Thai rosewood has been given protection under international law, one of many decisions made at the recent Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), held March 3-14 in Bangkok, Thailand.

New regulations prohibiting illegally harvested timber or wood products derived from that timber from entering the European Union are receiving praise by North American forestry-related groups.

Previously we published “The Fight to Fix the Lacey Act Has Just Begun,” by Brent McClendon, executive director of the International Wood Products Assn. Now we present the “Counterpoint,” authored by Dana Cole, executive director of the Hardwood Federation.

The Global Forest Coalition charges Swedish-owned international furniture retailer, IKEA, is logging old-growth forests and other high conservation value forests in Russian Karelia through its subsidiary Swedwood.

The National Retail Federation said it has joined with groups asking Congress to review and revise Lacey Act rules regarding the importation of wood products and plant material.

WASHINGTON – The World Bank says the best way to curb illegal logging is to follow its illicit profits, capture the masterminds behind the activity and prosecute them.

In a vocal demonstration of support for the Lacey Act, a group of musicians joined environmentalists yesterday outside the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA, to garner support for the forest conservation law and to stop illegal logging.

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) announced legislation to clarify a broad federal law so that musicians, instrument retailers and resellers-among many others- would no longer be subject to penalties for unknowingly possessing illegal woods. U.S. Representatives Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) and Marsha Blackburn (TN-07) joined Cooper as original co-sponsors.

Dueling concerts on both sides of Gibson Guitars wood battle: in Madagascar, a concert against illegal logging at the source of the ebony; and a Tea Party "We Stand With Gibson" rally sides with the guitar maker,

The recent raid resulted in much greater support for the National Consensus Lacey Defense to Liability Standard, which can provide the needed certainty for all sellers of wood globally in the supply chain, while greatly increasing Lacey Act compliance.