Korean CSOs call on Korean Government and corporations to take immediate measures to stop serious deforestation and human rights violations in the palm oil industry
Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (KFEM) and Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL) condemn the current practice of human rights violation and environmental destruction prevalent in the palm oil industry in Indonesia and highlight the importance of responsibility on the part of the Korean Government and South Korean corporations.KFEM , 20 May 2019
South Korea, Indonesia, Palm Oil, indonesia Five from China Charged Over Illegal Banana Plantation in Myanmar Protected Forest
The forestry department of northern Myanmar’s Kachin state has filed charges against five Chinese nationals and their company manager for allegedly expanding a banana plantation into protected forests, village administrative and police officials said Monday.RFA, 20 May 2019
Myanmar, China, Timber, tropical forest Timber Company in Cambodia Continues to Collect Wood from Protected Forest Areas.
A timber company in Cambodia is ignoring environmental protection laws by transporting felled trees by night from protected forests in the country, activists said on Monday.RFA, 20 May 2019
Cambodia, Timber, Cambodia Negative margins show why Nigeria must protect palm oil makers
It is bad times for palm oil makers as poor border policing hits the margins and prospects of industry players.Business Day, 20 May 2019
Nigeria, Malaysia, Palm Oil, Palm oil Helena Huang’s case: all you need to know
Helena Huang's case continues to make news headlines every other day, since she was first arrested ferrying prohibited forest products - Rosewood. Miss Helena, a Chinese national with a lot of influence in the North side of Ghana was released on bail, after Mr Mohammed Bondirigbum, bailed her out.Yen reports, 19 May 2019
Ghana, Timber, illegal timber trade Company files report over illegal logging in Kelawit
A timber company has lodged a police report alleging illegal logging has taken place in Kelawit, Tatau.The Borneo Post , 19 May 2019
Malaysia, Timber, Malaysia Flawed timber scheme hits Indonesian forests
Some 422 containers of illegal timber has been seized this year, most of it from Papua and the Malukus; the cases show that the certification scheme for exports to the EU isn’t working.Asia Times , 19 May 2019
Indonesia, Timber, EU Timber Regulation Illegal tree felling at Michoacán’s Monarch Butterfly Reserve to plant avocado trees
Staff of the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), in coordination with agents of the Federal Police Gendarmerie (Environmental Division), closed an estate located in the municipality of Ocampo, in the Mexican state of Michoacan, for making the change of land use in forest territory without having the authorization issued by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).The Yucatan Times , 18 May 2019
Mexico, Timber, Mexico Malaysia is Committed to the Palm Oil and Eco-friendly Biofuel Industry
Minister of International Trade and Industry reaffirms Malaysia’s role in ensuring that palm oil remains a sustainable and eco-friendly fuel replacement.SME Magazine , 18 May 2019
Malaysia, Palm Oil, Malaysia Indonesia to issue first license certifying legal timber entering Europe
FAO today welcomed an agreement by Indonesia and the European Union (EU) to issue the world’s first Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) timber license as a major achievement in the fight against illegal logging.Global Diaspora , 18 May 2019
Indonesia, Europe, Timber, indonesia Illegal loggers of rare tree switch to trading at night
Illegal dealers in Afzelia Africana logs commonly known as afzelia or beyo in northern Uganda, have switched to conducting the trade in the night, Daily Monitor has learnt. Mr James Leku, the Adjumani District chairman, said the increased logging is due to failure by Uganda Revenue Authority to play its role in the ban.Daily Monitor , 18 May 2019
Uganda, Timber, illegal timber trade The struggle for land security in Liberia is just beginning
This year's Goldman Environmental Prize winner says the battle for land rights in Liberia is just getting underway.Thomson Reuters Foundation , 17 May 2019
Liberia, Palm Oil, Palm oil A new election brings little hope for Solomon Islands’ vanishing forests
