Letter to Harvey Norman on outdoor furniture made from illegally logged kwila rainforest wood

Dear Sir,

We are outraged that your store is continuing to sell products made from the tropical hardwood kwila despite overwhelming evidence that kwila is from an illegal and unsustainable source.

As you know kwila comes from the last remaining tracts of undisturbed and unique rainforest in the Asia Pacific region. Research carried out by
Greenpeace and the Indonesia Human Rights Committee confirms that most of the kwila coming to Auckland is sourced from West Papua. Almost all of this wood is illegally logged and none of it comes with reliable third party
documentation as to its status.

Recently a new species of mammals was discovered in the pristine wilderness of the Foja mountains, deep in the tropical forests of West Papua one of most biodiverse areas in the world. The Governor of Indonesian-controlled
West Papua, Barnabas Suebu, is trying to stem deforestation. He has declared a ban on the export of unprocessed logs and is also hoping to
preserve areas of forest under a carbon trading or 'pay and preserve'scheme.

But he is up against a powerful illegal logging 'mafia' with its powerful military backers. Some local people are trying to stop the destruction of their traditional land and their all important food basket, but they are
isolated, lack resources and are subject to military intimidation. They
need our help to stem this diabolical trade.

The cost to earth of the destruction of kwila is incalculable - the species is already endangered and deforestation is a major contributor to global warming.

We urge you to cease importing all products made from kwila. There are alternative timbers to kwila for every current use.

Yours sincerely,

Maire Leadbeater

(for the Indonesia Human Rights Committee