Environmental Networking Platform for Children and Youth by SAMSUNG E&A
Stay connected with Eco-generation :
| Share 
| 
- Home >
- Our Actions >
- Ambassador report
7
Comments
Illegal Logging has just gotten More Notorious |
|---|
|
I recently came across the death of two patrollers in Cambodia?s Preah Vihear Protected Forest who were gunned down by illegal loggers. It was disheartening and disturbing to know that they gave up their lives for the protection of our precious forests. It is the latest in an ongoing series of violent crimes associated with illegal logging, a global industry that accounts for up to 10 percent of all timber trade. Global Witness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to exposing corruption and environmental abuse, with offices in London and Washington, D.C., has confirmed the killings of more than 950 forest defenders between 2002 and 2014—activists, rangers, and indigenous people and the tally is reportedly an underestimate. During the past five years the murder rate has risen to two a week. Illegal logging is irresistible because of the high prices luxury timbers like rosewood and mahogany fetch on the international market. A cubic meter of rosewood, for instance, can sell for $50,000 in China, and in Thailand a two-meter-long plank goes for $5,000. This matter becomes rather complex as media sources suggest high government officials and authorities? involvement. Funds generated from those activities—estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year—are said by the source to support the ruling party. For now, individual forest defenders often remain one of the only obstacles between illegal loggers and stolen trees. They?re doing all of humanity a huge favor by putting their lives on the line.
Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160202-Illegal-loggers-murders-violence-defending-land/ PHOTOGRAPH BY PATRICK BROWN, PANOS |
|
|
|
|
|
Previous : New Year Resolution
7 Comments
The situation is more severe in Ghana
Posted 17-02-2016 02:28
It's so sad to hear that the protectors are themselves not secure. Salute to the forest defenders. Thanks for sharing about it.
Posted 14-02-2016 03:10
thank you for the informative article dear Humaid. Illegal logging is a sensitive issue indeed.
Posted 14-02-2016 02:40
High population growth is a big reason for this problem. We have to control population growth rate first.
Posted 11-02-2016 18:38
Illegal logging is a serious issue globally and in such cases there are two groups one working for protection and another continuosuly breaking them.Those brave people who work for the protection of valuable resources are heroes.As Bindu di said there will be more initiations and effective supervision of forests in the coming days.Thanks for sharing. :)
Posted 11-02-2016 11:13
I salute to those two patrollers and several others like them who lost their life defending for forest. It is really disheartening to know money has been above one's life and how these illegal loggers are taking away innocent lives for few thousands dollar. As you mentioned, corruption are at highest level and involvement of high ranking officials, conscious youths of Cambodia can seek help from global community for better monitoring and use of digital technology to keep an eye on forests and valuable timber.
Thank you for sharing this sensitive issue dear Humaid :)
Posted 11-02-2016 10:48
Illegal logging negatively impacts the economic and ecological systems of optimal forest management. People think of their short term goals/benefits and forget harm they cause to environment and the whole ecosystem by resorting to such practices.Thanks to these forest defenders for guarding the forests .
Posted 11-02-2016 04:59