Longstanding allegations of corruption plague forest governance in the Solomon Islands, with residents and NGOs claiming government officials are allowing logging to illegally penetrate primary forests on community and ancestral land.Mongabay, 17 May 2019
Solomon Islands, Timber, Illegal logging Timber legality system for small enterprises in Indonesia
Rufi'i, Director of Processing and Marketing of Forest Products at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), has reported that the government’s new timber legality certification programme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will provide the same legal umbrella for MSMEs as currently provided by SVLK certification for large companies.Panels Furniture Asia , 17 May 2019
Indonesia, Timber, SVLK, legal timber, Timber, indonesia, Asia Pacific Vietnamese jailed, fined for timber theft, encroachment
The sessions court yesterday sentenced a Vietnamese man to three years in jail and RM13,000 fine or another 16 months for illegal logging and encroaching into the Lentang Forest Reserve in Bentong near here, last March.The Sun Daily , 17 May 2019
Viet Nam, Timber, Illegal logging Indonesian government actively blocking efforts to reform palm oil industry
Ministers in the Government of President Joko Widodo are blocking efforts to reform the palm oil industry. Last week, the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs ordered palm oil companies not to share information regarding the palm concessions they own.Ekklesia reports, 17 May 2019
Indonesia, Palm Oil, indonesia Solomon Islanders imprisoned for trying to stop the logging of their forests
A group of residents of Nende Island in the Solomon Islands claim corrupt government practices allowed a logging company to get a license to log the island’s primary forests, as well as cropland. Activists also allege the company, Malaysia-based Xiang Lin SI Ltd, logged outside of its concession area.Mongabay, 17 May 2019
Solomon Islands, Timber, illegal timber trade Malaysia jails Vietnamese man for illegal logging, reserve encroachment
Vietnamese man has got three years in jail and $3,100 in fines for illegal logging and forest reserve encroachment in Malaysia.VN Express , 17 May 2019
Malaysia, Viet Nam, Timber, Illegal logging Palm oil exports increase in Q1: Gapki
According to the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki), the country’s palm oil exports increased in the first quarter of 2019, despite an alleged smear campaign against the commodity led by the European Union and a global economic slowdown.The Jakarta Post , 16 May 2019
Europe, Palm Oil, EU Growing demand for palm oil from China, says Kok
The Ministry of Primary industries has received a number of requests from China, expressing interest in buying large quantities of palm oil and palm-based products from Malaysia following the Prime Minister’s official visit to Beijing recently.Malay Mail , 16 May 2019
Malaysia, China, Palm Oil, Palm oil Ban on rosewood : Over 300 containers impounded - Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission has disclosed that over 300 containers of rosewood have so far been impounded in their effort to enforce the total ban placed on rosewood.Prime News Ghana , 16 May 2019
Ghana, Timber, illegal timber trade Stop the logging
Johor is losing hundreds of million ringgit in revenue from illegal logging activities at a forest reserve in Mersing.The Star Online , 16 May 2019
Malaysia, Timber, illegal logging, malaysia, johor Leaving Paris Agreement: Indonesia’s loss or the world’s?
Angry comments have greeted the announcement of the European Union that Indonesia’s palm oil would be banned as the industry had aggravated deforestation, thus it was not renewable energy. Palm oil is the only commodity dropped out of EU’s list of renewable energy source due to its correlation to deforestation. Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad have reacted by sending an official joint letter to the bloc earlier this month.The Jakarta Post , 16 May 2019
Indonesia, Palm Oil, Palm oil Penang water authority urges Kedah to ban logging in Ulu Muda forest to protect water supply
The Kedah government must protect the rainforest in the greater Ulu Muda Forest Complex by banning all logging works there, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) said today.The Malay Mail , 16 May 2019
Malaysia, Timber, Illegal logging Brazilian indigenous peoples propose boycott
Coalition of indigenous groups calls for boycott of companies that invade and exploit protected Brazilian lands.Ecologist, 16 May 2019
Brazil, Beef, Brazil