Indonesia has begun implementing a ban on exports of illegally harvested timber and wood products, reports The Jakarta Post.
The Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK) requires exporters to obtain certification to demonstrate the timber has been sustainably and legally sourced. The move comes after the U.S. and E.U. passed regulations, the Lacey Act and FLEG-T, respectively, prohibiting import and sale of illegally logged wood. China, a major importer of legal and illegal timber, has also indicated it is weighing tighter control on wood.
Hadi Daryanto, director general of forest product development at the Forestry Ministry, told The Jakarta Post that any non-certified timber would be banned from export.
“If a source of timber is untraceable, it will be categorized as illegal and byproducts will be ineligible for export to markets in the EU,” Hadi was quoted as saying.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether questionably-sourced timber could be sold domestically.
Illegal logging remains a major problem in Indonesia, costing the country hundreds of millions to billions of dollars in lost tax revenue.
Adianto P. Simamora Indonesia bans exports of illegally harvested timber. The Jakarta Post, Jakarta 09/13/2010.