May 2007

First ever camera footage of rare borneo rhino

18 May 2007

WWF and Malaysia’s Sabah Wildlife Department recently released footage of a Borneo Rhino which shows it eating, walking to the camera and sniffing the equipment. The first still photo of a Borneo rhino was captured only last year. Scientists estimate there are between 25 and 50 rhinos left on the island of Borneo, the last survivors of the Bornean subspecies of Sumatran rhinos. The rhinos live only in the interior forests of Sabah, Malaysia, an area known as the "Heart of Borneo", an area under pressure by logging and forest conversion.

Source:

 1. WWF Captures First-Ever Camera Trap Video of Rare Borneo Rhino, WWF press-release 24 April 2007.

2. www.worldwildlife.org/borneorhino

Credit Suisse called to reimburse USD 10 Million to indigenous peoples

3 May 2007

The Swiss NGO, Bruno Manser Fonds and the Society for Threatened Peoples, called for Credit Suisse (CS) to reimburse US $ 10 million to indigenous peoples in Guyana and the Malaysian state of Sarawak who have been the victims of the Malaysian timber group Samling. This amount corresponds to the sum earned from the Initial Public Offering (IPO) that Credit Suisse underwrote for Samling in February this year. Leading experts and indigenous representatives from Guyana and Malaysia presented reports alleging Samling Group of large-scale illegal logging in the South American state of Guyana and human rights abuse in the state of Sarawak. There were also allegations that by supporting Samling, Credit Suisse have failed to apply adequately three Principles of the UN Global Compact, which it is a signatory.

Both Credit Suisse and Samling have subsequently denied the allegations.

Sources:

1. Credit Suisse asked to pay back profits of Samling listing, with link to full press release, 3 May 2007
2. Credit Suisse shamed over rainforest deal, report from swissinfo.org, 3 May 2007

EU suspends ramin imports

1 May 2007

The EU has suspended imports of ramin wood from Malaysia. The suspension was related to the listing of ramin in Appendix II of CITES. Malaysia exports ramin mainly to the EU, USA and Japan. Exports are subject to a quota per state with Sarawak leading the exports.  

The EU Scientific Review Group on Trade in Wild Fauna & Flora, made the decision during the group's 40th meeting on the 27th of March 2007.

Sarawak officials have expressed that the suspension came as a surprise to both the federal and state authorities. He added that the Sarawak Forestry was looking into the matter and discussing it with federal authorities.

The decision was made by the

Sources:

1. Short summary of conclusions of the 40th meeting of the Scientific Review Group on Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora, 27 March 2007.
2. EU suspends imports of ramin from Malaysia, from ITTO Tropical Timber Market Report, Volume 12 Number 7, 1-15 April 2007. Available online from ITTO website (requires free registration on the website).