USA bans import of illegally logged timber
20 June 2008
The United States Congress approved landmark legislation last night to address the global illegal logging crisis. The U.S. becomes the first country in the world to prohibit the import, sale or trade of illegally harvested wood and wood products. "The world's biggest consumer nation has sent a message that will be heard from forest to retail shelf: the United States' doors are now closed to products made from illegal wood," said Alexander von Bismarck, Executive Director of the Environmental Investigation Agency, which spearheaded the coalition supporting the ban. The legislation amends the U.S. Lacey Act, a long-standing wildlife trafficking statute, to include trade in products made from illegally harvested wood. The law received definitive approval with Congress's over-ride of Bush's Farm Bill veto last night - a re-vote to correct procedural problems with the bill's original passage on May 22nd. The bill also creates a requirement for importers to declare the species and country of origin of any plant or plant product. This new measure, which will significantly increase transparency in global wood supply chains, goes into effect in 180 days. "If companies want to avoid the risk of seizure and forfeiture, they must now ensure their wood is legally sourced, end of story," von Bismarck noted. "These provisions, in combination with stronger penalties for those who knowingly trade illegal goods, will change the equation to reward responsible practices and root out timber trade crime." Environmentalists and industry organizations hailed these provisions as a groundbreaking piece of forest legislation. The law has been championed by Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Senator Ron Wyden, both of Oregon, and backed by a diverse coalition of environmental groups, industry associations and organized labor. Deforestation is estimated to cause almost one-fifth of annual greenhouse gas emissions. Illegal logging is one significant driver of the problem, setting in motion a chain of forest disturbance, clearing and conversion. "This step represents the opportunity of a life-time to protect dwindling forests around the world, help the people and species which depend on them, and protect our global climate," said von Bismarck. "It is now critical that other consuming nations in Europe and elsewhere quickly follow suit."
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