NGOs around the world have applauded the unanimous decision by the 166 member nations of CITES – the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species – to step up protection for ramin.
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Telapak and Greenpeace are among those who welcomed the listing of ramin on CITES Appendix II which they hope will reduce illegal logging of the endangered tree.
The decision provides governments with the necessary legal and enforcement measures to crack down on the smuggling of illegal ramin.
Greenpeace claims that Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are still dealing in illegal ramin and that areas where it grows are often home to orang-utan and the Sumatran tiger.
And the EIA said the CITES measures will only work if all parties make a serious commitment to enforce the listing.
