APHIS CONTINUES HOLD ON 15 BRAZILIAN BIGLEAF MAHOGANY SHIPMENTS

APHIS CONTINUES HOLD ON 15 BRAZILIAN BIGLEAF MAHOGANY SHIPMENTS    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said it would continue to hold 15 bigleaf mahogany shipments from Brazil.
   APHIS stopped 25 Brazilian bigleaf mahogany shipments when they arrived in U.S. ports in early February because of their questionable export permits.
   Bigleaf mahogany is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Six Latin American countries have listed their bigleaf mahogany populations in CITES in Appendix III. As a member of CITES, Brazil must provide export permits for all mahogany shipments.
   The U.S. Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service monitors CITES in the United States and ensures that importers and exporters have the proper permits to transport and trade in CITES-listed species. APHIS is responsible for enforcing the provisions of CITES relate to plant sand works closely with the Fish and Wildlife Service.
   APHIS released five of the 25 of the bigleaf mahogany shipments in late June and another five this week. “The decision to release these shipments was based on information provided by the government of Brazil indicating that these shipments fall within the legally approved amounts authorized for their exporters,” the agency said.
   APHIS said it would not release the rest of the bigleaf mahogany shipments until further information is received from the Brazilian government proving the legal acquisition of the wood. The agency said it expects to receive this information from the Brazilian government soon.
   “The U.S. government is in close communication with Brazil regarding further steps to combat illegal mahogany extraction, including a possible visit to Brazil by U.S. officials,” APHIS said. “As a party to CITES, the United States is committed to meeting its obligations under the treaty and to working with Brazil and other countries to address illegal logging and associated illegal trade.”
   The Bush administration is developing a set of actions to combat illegal logging and corruption in the forest sector, including helping other countries fight illegal logging.