Exclusive: Mahathir weighs taking EU to court over palm oil ban
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said his country, the world's second-largest producer of palm oil, is considering bringing a case to the International Court of Justice over the rising anti-palm oil initiatives in the European Union.Nikkei Asian Review, 19 August 2019
, Palm Oil, palm oil ban, EU ban Malaysian PM urges Britain to 'break with Europe' on palm oil - Bloomberg
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday called on Britain to engage with palm oil growers to incentivise sustainable production, rather than pursuing boycotts after its scheduled exit from the European Union (EU) on Oct. 31.Euro News, 19 August 2019
, Palm Oil, eu palm oil ban Ecosystem services under future oil palm expansion scenarios in West Kalimantan, Indonesia
This study analyzes the five primary ecosystem services and their trade-offs and synergies associated with future scenarios of oil palm plantations in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Three plausible future scenarios were assessed: 1) business as usual, 2) conservation and, 3) sustainable intensification, based on current land-use policy and spatial planning and projected oil palm expansion.Science Direct, 19 August 2019
, Palm Oil, palm oil plantation, ecosystem services 16 charged in illegal logging investigation
16 people are under criminal investigation for the alleged illegal logging of nearly 1500 trees of various types in the period of 2016-2018.Armen Press, 19 August 2019
, Timber, illegal logging ASEAN SMART Patrol, a hope for the region’s forests
As a park chief himself, Soeung Khemarak, the deputy director of the Oyadav National Park in Rattanakiri province, fully understands the problems faced by Cambodia’s Kulen Prum Tep Wildlife Sanctuary and adjacent parks near the border with Thailand where bombs, illegal logging and poaching are part of daily life.Eleven Myanmar, 19 August 2019
, Timber, Illegal logging, poaching Kong Kroeng, son-in-law charged with two counts of forestry crimes
Kratie Provincial Court on Saturday charged well-known timber tycoon Kong Kroeng and his son-in-law for allegedly plundering forests in Snuol district.Khmer Times , 19 August 2019
, Timber, Illegal logging Caraga cops seize P500,000 worth of illegal logs
POLICE authorities seized P575,874 worth of illegal logs and arrested some 44 persons in a series of anti-illegal logging operations in Caraga region.Cagayan De Oro, 18 August 2019
, Timber, illegal timber harvesting, Illegal logging Government nets Half Million worth of "hot logs" in Caraga Region
A top-ranking government official in Caraga region reported the recent success of their operations against illegal logging activities in the region.Mindanao Daily News, 18 August 2019
, Timber, Illegal logging With Siberian Forests In Jeopardy, Moscow Puts Pressure On Beijing
China, the world’s second-largest timber consumer, is ready to help Russia restore its forests, which have suffered from wildfires and illegal logging.Caspian News, 18 August 2019
, Timber, illegal logging Tycoon Kong Kroeng in court for Kratie illegal logging
Kratie provincial court today are questioning well-known timber tycoon Kong Kroeng and his son-in-law over suspected illegal logging activities in Kratie province two days after they were arrested by the National Committee for Forest Crime Prevention.Khmer Times , 17 August 2019
, Timber, Illegal logging, illegal timber harvesting High Hopes for Global Wildlife Treaty to Defeat African Tree Poaching
As representatives from over 180 countries meet in Geneva for the 18th Conference of the Parties (CoP18) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), EIA releases a new report documenting the highly destructive trade in mukula wood from Central and Southern Africa.Global Banking and Finance, 16 August 2019
, Timber, CITES, mukula wood, african mukula tree RSPO adopts palm oil standards developed by Wetlands International to limit peatland degradation
Wetlands, 16 August 2019
, Palm Oil, palm oil plantation, wetlands, peatland Apaak repeats call for implementation of ban against Rosewood felling
Despite a ban placed on the harvest and trade of rosewood for the fifth time in March this year, the illegal logging and export of the specie continues unabated.Ghanaweb, 15 August 2019
, Timber, rosewood felling ban, Pterocarpus erinaceus Corruption in Ghana: Rosewoods Cut Down Illegally, Exported to China
