Illegal Timber

Indonesia gets new world record: fastest forest logger

Posted by jamie — 16 March 2007 at 10:54am - Comments

Protesters sawing through a huge wooden wall depicting Indonesia's rainforestsThis morning, the streets of Jakarta were buzzing with the sound of chainsaws. It wasn't a loggers' convention causing all the racket but protesters sawing through a huge wooden wall depicting Indonesia's rainforests.

Article tagged as: destructive logging, forests, illegal timber, indonesia

Russian forestry agency launches investigation into illegal logging

Posted by jamie — 13 March 2007 at 7:04pm - Comments

Activists being removed from their blockade of the Stora Enso headquarters in Helsinki Amidst all the current hoo-hah about Trident, we have some good news from Russia or, at least, the potential for good news.

Back in September, our Partners in Crime report revealed how Finland is importing vast quantities of timber logged illegally in neighbouring Russia. According to federal law, all forestry management plans must undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment - in the republic of Karelia these assessments are not being done yet the local government continues to hand out logging permits.

However, this week the Head of the Federal Forestry Agency in Russia has ordered an immediate investigation into the problem, appointing a commission to report back next month. This is a huge step forward and acknowledges the scale of the problem - of all the timber felled in Karelia, the majority is illegal.

Article tagged as: EU, finland, forests, illegal timber, russia, stora enso

Should the EC ban illegal timber? You decide!

Posted by jamie — 12 February 2007 at 9:00am - Comments

If you were caught selling pirate DVDs, it would be no surprise if you were fined or even sent to jail. After all, you would be breaking the law.

But when companies in Europe buy or sell illegal timber from the last of the world's ancient forests, nothing happens. They won't even have the timber confiscated. Astounding, there are no laws to stop illegal timber or timber products from ending up in your local shops or even in your home.

Article tagged as: consultations, EU, forests, illegal timber

European Commission admits illegal timber scandal

Posted by jamie — 1 December 2006 at 4:42pm - Comments

Activists demonstrate how the EU should be using FSC timber in May 2004

It's official. The European Union Commission has admitted that we were right about illegal timber in the commission's own headquarters.

Article tagged as: berlaymont, EC, EU, forests, illegal timber

Yet more illegal rainforest timber found in Westminster

Posted by admin — 28 September 2006 at 8:00am - Comments
Following our expose at the Cabinet Office, more illegal timber has been found in Westminster

You couldn't make it up. After having been exposed no less than three times already for using illegal timber in their building projects, Tony Blair's government has done it again.

Article tagged as: forests, government, houses of parliament, illegal timber, newsnight, papua new guinea

Finland joins the Golden Chainsaw hall of infamy

Posted by jamie — 25 September 2006 at 8:00am - Comments

 

Finland joins the Golden Chainsaw hall of infamy

The Golden Chainsaws are becoming something of a Greenpeace tradition. They're not annual, they're not voted for by a secret cabal of society members, but when it comes to wanton destruction of forest landscapes, they ensure the efforts of those responsible do not go unremarked.

Article tagged as: finland, forests, illegal timber, russia

Admiralty Arch update: Government fails to prove claims of illegal timber

Posted by admin — 13 July 2006 at 8:00am - Comments

The government might be painting over it, but the cracks in their timber policy are still showing

Yesterday we occupied Admiralty Arch where the government is using illegally logged plywood from the rainforests of Papua New Guinea as hoardings around the building. Fourteen protestors sat on top of the Arch, demanding Tony Blair own up and commit to legislation banning imports of illegal timber into the UK.

Article tagged as: admiralty arch, cabinet office, government, illegal timber, indonesia, papua new guinea

Illegal timber found on government building site - again!

Posted by admin — 12 July 2006 at 8:00am - Comments

Greenpeace volunteers scale Admiralty Arch

Stop us if you've heard this one before, but the government has been caught with illegal timber on one of its own building sites. Sounds familiar? It should, because this is the third time it's happened in four years. If it wasn't so serious, it would be funny.

Article tagged as: admiralty arch, cabinet office, government, illegal timber, papua new guinea

London mayor owns up to illegal wood in Trafalgar Square

Posted by admin — 28 June 2006 at 8:00am - Comments

Brian Baring a traditional landowner from Papua New Guinea by Nelsons Column where illegal timber was used during renovations

Whatever you may think of his political credentials, as Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has been pushing to make the metropolis a greener city. His plans for a low-energy London have shown just how far behind central government are in terms of planning for a sustainable future, and the Greater London Authority (GLA) ensures that all timber used in their building projects is from sources approved by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Article tagged as: FSC, GLA, illegal timber, ken livingstone, london, papua new guinea, trafalgar square

Notorious 'blood timber' trader found guilty

Posted by admin — 7 June 2006 at 8:00am - Comments

Timber from one of Kouwenhoven's companies is marked by Greenpeace in the Netherlands in 2001

In a verdict that will have far reaching implications for the international timber trade, a judge in The Hague has found a former timber trader and arms dealer guilty of breaking the UN arms embargo in Liberia and sentenced him to a maximum of eight years in prison.

Article tagged as: africa, blood timber, destructive logging, gus kouwenhoven, illegal timber, liberia
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