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Hamburg, June 3rd, 2002 deutsche Version Editorial Departments: Current Affairs, Environment, Economy Malaysian Tropical-Wood Lobby on Public-Relations Tour in the Hanseatic City ROBIN WOOD warns: Hamburg Tropical-Wood Regulation must stay in force On the occasion of today’s visit of the Malaysian Minister for Basic Industry, Dr. Lim Keng Yaik, ROBIN WOOD has sharply criticized the forest policy of the South-East Asian country. In an open letter, the environmental organization turned to Hamburg's mayor Ole von Beust in which it says: “Contrary to the statements of the Malaysian forest industry and the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC), even at present a great number of forest operations in Malaysia are neither ecologically sustainable nor socially just." The Malaysian regime and the commercial logging carried out by its favourites, is the main reason for the destruction of the tropical forests in Malaysia. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), a forest area of 237,000 hectares is lost each year. In a desperate struggle, the indigenous population, e.g. the Penan wood-nomad people are resisting against the destruction of their bases of existence by the Malaysian forest industry. The visit by the Malaysian Minister in Hamburg serves the purpose of making propaganda for the certificate of the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) created by the Malaysian tropical-wood industry. All relevant organizations of the indigenous population reject this seal of the industry, because it does not allow them any sufficient right of representation. International environmental organizations supporting this. With several spectacular actions, ROBIN WOOD has in the previous years convinced the Hanseatic City of a responsible acquisition of wood. Since 1996, tropical wood may only then be used in public construction works, if it has been awarded the quality seal of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This regulation is exemplary and pregnant” states ROBIN WOOD-tropical-wood expert Peter Gerhardt. Hamburg is well-advised to realize same consequently, if the City does not want to be linked with the over-exploitation of tropical forests." Peter Gerhardt, ROBIN WOOD-Tropical-Forest Campaigner Ute Bertrand, ROBIN WOOD-Press Officer Contact: Ute Bertrand, ROBIN WOOD-Press Officer, presse@robinwood.de, 040 - 380 892 22