Tell US Retailers to Leave Ramin in the Forest

Dear [Sears / Target / Toys "R" US / Wal-Mart],

I am writing to encourage you to protect an endangered wood species and its endangered forest habitat. It has been well documented that ramin wood from the tropical rainforest of Indonesia and Malaysia is being illegally logged and overexploited. This same wood is being imported into the United States and used in baby crib manufacturing. As a company that sells ramin wood cribs, you can play a big part in helping secure a legal and sustainable trade in this rare species. We are certain that a responsible company such as yours will take the necessary steps to help remedy this dire situation.

Ramin wood comes exclusively from the tropical rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. These great rainforests are also home to the endangered orangutan, whose very survival is threatened by the overexploitation of ramin, including illegal logging in national parks. In order to stop the tide of illegal logging, the Indonesian government has proposed to have ramin placed on Appendix II of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Fauna and Flora Species (CITES) this October. By placing ramin on Appendix II, Indonesia would be strengthening international efforts to stop the trade in illegal ramin products.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US CITES representative, must vote in favor of the Appendix II listing at the upcoming CITES meeting starting October 2, 2004. An Appendix II listing will increase the effectiveness of the protection afforded to this species.

I would like to ask that your company’s chief executive officer send a letter to the US Fish and Wildlife Service asking them to vote in favor of Indonesia’s proposal (no. 50). This upgraded listing will help ensure your customers that they are not buying illegal products that destroy important forest habitats for threatened species, such as the orangutan. Listed below is the contact information for the US CITES representative. Until ramin is afforded such protections under CITES, we ask that your company stop selling cribs made from ramin wood. Many crib importers and distributors are now able to easily obtain cribs made from more environmentally appropriate wood such as pine from New Zealand tree plantations and rubberwood from old rubber-producing plantations.

US Fish & Wildlife Service:
Robert R. Gabel, Chief
Division of Scientific Authority
US Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Rm. 750
Arlington, VA 22203
By fax; 703-358-2276
By email: scientificauthority@fws.gov

Thank you.

[Your name]