Illegal mahogany trade

Greenpeace today condemned the British Government for failing in its commitment to protect ancient forests as it was revealed that authorities in Germany have impounded a cargo of illegally logged mahogany from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest - almost identical to one the UK government refused to seize earlier this month. Authorities in Belgium have today also committed to action on this issue.

The Brazilian mahogany, imported to Germany by international timber trader DLH, was seized by German authorities upon its arrival in Hamburg docks at the beginning of March. The mahogany has been impounded whilst the Government attempts to clarify with Brazilian Authorities whether or not the mahogany contravenes a mahogany logging and trade ban imposed by the Brazilian government at the end of last year.

Explaining the German government's action the Deputy Minister for Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture, Mathias Berninger, said that "This mahogany is from the Rainforest of Brazil and originates presumably from dubious forest management We are holding this mahogany and we will not release it, until it is ensured that it was logged under reasonable circumstances." (1)

A further cargo of mahogany is destined for Belgium and the UK. Today the Belgian Minister for the Environment, Magda Aelvoet stated that "The trade in mahogany from dubious origin is unacceptable. In such circumstances Belgium will detain mahogany as long as there is no absolute clarity about the legal status of the produced mahogany." (2)

Greenpeace Forests Campaigner Andy Tait commented, "The German and Belgian action highlights the utter hypocrisy of our own Government which is supposedly committed to stopping the illegal timber trade. By failing to stop illegally logged mahogany from entering Britain, Michael Meacher has effectively aligned himself with a corrupt timber industry that continues to profit from the destruction of ancient forests such as the Amazon."

Greenpeace UK alerted Environment Minister Michael Meacher about illegal Brazilian mahogany coming into a Liverpool port on January 31st and urged him to seize the cargo. The government failed to act - so Greenpeace is attempting to judicially review them for failing in their obligation to implement CITES regulations in the UK.(3) CITES regulations are supposed to regulate the international mahogany trade from Brazil (4).

Trade in mahogany from the Amazon forest was banned by the Brazil environment agency IBAMA late last year - following investigations that revealed that at least 70% of mahogany was being logged illegally. The ban is part of a concerted effort by IBAMA to shut down the 'Mahogany Mafia', who largely control the illegal trade in Brazil, and to end illegal logging. On 21 February, as part of the clampdown, IBAMA launched 'Operation Rescue' and seized $25 million worth of the wood from a site deep in the Amazon. At the same time legal proceedings were started to take members of the 'Mahogany Mafia ' in the Amazon to court for their activities (5).

In a press release issued by IBAMA their head Hamilton Casara said, "The mahogany loggers are breaking all the environmental and labour regulations. we are going to stop all of the logging work and take stock of the situation" (6)

Mahogany is one of the most valuable woods in Brazil and can fetch up to $1,500 USD per 10.76 square feet when shipped to its major markets in the USA and Britain. Britain is the third largest importer of Brazilian mahogany - which is used in furniture and for window frames and coffins. UK retailers who sell products made from Brazilian mahogany include department store Harrods.

Greenpeace's action to stop mahogany and other imports from ancient forests forms part of an international campaign called SAVE OR DELETE - which is urging governments to take action at the forthcoming Ancient Forests Summit in April at the Hague to protect the world's remaining ancient forests.

 

Notes to editors:

1. Video interview with Greenpeace Germany, 21st March 2002.

2. Communication with Greenpeace Belgium 22nd March 2002

3. Greenpeace appeared in the High Court on 4th March, requesting a judicial review of the Governments failure to implement EU regulations governing the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). An appeal has now been lodged with the high court following the refusal of permission at this time.

4. Brazilian mahogany is listed as an appendix III species under CITES. As such its trade is regulated through a series of export permits intended to verify the legality of its origin. An export permit should only be issued when the relevant management authority (in this case IBAMA) is satisfied that the specimin has not been obtained in contravention of national laws. http://www.cites.org/eng/append/index.shtml

5. For example, following IBAMA's successful appeal of the 6th February, Judge Marcia Murrieta, from the Tribunal of Justice of Para State, accepted the request of the State Prosecutor of Altamira and has opened a legal case against 12 members of the 'Mahogany Mafia'. All of them were referred by the prosecutor as the "Mafia do Mogno" (the Mahogany Mafia). Judge Murrieta's decision dated, 22 Feb 02, was announced on 25 February in Altamira, Pará State. This is not the first time that loggers have faced legal charges - but is the first time that a judge accepted an accusation against loggers based on "formacao de quadrilha" - the Brazilian equivalent of the US RICO Act, which was designed to stamp out organized crime.

