Government office refit leads to timber protest

13-07-2006

An office refurbishment plan for the Cabinet Office has led to protests from Greenpeace over the use of illegally logged timber.

Activists scaled Admiralty Arch draping a banner across it to highlight the issue yesterday (July 13th).

The use of the timber from the rainforests of Papua New Guinea (PNG) - in plywood hoarding - highlights the need for those undergoing an office refit to make sure products used meet international standards.

Although the import of the wood is not illegal, some companies in Papua New Guinea are logging against local rules aimed at preserving the rain forests.

Last month, following the discovery of illegal timber in hoarding around the restoration of Nelson's Column, the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) advised members that any wood from Papua New Guinea or the Solomon Islands should be considered as a "high risk".

TTF chief executive John White said: "The current situation in PNG and the Solomon Islands means there is very little or no material meeting the environmental standards the UK market requires. We therefore believe it best to advise our members accordingly."

The oversight by the government which has a timber policy in place to only use wood from legal and sustainable sources should serve as a warning to those undergoing office refurbishment to ensure materials meet standards.

Greenpeace is calling on the government to ensure it only uses Forest Stewardship Council-certified timber and to bring in legislation to ban the imports of illegal wood.

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