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Illegally felled logs awaiting export to European markets. © Kate Davison Amsterdam, June 17, 2009 - A report recently launched by Friends of the Earth Netherlands provides evidence that the Cameroon-based logging company Cana Bois has been illegally logging timber on a large scale for the European market.  Some of the wood was sent to the Netherlands, Spain and France.

 

Friends of the Earth Netherlands, France and Cameroon examined the prohibited logging practices of Cana Bois, finding that the company has been logging illegally with the knowledge of local authorities since 2007.  The plundered forest reserve is part of the Atlantic Equatorial Coastal Forests ecoregion and is home to a high variety of plant an animal species.  In addition to logging, researchers found evidence of poaching in the area.

 

A law to end trade in illegally logged timber in the EU has been under way since 2003.  In order to speed up the process, 27 USB sticks containing a spoken version of the report has been given to the Dutch Minister for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Verburg for the purpose of distribution to her fellow ministers at the next Agricultural Council on 22 and 23 June. 

 

Anne van Schaik, campaign leader for Milieudefensie says, "this is yet another case of illegal logging and related trade to Europe. Since 2003 the European Union talks about solutions to this problem, but there is still no European legislation to stop trade in illegal timber. In the meantime, the looting of forests continues and the criminal trade in illegally harvested timber flourishes. This comes at the expense of companies that practise sustainable forest management."

 

Read the report here.