Press release - 13 November, 2002
Worm's eye view of a mahogany tree in the Amazon forest, Brazil
Greenpeace today joyfully welcomed the outcome of the CITES vote
to list mahogany on Appendix II thus giving the tree species a
fighting chance to survive under controlled and legal trade.
The result of today's vote effectively means that trade of the
highly valuable species will be from sustainable sources and
strictly managed forests.
"Greenpeace has been campaigning on mahogany for the past ten
years and is very proud of the final result," said Paulo Adario of
Greenpeace. "This is a victory for mahogany, the environment and
the people of Latin America forests who depend of forest resources
for their survival."
The proposal to list mahogany on Appendix II of the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) was submitted
by Nicaragua and supported by Guatemala. During the discussions in
today's session at the 12th Conference of the Parties to CITES
delegates from Brazil and Bolivia made strong statements against
the listing; however, the UK, EU and Central American countries
stressed how the Appendix II listing will not only protect the
species, but also safeguard the market and protect consumers from
illegal trade.
The particular species, Big Leaf Mahogany, is found in the
neotropical forests that range from the South of Mexico through
Central America and down to the Amazon.
This afternoon's victory was gained through secret ballot. Of
the votes needed to carry the proposal, 68 were in favour, 30
against, 14 abstentions and 3 ballot forms were spoiled. According
to the rules and procedures of CITES, there is a slight chance that
the proposal could be brought back to plenary for consideration by
all the delegates at which time a two-thirds vote is needed to
agree to reopen the discussion.
Greenpeace calls on Brazil and Bolivia to accept the decision of
CITES delegates and ensure that their countries will do their best
to implement sustainable mahogany logging and legal trade which
will result from the Appendix II listing.
"Today's decision sends a very clear signal to the global market
that only legal, social and environmentally sustainable timber
should be traded," said Tim Birch of Greenpeace. "The tide is
turning in favour of the world's ancient forests. Markets and
consumers are demanding sustainable forest products and this is a
strong step toward delivering on their demands."