Myanmar’s precious rosewood tree species are heading for imminent commercial extinction at the hands of China’s multi-billion dollar rosewood furniture boom. Illegal trade in rosewood is driven by wealthy elites in China and their desire for the high-end Ming and Qing dynasty reproduction furniture known as ‘hongmu’
Siamese rosewood has been illegally logged to the brink of extinction in the Mekong region to feed a voracious demand for luxury furniture in China which leaves a bloody trail of death, violence and corruption in its wake in a trade driven by the expanding wealthy elites in China
Progress towards addressing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) was made and the majority of Parties demonstrated a willingness to move towards a global agreement. This was despite India, the world’s 10th largest economy, blocking detailed discussions of the proposals
The poaching of rhinos in South Africa has increased by more than three rhinos a week on average since Environmental Minister Edna Molewa called for a legal international trade in rhino horn, according to analysis by the non-profit Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
As UN trade restrictions on endangered Siam rosewood come into effect, EIA warned the future of the species relies on range states and key user countries delivering on their protection obligations. EIA played a key role in supporting the Thai and Vietnamese governments efforts to secure CITES protection for the species
EIA has called on China’s Redwood Committee and its parent timber trade federation to ensure policies and members do not underwrite the destruction of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Thailand’s violent rosewood wars after the Thai Government claimed demand for Siam rosewood left it unable to stop armed illegal loggers