Madagascar’s transitional president threatens to sell illegal wood worth $5 billion

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President of the High Transitional Authority of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, is expected to schedule a vote on an internal decree on Wednesday, October 2, to illegally sell the African nation’s rosewood and ebony stockpiles, according to information leaked to the Environmental Investigation Agency. Local sources indicate that proceeds from the stockpile sale, estimated at over 500,000 logs worth as much as $5 billion, will likely be used to finance the transitional president’s political party’s campaign and to buy the support of the military prior to the upcoming election.

The sale and subsequent export of the wood to consumer countries is in clear violation of the country’s own laws and the recent Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) listing of Madagascar rosewood and ebony species on Appendix II. The decree also flouts the international process that had been established under the guidance of Prime Minister Omer Beriziky to manage the disposal of the country’s illegal stockpiles.

“Over the past 10 years, the impoverished island nation of Madagascar has experienced a crisis of corruption associated with illegal logging, decimating the country’s world-renowned biodiversity and deepening critical levels of poverty.” said Alexander von Bismarck, Executive Director of EIA. “We strongly advise the President in transition to follow the international process for disposing of illegal wood.”

In an effort to stem the illegal harvest and trade of its high value precious woods, the Government of Madagascar has imposed several bans on harvest and export of rosewood and ebony since 2000. However, illegal logging surged after Transitional President Rajoelina organized a military coup in 2009, which was funded in part by the illegal trade of ebony and rosewood, according to local sources.

The majority of logs were shipped to China to feed to the burgeoning “redwood” antique-style furniture industry, where rosewood cabinets were sold for as much as $1 million each. A portion of this timber was sold to musical instrument manufacturers including US based Gibson Guitars Corporation.

An effective solution to stockpile disposal must ensure measures are taken to guarantee the credibility and legality of the process. Any disposal must deter further illegal harvest, avoid stimulating future demand, and benefit local communities who have been most adversely affected. The timber barons known to have been responsible for organizing illegal harvesting operations, must be held accountable, and must not benefit from any potential sale of stockpiles.

“The Transitional President, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers of Madagascar must oppose any plans for a rapid, illegal sale of these massive stockpiles of rosewood and ebony,” said von Bismarck. “We strongly urge the Steering Committee established by Prime Minister Omer Beriziky to establish a fair, transparent and credible process to dispose of existing stockpiles in a manner that supports good governance and is for the benefit of all Malagasy people.”