The ship Mv Wind, carrying 2,385 cubic metres (M3) - over 2,000 tonnes - of mahogany, which left Belem (Brazil) on 23 October, docked today at Heysham (Lancs). Most (nearly 2,200 M3) of the mahogany on board will be unloaded at the port, having been ordered by companies based in the UK.

The ship's arrival was greeted by Friends of the Earth campaigners bombarding the ship with the sounds of rainforest animals, birds and insects, interspersed with a cacophony of roaring chainsaws and falling trees - the first use of 'wild sound' campaign tactics in the world. A 70 foot banner, saying 'Mahogany is Murder', was also unfurled by FOE activists.

Inter-governmental negotiations on unprecedented controls over the international trade in the endangered species start tomorrow (7 November) in Fort Lauderdale (Florida). Mahogony is one of the species proposed for control.

Since last week, the police have had new powers to charge protesting environmentalists with 'aggravated trespass'. That offence, however, only relates to interference with lawful activities and there are suspicions that some of the mahogany on the MV Wind may have been felled illegally.

Simon Counsell, Friends of the Earth's Forests Campaigner, said:

"These importers and their UK customers know that they are fuelling a mahogany trade which wreaks a terrible environmental and social cost, plundering the rainforests and killing indians. As long as the trade remains out of control, much of the mahogany from Brazil will continue to be stolen from indian reserves.

International negotiations start tomorrow in the USA

Controls over the international trade in Brazilian mahogany will be considered during the next round of inter-governmental negotiations under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which starts tomorrow (Monday) in Fort Lauderdale (Florida).

CONTACTS: Simon Counsell on 0831 553231; Neil Verlander

0101 305 467 9639 (Pillars Hotel, Fort Lauderdale).

PAGE 2 FoE/mahogany action 2

The listing of Brazilian Mahogany under Appendix II of CITES has been proposed by the Netherlands Government [1]. Over 100 British MPs have signed an 'early day motion' urging the UK Government to support the listing.

CONTACTS: Simon Counsell 0831 553231 (AT HEYSHAM)

Documents obtained by Friends of the Earth reveal that the Dutch proposal is supported by experts at Kew Gardens, the British Government's official 'scientific authority' on the botanical aspects of CITES. According to the documents, "acknowledged experts" feel that the international trade is "a significant threat to the [mahogany] species in Brazil" and "there are deep concerns over the genetic erosion of the species".

Simon Counsell added:

"The British Government now has another chance to help protect Brazil's marvellous rainforests. It cannot afford to set aside the powerful scientific case for controlling the international trade in this endangered species".

Britain, the world's second largest importer of Brazilian mahogany (after the USA), imported over 40,000 cubic metres in 1992.

Green police should seize suspect timber cargo

Friends of the Earth's 'save the rainforest' action will also test how the police use their new powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. While peaceful protesters risk being arrested for 'aggravated trespass' if they interfere with 'lawful activities', some of the mahogany on the Mv Wind may have been illegally felled in Brazil. Official sources indicate that up to 70 per cent of Brazilian mahogany is taken illegally from indian or biological reserves.

Simon Counsell added:

"The police should crack-down on environmental crime. They should hold this shipment as evidence and help to investigate whether any of this mahogany has been stolen from indian reserves after having been felled there illegally."

In January 1993, the Brazilian Federal Court ordered the Brazilian firms Perachi and Maginco (two of the three largest companies in Brazil) to remove logging equipment from three indigenous reserves in Para (Brazil) and to compensate the affected indians [2]. Juary and Impama, two other Brazilian timber companies which supplied some

CONTACTS: Simon Counsell on 0831 553231; Neil Verlander

0101 305 467 9639 (Pillars Hotel, Fort Lauderdale).

PAGE 3 FoE/mahogany action 3

of mahogany on the Mv Wind, are known to have invaded indian reserves in recent years (see table below).

While Perachi, Madeireira Araguaia (a subsidiary of Maginco), Juary and Ipama each provided part of the mahogany cargo on the Mv Wind, Friends of the Earth has so far been unable to trace the source of this particular timber. The timber supplied by Perachi was ordered by East Asiatic Timber Ltd, a Danish timber agent with an office in Croydon (Surrey). That supplied by Madeireira Araguaia was ordered by DBY-L (South America) Ltd, with an office in Leighton Buzzard (Bedfordshire).

The names of the other Brazilian companies which supplied mahogany on the Mv Wind, and the names and contact numbers of the timber agents in the UK who ordered the shipment, are listed below.

BRAZILIAN VOLUME BRITISH EXPORTER [cu metres] IMPORTER

Blue Star 22 DBY Ceu Azul 140 Nordisk Forestry 100 Nordisk Imasa 57 Nordisk Ipama 97 Nordisk Ipama 13 Tradelink Juary 826 Tradelink Mad Araguaia 337 DBY Minuano 20 East Asiatic Minuano 105 Nordisk Mogno Lumber 57 Richard Anders Parawood 100 Nordisk Perachi 100 East Asiatic Semasa 70 Thomas Alan Semasa 26 Dick Flatau Semasa 119 Thomas Alan TOTAL 2189

Importers

DBY Ltd, Leighton Buzzard, Beds - 0525 850333 Nordisk Timber Ltd, Chislehurst, Kent - 081 467 1115 Tradelink Wood Products, London W10 - 081 960 0248 East Asiatic Timber Ltd, Croydon - 081 688 4122 Richard Anders (UK) Ltd, Sevenoaks, Kent - 0732 740731 Thomas Alan, Liverpool - 051 227 2287 Flatau Dick and Co Ltd, Oxted, Surrey - ?

Contact numbers for local Friends of the Earth spokespeople can also be provided.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

CONTACTS: Simon Counsell on 0831 553231; Neil Verlander

0101 305 467 9639 (Pillars Hotel, Fort Lauderdale).

PAGE 4 FoE/mahogany action 4

1. The proposed listing of Brazilian mahogany in Appendix II of CITES would require the issuing of trade permits by both exporting and importing countries.

2. Brazil Federal Court of the Fourth Jurisdiction, Public Civil Lawsuit, 93.267-8, 15 January 1993.

CONTACTS: Simon Counsell on 0831 553231; Neil Verlander

0101 305 467 9639 (Pillars Hotel, Fort Lauderdale).