Lottery applicants warned away from Burmese teak

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is proposing new guidance on timber used in lottery-funded projects to bring it in line with the government's Central Point of Expertise on Timber Procurement's (CPET) criteria.

The clearer guidance, designed to ensure lottery applicants source timber from legal or sustainable sources, will go before HLF trustees before the end of January.

An HLF source stressed that, under CPET's current criteria, it could not discriminate against particular countries such as Burma, whose timber industry allegedly helps fund the country's military dictactorship.

But the source said there are "questions" as to whether Burmese timber can meet CPET's legal/sustainable criteria.

HLF part-funded HMS Warrior's restoration involving Burmese teak supplied by Timbmet.

Meanwhile, the Burma Campaign UK, said its lobbying against trade with Burma is meeting with success.

Spokesperson Mark Farmaner said: "We have seen a dramatic change in companies and suppliers' attitudes so we are very pleased."

Several applicants for lottery funds have agreed not to use Burmese teak after being approached by the Campaign, including Salford Council, and Burgess Hill-based garden furniture supplier Alexander Rose Ltd has agreed to phase out importing Burmese teak in 2006.

Alexander Rose director Borg Leth said: "We are totally phasing it out and will source African and Indonesian teak instead, which is a shame because Burmese is the best teak in the world."