RELATED Forests for the World Campaign

<< Back to homepage

Ramin Ramin is being illegally logged in Indonesian National Parks. Despite international measures to protect the species, illegal Indonesian ramin continues to be laundered through Malaysia, the only other source country. Illegal ramin still enters the UK, USA, Italy and other countries. Given these circumstances, EIA is advising that consumers do not buy any products made from ramin. Common products made from ramin include wooden Venetian blinds, cheap pool and snooker cues, picture frames and tool handles. If you are unsure if a product is made from ramin, ask.

Other timber species As well as ramin, a number of other species are likely to have been illegally or unsustainably cut, and some are even endangered. Some Asian tropical species which EIA has documented being illegally cut in Indonesia are:

Ramin – blond coloured hardwood used in picture frames, blinds, cues, furniture and tool handles

Meranti (sometimes called lauan) – dark, reddish coloured wood used in plywood, and for solid doors and window frames

Bengkirai (sometimes called balau or yellow balau) – used in garden furniture and for outdoor decking, truck flooring and in yachts and pleasure craft.

Nyatoh – orange coloured wood sometimes used in garden and household furniture, and as doors.

Merbau – reddish, mahogany-like wood, used for indoor flooring and expensive outdoor decking.

Keruing – light brown wood used for indoor flooring, and wooden construction on boats and motor vehicles.

Jelutong – often used for writing and colouring pencils

Remember that it is not just tropical hardwoods that are illegally cut. Illegal logging is also rampant in some countries with temperate forests, including Russia. You can look for further information on timber species by looking them up on 'A-Z of Wood Types' drawn up by Friends of the Earth.

FILE DOWNLOADS

Consumer Guide PDF File [96.53 K]   DOWNLOAD

< Back