For the first time ever an illegal mahogany shipment has been sent back to Brazil.
The 32,184m3 cargo of veneer worth US$101,000 was sent back from the port of Norfolk, Virginia, following an order from the US government. The original exporter, Laminort, has been fined US$5,000 for trading without authorisation by Brazil’s environmental agency IBAMA.
The veneer, which arrived in the US last year, has been put under the judicial guard of the Terminal of Containers of Paranaguá.
Nilo d’Ávila, Greenpeace campaigner, described the event as “historic” and added: “Finally governments are starting to take their obligation to control the illegal timber trade seriously.”
Meanwhile, about 6,000 illegal mahogany logs apprehended by IBAMA in 2001 are to be donated to the Federation of Organisations for Social and Educational Aid. Forest Stewardship Council-certified company Cikel will saw the timber, worth US$2.5m, and the proceeds will benefit communities affected by illegal logging.