6. IBAMA press release issued 7th February 2002 entitled 'IBAMA wins first legal victory to prevent illegal export of mahogany'.

 

Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255

Research released today by Greenpeace International reveals that trials of genetically modified vines are currently underway in key wine growing countries across the world, including the USA (California), France, Australia, Italy and Germany (1).

Greenpeace is urging governments to halt these trials amid concerns that they could destroy traditional and organic grape varieties. The call came as they released results of a survey showing that UK wine retailers unanimously reject GM wine.

French wine house Moet et Chandon have been collaborating with the French Government's Agronomic Research Institute (INRA) to produce a vine modified to be resistant to a common vine pest. In Germany, the wine maker Regent has produced a wine from vines genetically modified to contain a gene from barley - intended to confer resistance to moulds.(2).

GM wines cannot currently be sold in the EU, as no application has been made so far for market approval under the EU 'Novel Food' Regulation. Furthermore, a draft EU Directive that would set rules for GM vines marketing and cultivation has not yet been approved. The subject was last discussed at an EU Agricultural Ministers Meeting on 29th January 2001, when the Italian Minister successfully argued that the directive should be returned to the EU technical experts (COREPER) for redrafting, as its economic impact on wine industry had not been considered.

The GM vine trials are causing strong concern amongst wine producers. In the Burgundy region of France, they have banded together to form a group 'Terre et Vin de Bourgogne'(3) which is calling for a ten year moratorium on GMO vine marketing. They are concerned that the genetic diversity of grape varieties will be lost and that there may be changes in taste, colour and texture of the grapes.

In Italy, a lobbying group of wine-producing areas (Citta del Vino -Association of Wine Producing Towns) has urged the Italian government to oppose the development of GM wine and in particular to oppose the EU directive on marketing of GM vines (4).

The trials also pose a potentially devastating risk to the organic wine industry. Jem Gardener, Director of UK organic wine importer and wholesaler Vinceremos explained,
"Organic winemakers and importers like ourselves are very concerned about the contamination of organic vineyards by wind or insect borne GM pollen. As the proud custodians of the purity of their fruit, organic vignerons have much to fear from GM. If there is accidental contamination, the damage will be irreversible".

He continued,
"We will not import wines with any detected trace of GM contamination, however inadvertently this may have occurred. We are of the opinion that the only genuinely safe course of action is to stop the test plantings."

The majority of the GM traits introduced into the grapevines currently in trials aim to reduce pesticide use on wine grape crops.

Greenpeace Campaigner Kathryn Tulip commented,
"Obviously Greenpeace would like to see a reduction in pesticide use in vineyards. However GM is not the solution , but is another form of pollution. What we support are natural methods for improving vine pest resistance, such as marker assisted breeding, which give the benefits of molecular biology without the long-term environmental and human health risks of genetic engineering".

She added,
"These trials pose serious risks to wine quality and valuable export markets. We urge governments to listen to the wine producers and put an end to these experiments."

Celebrity chef Anthony Worrall Thompson is backing the call for a ban on tests. He said,
"As a chef and restauranteur I am very concerned about the quality of food and wine that I serve. I fear that the quality of wines produced from GM grapes will be inferior to traditionally produced wines and that the great diversity of wine types found around the world will be lost. My customers don't want GM wines and I do not want to serve GM wines to them."

Mr Worral Thomson's view is backed by all the UK wine retailers contacted by Greenpeace, who unanimously rejected the use of GM technology and stated that they will not stock GM wines (5).

Notes for Editors: 1. In France the INRA has carried out trials on a number of grape varieties which have been genetically modified to be resistant to grapevine fanleaf nepovirus. GM vines are being tested in Germany by Bundesanstalt fur Zuchtungsforschung an Kulturpflanzen (Federal Institute of Crop Breeding) and Institut fur Rebenzuchtung Geilweilerhof (Institute for Vine Breeding, Geilweiler Estate). In Italy research on GM grapevine is being carried out at the University of Ancona.

2. Greenpeace's GM Wine Report.

3. For more information about 'Terre et Vin de Bourgogne' visit www.drouhin.com.

4. Regiones Toscana and Valle d'Aosta, the Executive Board of the Italian Association of Wine Producer Towns (Associazione Nazionale Citta del Vino) and several Town Councils of the same association have opposed the EU wine directive.

5. Greenpeace surveyed all of the major supermarkets and the following specialist wine retailers: Thresher/Victoria Wine, Oddbins, Unwins, Majestic and Wine Cellars. For further details see the Greenpeace GM Wine Report.

Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace Press Office on 020 7865 8255