Forests and forestry
Forest products
Malaysian government to ban export of rubberwood from July 1
The government will ban the export of rubberwood effective July 1, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. Dr Wee said on Thursday that the decision was made to address the shortage of raw materials faced by the Malaysian ...
New project promotes biodiversity conservation
A Switzerland-funded project to conserve biodiversity through sustainable trade of natural ingredients following the BioTrade principles in Việt Nam, Laos and Myanmar was launched in Hà Nội on Tuesday.Keep reading ...
Wood veneer exports approaching limit
Wooden veneer, partially-processed timber products have been exported in accordance with the government’s special permission, according to the latest official report. The latest report from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce showed that as of May 19, as many as 12,182 cubic metres of veneer ...
DPM pushes development in Champassak
Champassak province should close all loopholes relating to the timber trade, and review all the procedures that have frustrated investors and delayed development. Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone tabled these issues in discussions with Champassak authorities during his visit to the province last week. ...
Vietnam pledges to investigate massive illegal logging violations as international pressure grows
After several weeks of silence, the Vietnamese government announced that is working to begin an investigation into allegations of widespread illegal logging in Cambodia directed by Vietnamese companies and provincial government officials. Earlier this month the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) released a damning report which ...
Embassy ducks forestry dispute
The South Korean Embassy on May 9 declined to get involved in a dispute between a group of residents and a company which wants to clear forest near their homes. Activists from Prey Lang Community Network went to the embassy at Koh Pich to deliver a petition ...
Indigenous groups, activists risk arrest to blockade logging in Malaysia
In their fight for the rights of peninsular Malaysia’s native people, the Orang Asli, an alliance of women are making waves in the country’s highly conservative society as they support the efforts of communities and activists trying to stop logging of the region’s forests. The ...
Vietnam stops nine overloaded trucks with illegal lumber
Authorities in Vietnam’s Gia Lai province have recently stopped at least nine overloaded timber trucks crossing into the country from the Kingdom, despite the Cambodian government ostensibly banning wood exports to its eastern neighbour, according to a Vietnamese news report. The report, published earlier this ...
More timber seized from Ratanakkiri
Ratanakkiri provincial authorities on April 19 seized a large cache of luxury wood and arrested four people about to sell the timber to Vietnam. Ratanakkiri provincial police chief Kim Reaksmey said the wood was discovered at two separate locations in Banlung town’s La Bansiek commune and ...
Hundred-year-old nghien forest in Ha Giang destroyed
Ancient nghien trees (Excentrodendron tonkinense) in Ha Giang province, in the middle of old forests and on high cliffs, have been lost due to illegal logging and clearing to make room for hydropower plants and mineral exploitation. However, the plan has failed: the province has lost ...
