Global Witness
It has come to our attention that an arithmetic error on log volumes introduced a series of significant over-estimates in our recent report on illegal logging in Madagascar. This has been corrected and the report has been re-published today. The error concerned the calculation of estimated log volumes from observations made by the team. These should have been as follows:
Consumer demand for rosewood furniture and musical instruments is driving illegal logging in Madagascar's national parks, endangering wildlife and undermining local community livelihoods, according to a new report from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Global Witness. The $1m bed – why Madagascar’s forests are being destroyed
Nagoya, Japan - Consumer demand for expensive rosewood furniture and musical instruments in China and elsewhere is the primary driver of an ecologic…
Read Delmas' reply to this letter and our subsequent response
Soaring demand in China and political unrest in Madagascar are fuelling illegal logging for hardwoods in the African nation, a report concludes. BBC World - China fuels Madagascar timber crisis
Read our call for French company Delmas to end suspect timber shipments
Please see the attached letter from seven international non-governmental organizations, experts on the topic of illegal logging in Madagascar, to the Minister of Environment and Forests of Madagascar, regarding the risk that a proposed poorly managed sale of illegally-sourced ebony and rosewood currently poses.
Global Witness et l'EIA (Environmental Investigation Agency) demandent ce jour à la compagnie maritime française Delmas d'annuler l'expédition vers la Chine de centaines de tonnes de bois de rose depuis le port de Vohémar, dans le nord-est de Madagascar. Le Kiara, un navire exploité par Delmas - répertorié dans le Registre de Lloyd's sous l'IMO 9403384 -, est arrivé à Vohémar le 11 mars et des conteneurs remplis de bois de rose sont en train d'y être chargés.
An open letter from Global Witness and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) to Delmas shipping company expressing grave concerns at its involvement in the transport of timber from Madagascar which has been declared illicit by the Malagasy authorities. The groups accuse Delmas of facilitating the destruction of Madagascar's remaining rosewood forests through illegal logging. Download the letter here.
The stills and footage in this video were taken by photographer Toby Smith during EIA and Global Witness's field investigations into illegal logging in Madagascar. They are available for use by journalists, subject to agreement with Toby - please contact [email protected],+44 (0) 7967 039788. Read press release