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Borderlines – Timber Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Smuggling in the Mekong Region Mekong Region

Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

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Page 1: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Borderlines – Timber Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Smuggling in the Mekong

RegionRegion

Page 2: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Mekong Region:

• Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia• Significant forest loss • Logging controls in Vietnam, Thailand and

Cambodia• Main wood processing centres Vietnam and

Thailand• History of illegal logging and timber smuggling

Page 3: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Vietnam

• Rapid growth of furniture industry; exports worth $2.4 bn 2007, tenfold increase in seven years

• Main export markets US 39%, Japan 14%, UK 7%• Heavy reliance on imported raw materials• Progress on certified timber; eucalyptus, teak • Illegal timber remains a problem; balau, keruing

Page 4: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Indonesian logs, Haiphong 2003

Page 5: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Laos

• Rural population 80%, many dependent of forests • Forest cover 40% and falling• Series of forestry laws, enforcement weak• Log export ban, designated production areas,

consultation with local communities • Plan to grow domestic wood processing; many

infrastructure projects, dams

Page 6: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

EIA Findings

• Widespread use of Laos balau/keruing in Vietnamese outdoor furniture factories

• Vietnamese logging firms active in Laos • Estimate around 500,000 cbm Laos logs enter

Vietnam a year• Most of logs used domestically, some exported • Some factories source directly, others buy locally• Thai businessmen involved in Laos logging

Page 7: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Central Laos

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Central Laos

Page 9: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Naphao, Laos-Vietnam Border

Page 10: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Naphao, Laos-Vietnam Border

Page 11: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Laos balau logs, Qui Nhon

Page 12: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Laos balau logs, Hanoi

Page 13: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Laos logs, Vinh Port

Page 14: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Thai Connection

Page 15: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Thai Connection

Page 16: Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region Borderlines – Timber Smuggling in the Mekong Region

Final Thoughts

• Consumers share responsibility – due care

• Misleading claims by retailers

• Need for dialogue Vietnam-Laos

• Vietnam needs to tackle high risk species

• EU-Vietnam dialogue on FLEGT

• New controls on illegal timber in US