Ring of Fire, a coalition of forest protection organisations from Pacific Rim countries, is to spend the next year encouraging timber trade companies to commit themselves to improved environmental practices.
The decision was made at a recent Ring of Fire conference on timber trade activities and forest conservation efforts. Coalition members comprise 30 forest and indigenous activists from Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Myanmar, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Russia, Indonesia, the US and Japan.
Coalition representatives say they will promote viable alternatives to the industrial timber trader such as community level involvements, trade in certified and sustainable forest products and controls on the trade in sensitive species.
