Archived press release

Govt could stop Mahogany imports

15 February 1995

Friends of the Earth has today written to John Gummer, Secretary of State for the Environment, pointing out that a new opportunity now exists for the UK Government to control the importation into the UK of mahogany from the rainforests of Brazil. Members of Parliament are supporting FOE's call for the Government to use the opportunity to ban mahogany imports altogether.

FOE has asked the Minister to use a European Community law which allows for controls or import bans on the trade in threatened and endangered wildlife species [2]. Yesterday, an Early Day Motion was tabled in Parliament by Mr Keith Hill, MP, calling on the Government to "introduce zero import quotas" for mahogany imports from Brazil [see attached].

Last November, the Government supported the listing of mahogany under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), but this proposal was narrowly defeated in a vote of CITES' member governments.

Simon Counsell, Forest Campaigner for Friends of the Earth said:

"The UK Government should immediately ask the European Commission to list mahogany as a threatened species under European law, and to cease all imports from Brazil. The UK Government should give Brazil financial help to control the mahogany trade and protect rainforest conservation areas."

Friends of the Earth has written to every member of Parliament asking them to support the Early Day Motion.

ENDS

(h) 020 7354 1014 NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Friends of the Earth has been calling for an end to the trade in mahogany since 1992, and has collected much evidence of the impact of the trade on rainforest areas protected for Indian peoples. February 11-18 has been designated 'Mahogany Week', with hundreds of activities taking place across the UK, including the collection of signatures for a petition calling on the Government to ban the mahogany trade.

A+ public opinion survey conducted recently for FOE by independent research group Survey Research Associates showed that 72% of people believe that the Government should ban imports of tropical timber which destroys rainforests and threatens the environment.

[2] European Commission Regulation 3626/82 implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in the European Union. The European Commission is obliged to provide at least the same level of protection from trade as is agreed internationally for species under CITES (this depends on the 'Appendix', I-III, in which the species is placed). Species listed under Appendix III of CITES can be listed under Annex C2 of the Commission's Regulation. The Commission can place import quotas on species listed in this Annex, including zero quotas. The Government of Costa Rica has formally requested that Brazilian mahogany be placed on Appendix III of CITES, which should be effective from May 1995.

(h) 020 7354 1014

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