Reply #8: Closely related story on this published March 16 in the Guardian (UK) [View All]

[Nothing Without Hope]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/conservation/story/0%2C13369%2C1438522%2C00.html

US tries to sink forests plan

British initiative on illegal logging opposed

Paul Brown and Roger Harrabin
Wednesday March 16, 2005
The Guardian

The US plans to wreck a British initiative to commit the G8 states to combatting illegal logging in the world's threatened rainforests, a leaked memorandum revealed last night.

The development secretary, Hilary Benn, wants G8 environment and development ministers meeting in Derby tomorrow and on Friday to insist that all timber bought by official bodies in rich nations comes from properly managed forests.

The British initiative was prompted by Indonesia, which said corruption there was so rampant that the authorities did not have the power to tackle the supply of timber by criminal gangs. Indonesian government ministers urged rich nations to reduce demand for illegal supplies by requiring proper certificates showing wood had come from properly managed forests.

But industry lobbyists in the US have resisted moves to certify timber. A US state department memo leaked to the BBC's Newsnight shows that the US will refuse to sign up to the Benn initiative.

(snip)

(much more at link)