I write on behalf of the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) regarding the article “Atkinson and Kirby denies EIA merbau claims”.
EIA and its Indonesian partners have conducted a series of detailed investigations into the merbau trade since 2004 and believe the species to be high risk in terms of potential for illegal logging. As far as EIA is aware, no single forest concession containing merbau in Indonesia has been independently certified.
EIA strongly supports the clear steps taken by the UK government to exclude illegal timber from public procurement contracts. As part of this initiative the UK government has conducted a detailed evaluation of existing certification schemes and approves those it believes offer creditable proof of legality.
EIA commends Atkinson & Kirby on its recent decision to cease supplying merbau flooring. It invites the firm to join the campaign for new legislation to ban the sale of illegal timber in the UK, and to join the 73 other timber firms across the EU/UK supporting the introduction of such laws at the EU level.
Julian Newman
Head of Forests Campaign
Environmental Investigation Agency
