Blood Logs

Illegal Logging Takes Violent Turn

Thailand and Cambodia have begun a unified front to halt illegal logging that has caused a surprising amount of violence. Much of the conflict has come between Thai rangers and encroaching Cambodian loggers seeking rosewood.

In 1989, Thailand suffered severe floods that led the Thai government to ban commercial logging. In the time since, 400 Cambodians have been caught in Thai forests logging illegally. It is a situation that has erupted into violence in the past, resulting in a total of 13 Cambodian loggers having been killed.

In addition to the violence, the Thai rosewood has been recommended for placement on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species list, by the Environmental Investigation Agency to assist Thai officials in the protection of their forests.

Like many poached goods (be they plant or animal) in Southeast Asia, the demand comes largely from nearby China.

Read more at Mongabay.

Check out this video from 2009 when a Cambodian logger was apparently burned alive by Thai forces: