Regional  Review  of  Illegal  Trading  of  Siamese  Rosewood

Bruno  Cammaert  EU-­‐FAO  FLEGT  Programme  

Food  and  Agriculture  Organization  of  the  United  Nations  For  Asia  and  the  Pacific  Regional  Office

Family:  LEGUMINOSAE Scientific  Name:  Dalbergia  cochinchinensisSynonym:  Dalbergia  cambodiana  Pierre   Common  names:  Siamese  Rosewood,  Thailand  Rosewood,  Cambodian  Rosewood,  Tracwood Range:  Cambodia,  Lao  PDR,  Thailand,  

National  Hongmu  Standard  (GB/T18107-­‐2000)

Heartwood  of  Pterocarpus  spp.,  Dalbergia  spp.,  Millettia  spp.,  Cassia  spp.,  Diospyros  spp.,  whose  density,  texture  and  color  meet  the  requirements  set  in  the  National  Standard.  Besides,  other  species  that  are  not  included  in  the  Standard  can  be  also  called  as  Hongmu  if  they  meet  the  requirements  on  density,  structure  and  color.

Regional  trade  routes  and  hotspots

Regional  trade  routes  and  hotspots  (Cont.)

Legislation  related  or  applicable  to  D.  cochinchinensis

• All  range  countries  have  laws  protecting  D.  cochinchinensis  (harvesting,  transport,  trade?)  

• Cambodia:  listed  as  “rare  species”  since  2005  leading  to  prohibition  of  harvest.  2013  RGC  Order  on  Prevention  and  Suppression  of  Logging,  Transportation,  Collection,  Storage  and  Exportation  of  rosewood  which  also  establishes  a  National  Permanent  Secretariat  (MAFF)    

• Vietnam:  Decree  160/2013/ND-­‐CP:    12  timber  species  listed  as  endangered,  precious  and  rare  (prioritized  protection)

Common  Problems  and  Loopholes?  • Trade  without  CITES  permits/licenses;  • Irregular  or  failed  issuance  of  CITES  export  and  re-­‐export  permits  as  well  as  CITES  import  certificates;  

• No  Non-­‐Detrimental  Findings  or  Legal  Acquisition  Findings  supporting  CITES  permits;  

• Annotation  5  allows  non-­‐licensed  trade  of  Rosewood  which  is  not  in  the  form  of  logs,  Sawn  timber  and  veneer  (where  is  the  evidence  and  how  big  is  the  problem?);  

• False  species  identification/declaration;  • Auctions  of  seized  timber  can  be  used  to  officialise  the  trade  of  the  concerned  timber  and  more.

Recent  revisions  of  national  legal  and  policy  frameworks

• Thailand:  Rosewood  species  have  been  listed  (Forest  Act.  Type  Kor  (I)).  which  forbids  harvesting,  possession  and  processing  (National  Council  of  Peace  and  Order,  2014)  

   • China:  Revision  of  Hongmu  Standard  (ongoing),  enactment  of  CITES  listing  by  Hong  Kong  and  Guidelines  on  Sustainable  Overseas  Trade  and  Investment  and  of  Forest  Products  by  Chinese  Enterprises  (ongoing).

Trends  seizures  versus  real  tradeExample:  Confiscation  of  Rosewood  Timber  from  2010-­‐2014  (DLE,  2014)  in  Cambodia  !!!!• Downwards  trends  but  does  it    mean:  success  or  challenges?  !

• How  big  is  gap  between  seizures    and  (illegal)  trade  estimates?

What  about  trade  in  semi-­‐finished  and  finished  products?

What  is  done  with  confiscated  stockpiles?

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Examples  of  enforcement  activities  (national  responses)

Examples  of  cross-­‐border/international  collaboration

• Cambodia:  MoU  (2012)  between  FA  and  VNFOREST  on  combating  illegal  timber  trade  (last  meeting  in  Nov.  2014  resulted  in  workplan).  Border  cooperation  between  Cambodian  provinces  and  neigbours  !

• Lao  PDR:  Annual  bilateral  Cooperation  Meetings  with  neighbouring  countries  (Especially  Vietnam  and  Thailand)  organised  by  ASEAN-­‐WEN.  !

• Thailand:  request  for  cooperation  and  support  from  China,  Vietnam,  Lao  PDR,  Cambodia  and  CITES  member  States  to  stop  and  strengthen  the  inspection  of  imported  Siamese  Rosewood  from  Thailand  !

• VPA  negotiations  between  EU  and  Lao  PDR,  Vietnam  and  Thailand

THANK  YOU