5553231 Mobile
Notes for editors
NB: documents supporting claims made in this press release are
available to bona fide journalists on request. The map indicates
indigenous reserves occupied by Brazilian mahogany companies
ordered to leave in January's ruling. This may be reproduced with
the credit 'source: Friends of the Earth.'
[1] On 15 January 1993, Brazil's Federal, Judge Selene Maria de
Almeida, granted an injunction against the mahogany logging
companies Maginco, Perachi and Impar - all of which supply the
British market. The ruling ordered the closure of roads illegally
driven into Indian lands, for the removal of equipment and
personnel and for the companies to pay compensation to local
tribal communities. The injunction granted against these
companies details a range of impacts related to the extraction of
large quantities of mahogany.
[2] On 2 February 1993, the London-based Timber Trade Federation
(TTF) will meet with Brazilian Government and timber exporter
representatives in Brasilia. The meeting follows calls made in
London during November by the visiting President of Brazil's
Indian agency, FUNAI, for British traders to cease imports of
Brazilian mahogany. The President's pleas were refused by trade
interests on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
[3] James Latham plc is one of the UK's largest timber traders.
Although current trading relationships are unknown, photographic
evidence in the possession of Friends of the Earth shows that
Latham's were trading mahogany supplied by Perachi and Impar
during the summer of 1990. Both companies were at this time
operating in Indian lands.
[4] Richard Burbridge Ltd supplies mahogany to the UK market
derived from Maginco. Documents held by Friends of the Earth
clearly identify this relationship and highlight assurances
supplied by Maginco regarding the measures taken to avoid
ecological impacts. Richard Burbridge, a supporter of WWF's '1995'
initiative, recently suffered a commercial blow when DIY
superstore B&Q announced a unilateral ban on mahogany sales.
[5] M and N Norman Timber Ltd is a co-founder of the Scottish
Hardwood Charter, an industry-led 'environmental' timber
initiative. Maginco is named as a supplier of M and N Norman's in
documents in the possession of Friends of the Earth.
[6] Forests Forever supporter John Boddy Timber Ltd has imported
from Maginco for many years and assures its customers that the
mahogany supplied is 'from a sustained resource'. George Sykes is
another large UK timber importer also supplied by Maginco.
[7] Mahogany is Murder, Friends of the Earth, August 1992.
[8] Following demonstrations staged last year, the Timber Trade
Federation has repeatedly claimed that it had seen no evidence
confirming allegations of illegal mahogany cutting in Brazil.
Moreover, claims that mahogany has been responsibly harvested by
the companies named in the recent injunction have continued to be
made. Despite its stated intent to undertake investigations, no
results have as yet been made public. Indeed, in a letter to
Friends of the Earth dated 22 January 1993, the TTF states that
investigations into allegations made in early 1992, 'are not yet
completed'.
[9] In 1991, at least 45,762 cubic metres of Brazilian mahogany
(valued at 22 million pounds) was imported into the United
Kingdom; more than half of Brazil's total mahogany exports.