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For Immediate Release
At CITES, A Victory for Orangutans and Endangered Forests
Bangkok— Defenders of Wildlife today applauded an agreement by world governments to control the global trade in illegal ramin wood and protect endangered orangutans from the threat of extinction at the hands of illegal loggers. “Today’s decision is a victory for Southeast Asia’s forests, for the orangutan, and the hundreds of other species affected by ramin logging,” said Carroll Muffett, Director of International Programs for the U.S.-based Defenders of Wildlife. “It is also a major step forward in the global effort to curb the massive trade in illegal and unsustainable wood.”
Ramin is a large tropical hardwood tree found in the peat swamp forests of Indonesia and Malaysia, which are also home to the world’s last remaining orangutans. High demand for ramin baby cribs, picture frames and other products in the United States makes ramin the most valuable tree species in the region and drives a huge illegal trade that threatens both ramin itself and the species that share its forest habitat. Ramin commands as much as $1000 per cubic meter on global markets. “Prices like that create a huge incentive to cut this tree wherever you can find it, ” said Muffett. “Unfortunately, the best places left to find ramin also happen to be the only remaining refuges for the orangutan.” As a result of rampant illegal logging of its habitat, scientists predict that Asia’s only great ape could go extinct in as little as ten to twenty years. “Today’s decision gives us renewed hope for the survival of this species. We can all take pride in that. ”
Today’s decision was by unanimous agreement of nearly 150 governments at a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), considered one of the world’s most effective agreement for wildlife conservation. Currently, 166 countries are parties to the treaty. Indonesia, which remains the world’s major source for ramin wood despite a longstanding ban on ramin exports, asked that the species be included under CITES in an effort to gain international support in combating the continued trade. Under the decision, future ramin trade between these countries must comply with strict rules to ensure that the wood has been harvested legally and that international trade will not be detrimental to the species.
Illegal logging of tropical forests is among the most serious threats facing the global environment. “Governments are finally coming to recognize that illegal logging threatens more than trees, ” says Muffett, “It destroys forests, threatens wildlife, brings violence and social unrest to indigenous peoples, and robs governments of millions of dollars in revenues that could be used to build schools, repair roads and keep hospitals running. Today’s agreement is a positive sign that the world can act together to stop this crisis.”
Muffett also noted appreciation for the United States’ decision to support the ramin proposal. “As one of the world’s biggest importers of ramin products, the United States has a particular responsibility for making the trade legal and sustainable. I am proud that they recognized that responsibility, and made the right decision on ramin.”
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Defenders of Wildlife is a not-for-profit conservation organization that works on behalf of nearly one million members and supporters in the United States and around the world to protect threatened and endangered species in their native habitat. For more information visit: www.defenders.org.
