Worm's eye view of a mahogany tree in the Amazon rainforest, Brazil
Mahogany continues to be illegally felled in the Amazon and
exported to countries including the US, the UK and Spain under
cover of counterfeit documents, even though exploitation, transport
and trade has technically been prohibited in Brazil since October,
2001.
Last week Jornal Nacional, the main news program of the giant
Brazilian TV network Globo, revealed that mahogany, one of the most
valuable and endangered species of timber in the world, could face
extinction if illegal exploitation is not curtailed.
The Jornal Nacional story followed a bust by the Environmental
Police of Para State of four trucks carrying 120 cubic meters of
mahogany in Belem. The mahogany, coming from São Felix do Xingu in
Para state, was accompanied by forged documents stating that it was
cedorana, a different species.
More worrying than the rampant illegal trade of mahogany is the
other destruction that comes along with its logging. High quality
mahogany is only found in pristine areas of Amazon rainforest, so
the illegal mahogany trade is directly responsible for the
destruction of these areas as it leaves behind a network of roads
and trails that other loggers can use to access the remaining
forest.
Paulo Adario, Greenpeace Amazon Campaign Coordinator says the
mahogany ban isn't working. "The seizure of this mahogany shows
that Brazil cannot control illegal exploitation and trade of this
species, and that the existing mechanisms - whether in the forest,
at Brazilian ports or when the timber arrives in importing
countries - do not work," said Paulo. "Brazil has once again proven
that one country alone cannot ensure protection of an endangered
species when it has a high value on the international market."
In June 2001 Greenpeace asked the Brazilian government to
conduct a full investigation of the ports traditionally used to
export mahogany, and supplied the authorities with documented
evidence of export fraud, tax evasion, perjury, and false witness.
In April 2002 President Fernando Henrique Cardoso assured the
Brazilian nation, in a widely broadcast radio speech that, "When I
proclaim that the government will do everything within its power to
protect mahogany, I am giving a guarantee that its extraction,
exploitation, shipping and trade continue to be forbidden."
But the only way to regulate the market is to include mahogany
on the list of endangered species for which trade is strictly
controlled by the Convention of International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES). A meeting of this convention in early November
will discuss a proposal presented by Nicaragua and Guatemala to
list mahogany on Appendix II. This would make the presentation of
proof that mahogany was legally harvested and that the exploitation
does not threat the survival of the species mandatory. The listing
makes both importers and exporters legally responsible.
"Despite firm promises made by President Fernando Henrique
Cardoso that his government will take strong measures to protect
mahogany, so far Brazil has not supported the Nicaraguan proposal,
which already has the backing of many other countries," says Paulo.
"Will the government take real action to fulfil these promises, or
will Cardoso go on record as the man who presided over the
destruction of the Amazon and the extinction of its most treasured
species?"
Take action!
You can help put pressure on the Brazilian government to support
the listing of Mahogany on CITES Appendix II and show the
international community that the exploitation and marketing of
"green gold" of the rainforest can happen without plundering the
future of the Amazon or the millions of people that depend on
it.
Send a fax to President Fernando Henrique
Cardoso asking him to support the listing of mahogany, but also
to take a leading role in guaranteeing the proposal is
approved.
Discuss it
You can discuss this article and the mahogany issue on
the Greenpeace cybercentre
Read More
Amazon Mahogany Criminals Busted - US $7 million of
'green gold' seized 31 October 2001
Greenpeace's
Partners in Mahogany Crime report