Ask Senators to cosponsor S.1930, The Combat Illegal Logging Act

[MH1]

Please.

Bill Summary and Status on thomas.loc.gov

http://action.defenders.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=24521.0&dlv_id=43861

Dear Wildlife Supporter,

Across the world, illegal logging, driven by the demand for cheap wood products, is destroying vital habitat for tigers, jaguars, orangutans and other wildlife… and driving some of the planet’s most beloved wildlife to the brink of extinction.

We can stop the destruction. Urge your Senators to co-sponsor the Combat Illegal Logging Act of 2007 (S.1930) today and take a concrete step to save the places our wildlife needs to survive.

The insatiable demand for cheap wood products and luxury hardwoods in the United States, Europe and Japan is driving illegal logging operations worldwide. Yet America has no law against importing illegally harvested wood into the U.S.

From Borneo to the Amazon to Siberia, illegal logging is the first step in a devastating cycle of forest habitat loss, animal poaching and carbon emissions.

* Indonesia: a U.N. report estimates that 98% of Indonesia’s forests -- home to orangutans, sun bears, tigers and rhinos -- could disappear within 20 years. The government of Indonesia estimates that 73% of all logging in the country is illegal;
* Peru: The Amazon -- where jaguars, ocelots, and macaws thrive -- is under attack by mahogany traffickers. The vast majority of Peruvian mahogany -- 80% of which is illegally logged -- is destined for the U.S.;
* Russia: The Far Eastern forests, home to the planet’s largest cat, the Amur tiger, are being leveled to feed the factories and furniture mills of China, many of which send products to the U.S.

Encourage your Senators to support a ban on the importation of illegally logged wood and help save vital habitat for tigers, jaguars and other wildlife.

Illegal logging triggers a chain of events that results in further deforestation, large fires and carbon emissions. This reckless and unregulated logging often occurs in national parks and indigenous reserves, destroying large areas of intact habitat that many critically endangered species need to survive.

The Combat Illegal Logging Act -- introduced by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) -- will give enforcement agencies a powerful tool in the fight against illegal timber traffickers by making it a crime to knowingly import, sell, buy or transport illegally-sourced wood and wood products.

It’s time to send a message to international timber syndicates that America will no longer accept the environmental destruction that comes with illegal logging. Please take action today…

Best Regards,

Rodger Schlickeisen, President Signature
Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife

[MH1]

1. Crickets? n/t

[ryanus]

7. I'm sorry, but with everything going on, logging isn't at the top of my list

I wish that was the worst thing going on.

[depakid]

8. Losing carbon sinks, rainfall producers and watershed integrity

is about as serious as it gets.

Actually, with respect to climate change- deforestation is about more than losing sinks- it's about turning sinks into sources. That's a frightening prospect.

[MH1]

9. Also loss of biodiversity.

That may be as dangerous as global warming. Or worse. I don't think anyone really knows.

[depakid]

10. You bet

In many ways, the two are part in parcel.

[MH1]

2. Morning kick, and thanks for the rec.

More would be appreciated.

We have to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. This is such a simple and obvious legislation - isn't it?

[The2ndWheel]

3. I doubt legislation will have much of a dent

Can't hurt though. Although it's mostly pushing the problem further into the future.

"The insatiable demand for cheap wood products and luxury hardwoods in the United States, Europe and Japan is driving illegal logging operations worldwide."

The insatiable demand is the issue. Mass production as an issue. Will either stop? Not bloody likely.

"Yet America has no law against importing illegally harvested wood into the U.S."

Even if we did have one, all that would be needed is to make "illegal" logging "legal". That's how it works. You can say something is off limits, but when the time comes, and that something is now required for production/growth/whatever, those limits will be lifted, one way or another.

[MH1]

4. Small things can add up to a big difference.

This bill will ban importation of wood harvested illegally in other countries. It gives us another tool to disincentivize unsustainable logging practices.

It may not be enough to make a "big dent" but I'd rather have a "small dent" than "no dent."

To me this seems like a no-brainer.

I do agree with you that demand needs to be reduced, and that is the real problem. But if you increase the barriers to importation of unsustainably produced materials, then you raise the price of the product and that will reduce discretionary demand.

[beachmom]

5. This is really good. It's not enough to be opposed to illegal

logging in your own country. You have to be opposed to it worldwide. America's powerful trade profile should mean demanding something of those who want to sell products to us.

[MH1]

6. True, but also support the laws of other countries.

We want other countries to respect environmental regulations - and most of us wish overseas manufacturers would adhere to environmental regs like ours - so it seems like we ought to ban importation of things that rely on illegal behavior in those countries.