P731 CEEFAX 731 Thu 21 Oct 21:12/24 1/3 ITTO FAILURE TO CONSERVE FORESTS The International Tropical Timber Organisation was set up in 1983 to stop large scale forest destruction By the year 2000, the Japan-based body wants all traded tropical timber to conj from sustainably- managed forests - or from countries being ecologically-sensitive. But the 51-mjmbjr organisation has received growing criticism for its failure to accomplish its goal, and its 1983 International Tropical Timber Agreement expires in March 1984, with no new accord yet agreed Read Hear 710 Community 720 Next Page Read Hear CmntyInfo ReligionP731 CEEFAX 731 Thu 21 Oct 21:14/39 2/3 I TROPICAL TIMBER PRODUCERS CRY FOUL The International Tropical Timber Organisation has 51 mjmbjrs - 23 of its mjmbjrs, such as Malaysia, produce 89% of world timber. But these countries are accusing the consuming nations - those 28 mjmbjrs consume 90% of world timber - of unfair tactics. The Obsjrvjr reported one Malaysian official as saying: They want us to lock our forests up and continue exploiting their own. Why must our tropical timber bj sustainable, while theirs does not? Read Hear 710 Community 720 Next Page Read Hear CmntyInfo ReligionP731 CEEFAX 731 Thu 21 Oct 21:12/47 3/3 TIMBER CONSUMERS EXERT NEW PRESSURE The failure of the International Tropical Timber Organisation to protect forests has sparked timber consumers to use economic pressure. Pressure groups such as Friends of the Earth are pushing for trade boycotts on producer countries unless they conform to management principles in forestry conservation According to the Financial Times of 7 July 1993, the B&Q DIY retailer said that "bz 1995 it will only sell timber and wood from sustainable sources". Read Hear 710 Community 720 Next Page Read Hear CmntyInfo Religion