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Sierra Club Lawsuits

Petitioning Powell to Stop Illegal Timber Trade

Case Updates:

March 25, 2004

The Sierra Club recently joined with other environmental organizations in a formal petition to Secretary of State Colin Powell for an investigation into large scale smuggling of endangered timber from Indonesia’s national parks. The petition raises concerns about the role of Malaysian companies in promoting the illegal trade of high value Ramin wood. The request comes in response to the demise of highly endangered orangutans, which live in the Indonesian forests now being destroyed. After being channeled through Malaysia, the illegal timber often reaches mainstream stores in the U.S., one of the world’s largest consumers of Malaysian timber and wood products. Penalties could include U.S. trade sanctions against Malaysia’s timber imports.

Details and Documents: