world news - 07.06.2010
Australia urged to ban illegal timber imports
Mr Blumenauer, a Democratic member of the US House of
Representatives for the timber state of Oregon, says Australia is part
of a global supply chain and positioned strategically on the edge of a
vast area where some of the most destructive logging practices have
been taking place. Mr Blumenauer is dismissive of arguments that Australia is such a
small market for imported timber that a ban on illegal imports would
have little effect. "I think people look to Australia in a way that actually is disproportionate, perhaps to your numbers of people," he said. "It would have a great deal of impact if Australia would step up its
efforts to prevent illegal logging from entering your chain of
commerce." Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised to ban illegal timber imports at the 2007 federal election. Forestry Minister Tony Bourke has indicated the Government still intends to keep the promise. But the local timber industry has been anxious since August last
year, when The Age newspaper reported that Mr Bourke had signed off on
changes that significantly watered down the original election policy. In December last year, Mr Blumenauer urged Mr Rudd to keep his election commitment. Mr Blumenauer says it is important that Australia legislates to
criminalise illegal timber imports, as opposed to establishing a
voluntary or industry regulated system. "The problem with a less aggressive and comprehensive effort is that it continues to advantage people who cheat," he said. "If we have points in the line of defence against illegal logging
that are weak it's going to end up undercutting what we're all trying
to achieve. "So it needs to be comprehensive, it needs to be enforceable and
Australia is positioned in terms of the regard that people have for it
around the world and its geographic location, to be able to have
profound impact in changing this unfortunate pattern." Indonesia is a major source of illegally logged timber and is
undergoing more rapid deforestation than any other nation on earth. In recent weeks, Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has
been speaking out against what he describes as a powerful timber
"mafia" in the country, and has directed Indonesia's Corruption
Eradication Commission to take action. This week, Mr Yudhoyono signed a pioneering agreement with the
Norwegian government under which the Indonesian government will impose
a two-year moratorium on any further logging of old-growth rainforest,
in return for which Norway has agreed to pay Indonesia $1.2 billion.
United States congressman Earl Blumenauer has called
on the Australian Government to legislate to ban illegal timber imports
into Australia.
See also:
- — Estonia to plant 10 million trees
- — Finnish forest owners increasingly interested in preserving biodiversity
- — More forest in Germany than in Sweden
- — Timber imports continue to grow
- — China cuts timber production to protect forest