1. Illegal logging: From the Rainforest to your Dining RoomBy: Minita Patel 2. The dwindling jungles of Laos The jungles of Laos forbid logging but the customers are still doing what they do. Most of the customers are American and they imported about $2 billion worth of wood so far last year. The EIA(Environmental Investigation Agency) in London has caught many and also thinks that the global change is partially an effect to this illegal trade. 3. Whats so bad about logging?There really isnt anything bad with it, exceptthat it is illegal and there isnt enough timeprovided in between for resurrection. Theloggers have their ways of doing it, and also thepoor rely heavily on jungles to fill theirbellies, either through hunting sellable forestfauna. When foreign loggers show up, localslose both the jungles they depend on and theopportunity to at least earn some cash bycutting them down. 4. Why lean on Laos?This country is poor compared to itsneighbors, so it is easier for it to be buried.Also, the other countries are logging andthen selling it as their own. The bordersbetween these countries are very gray. 5. Whos buying it?AMERICANS! Weare some of theworlds biggestconsumers, weget everything.Most furniture islabeled made inVietnam but itsreally not. 6. Whats been done?Recently, theres been a new act, the Lacey Act,which fines Americans up to $500,000 from bringingin illegally sourced wood.Recommendation is that the US, EU, Japan andChina quickly adopt national laws to prohibitillegally harvested wood from their markets. In themeantime, consumers should "only buy woodproducts independently verified as legally sourced,with a transparent and full chain of custody," saysEIA. 7. How it affects other things Throughout Laos, deforestation is destroying the elephants natural habitat. According to a Deutsche Welle report on illegal logging in Laos, only 40 percent of the country remains covered in forest. What does this mean for the elephants? Herds get trapped in patches of forest or green islands surrounded by farmland and urbandevelopment. 8. Theres so much more to doBesides the U.N., there also are dozens of nonprofits working to combatdeforestation. A few well-known organizations include: Conservation International -- teaches local farmers how to maximize their existing land, rather than clear new areas The World Wildlife Fund -- works to shape policies and teams with communities to preserve forests Rainforest Action Network -- uses in-your-face advertising campaigns to call attention to the rainforests The Environmental Defense Fund -- champions government bills that provide financial incentive to private landowners (such as farmers) who practice land conservation The Sierra Club -- works to protect and restore U.S. forests Amazon Watch -- defends the rights of indigenous people and communities faced with industrial development The Nature Conservancy -- has developed several initiatives to advance conservation 9. Sources: "From Logging to Tourism: A New Deal for Asian Elephants in Laos -The Travel Word." From Logging to Tourism: A New Deal for AsianElephants in Laos - The Travel Word. Web. 28 May 2012.. "Illegal Logging: From the Rainforest to Your Dining Room."GlobalPost. Web. 28 May 2012.. "Illegal Logging Rampant in Central Vietnam Forests." Illegal LoggingRampant in Central Vietnam Forests. Web. 28 May 2012.. "VIETNAM." VIETNAM. Web. 28 May 2012. .