The price of ramin is expected to soar once it is officially listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in the new year, the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MITB) says.
MITB also believes the listing, which comes into force on January 12, will increase smuggling and restrict Malaysia’s M$300m ramin export industry, as well as that of manufacturers of ramin-based products such as furniture.
The new listing was the result of lobbying by Indonesia which was concerned about the illegal felling of its ramin trees. But MITB says Malaysia operates sustainable ramin harvesting.
Malaysian companies will in future need both a CITES permit and an MITB licence to harvest and export ramin, while a scientific study must also be completed to see if continued export of the species is harmful to its survival.