Ghana has taken strict steps to curb the illegal trade of rosewood trees since 2012. However, this has not stopped China from illegally acquiring rosewood from the African nation, as revealed in a recent report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).Vision Times, 15 August 2019
, Timber, rosewood, Illegal logging Russia Warns China It Could Ban Timber Exports Over Illegal Logging
Russia could ban timber exports to China unless Beijing takes action to help mitigate the effects of illegal logging, a Russian government minister said in an interview published Thursday.The Moscow Times, 15 August 2019
, Timber, illegal logging 'Do more to protect Ghana’s forests' – Asantehene urges FC
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged the Forestry Commission (FC), to step up the fight against illegal logging to protect Ghana’s forest cover from further destruction.Ghana Web, 08 August 2019
, Timber, Illegal logging, deforestation How Chinese appetite puts African rosewood on verge of extinction
According to the African Union (AU) reports, current trends in rosewood abusive exploitation not only contributes to environmental instability, but also to conflicts and violence in many areas. Therefore, illegal trade in rosewood can be considered a threat to the political stability in many parts of Africa.Daily Trust, 07 August 2019
, Timber, rosewood, Pterocarpus erinaceus, illegal harvesting Minister to meet new European lawmakers on palm oil
Malaysia will engage with European Union politicians to remove their misconceptions about the palm oil industry, says Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok.Malaysian must know the truth, 07 August 2019
, Palm Oil, palm oil ban, EU ban Timber tycoon Kong Kroeng to be questioned
The National Committee for Forest Crime Prevention has summoned a well-known timber tycoon to appear at Kratie provincial military police headquarters to be questioned over suspected illegal logging.Khmer Times , 07 August 2019
, Timber, illegal logging Forest activists call for seizure of assets from corrupt officials
Civil society and forest protection activists on Monday called for officials in the government and armed forces guilty of corruption and exploiting state property to be removed from their positions and have their assets frozen.Phnom Penh Post, 06 August 2019
, Timber, illegal harvesting Effective Restoration Of Forest Covers To Enhance Livelihood Development- AAP
The National Coordinator of Action Against Poverty (AAP) has emphasized that significant members and partners attached to efficient and effective restoration of forest cover will enhance the ecosystem and livelihood development.Voice Gambia, 06 August 2019
, Timber, forest restoration, deforestation Jokowi Says He’ll Fire Officials if They Fail to Tackle Forest Blazes
With a surge in forest fires in Indonesia threatening a repeat of the deadly haze that blanketed much of Southeast Asia in 2015, President Joko Widodo said officials failing to tackle the menace will be fired as he extended a ban on clearing new forest land for farming.Bloomberg, 06 August 2019
, Timber, Palm Oil, forest fire, peatland, kalimantan, sumatra The rosewood ‘plunder’ scandal: How did we get here?
Arguably, the most heartbreaking environmental scandal to have hit Ghana recently is thedamning report on how “a massive institutionalized scheme of timber trafficking” enabled by an alleged high-level corruption and collusion has resulted in the loss of about 6 million rosewood trees through illegal logging and the abuse of timber rights allocation permit.My Joy Online , 06 August 2019
, Timber, rosewood, Pterocarpus erinaceus, illegal harvesting Myanmar to reduce annual timber logging quota by half
Myanmar will cut its annual logging limit of teak and hardwood by 50 percent and produce only enough timber to meet the cost of production during 2019-20 logging season, according to the state-run Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE) Monday. Only trees aged 30 years and above will be cut down in central Mandalay and northwestern Sagaing regions, said U Ohn Win, minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, on Sunday.Xinhua Net, 06 August 2019
, Timber, timber regulation Prosecutor General's Office: forests in Irkutsk Region set on fire to cover illegal logging
Fire in the region spread to 37 thousand hectares within one day and covers now 650 thousand hectares.Crime Russia, 06 August 2019
, Timber, Illegal logging, forest fire