CITES meeting OK's RI's offer on ramin
CITES meeting OK's RI's offer on ramin
Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Bangkok
Participants in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in Bangkok unanimously agreed on Friday to Indonesia's proposal to set stiffer controls on international trade in ramin, a swiftly vanishing tropical hardwood.
The unanimous support for Indonesia's proposal to raise ramin from CITES' Appendix III to Appendix II, which requires export permits for those seeking to trade in the wood, was immediately hailed by environmental groups as a victory for conservation efforts in Asia.
"Today's decision is a victory both for ramin and for Southeast Asia's unique and priceless forests," said Carroll Muffett, Director of International Programs for Defenders of Wildlife, a wildlife conservation organization based in Washington, DC.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and CITES' enforcer TRAFFIC likewise praised the decision, which must still be approved at the final session of the CITES' conference, and then await a 90 day period before going into effect.
"After today's vote, the future of ramin and the species who live in these forests looks brighter," said Susan Lieberman, head of WWF delegation to CITES.
By placing ramin on Appendix II, exporting nations will have to conclude that the trade will not prove detrimental to the species in the wild.
Ramin, which was not a protected species in Malaysia but was in Indonesia, has been smuggled in huge amounts from Indonesia's forest reserves to Malaysia and Singapore where it was "laundered" for exports, largely to Europe.
The magnificent tropical hardwood is used for making pool queues, picture frames and baby furniture for the European and U.S. markets.
Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, smarting from international criticism for allowing illicit trade in the species, recently announced the establishment of a tri-national task force to crack down on the regional smuggling of ramin.
"Today's listing of ramin in Appendix II would give these governments the appropriate controls, processes, tools and information that would assist the world of the task force," said Steve Board, TRAFFIC's executive director.
Appendix II listings are acknowledged by all CITES's members, whereas Appendix III listings are unique to each country.
The ramin vote was the first major victory for conservationists attending the 12-day CITES conference in Bangkok.
CITES, deemed the largest conservation treaties on trade with 166 member states, holds conferences once every two-and-a-half years to decide on countries' proposals to strengthen or weaken controls on international trade in endangered and threatened species.
This year's session has already decided to allow black rhino trophy hunting in Africa and on Thursday agreed to Thailand's proposal to relax international trade in the Blue Vanda orchid.