Illegal logging of rosewood in Madagascar

In Madagascar, a very diverse geography, ranging from areas with sparse vegetation and ending with impenetrable forests. With the advent of the new government the country's infrastructure is bursting at the seams, reinforced corruption. Madagascar - an island nation, most of the income is the export and import of goods. Large-scale illegal logging has forced UNESCO to draw attention to the problems of Madagascar.

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Rosewood is a 100-300-year-old trees, a density of 1, 5 times more than the oak wood. Thanks to these structural indicators, as well as unusual color, which can range from black to blood red, Asian manufacturers of furniture and handicrafts consider this the best wood. Also, the wood is very appreciated manufacturers of musical instruments in the United States and Europe.

National Park "Masoala" is located in a remote area in the northeast of Madagascar. Most of the park has not yet been investigated. Locals equip temporary housing near the shores of the rivers and in the pursuit of proceeds illegally felled timber.

First the tree is cut down with an ax, after being cut into pieces of a length of 2, 5 meters and debarked. Small groups of men drag the sawn trees through the jungle to the river. Due to the fact that the logs quickly sink in water, they are tied to bamboo and fused downstream.

A group of teenagers watches such rafts in shallow water, they dragged out again at the depth where attached to the fuse on the cake and have for them before crossing the river to the road on which the wood waiting for the tractors and machines. Thereafter, the containers with the tree fall illegally in China, where, and forwarded to the foreign markets.

Local police and the government is too corrupt and powerless to stop illegal logging and export of wood. The employees of the National Park who have tried to deal with these crimes have been abused or have been intimidated.

Chinese businessmen to sponsor local merchants. Local residents are forced to break the law and destroy their own natural resources.

Photographer Toby Smith first visited Madagascar in May 2009, to make a photo report about life under the new regime. Toby went deep into the jungle with the Commission in the search for illegal vyrubschikov forests.

But in spite of the actions taken, it is not enough to stop deforestation and timber exports to other countries. Reputable businesses continued illegal business.

What is interesting, well-known company for the production of guitars «Gibson» is under investigation. There is evidence that companies are buying illegally felled timber in Madagascar for their production.

2. Malaysian worker plunges his ax in red and pink heart rosewood. Despite the high cost of wood, each worker receives less than $ 4 a day. Almost every resident of the nearby villages can fell trees. When deforestation is quite often people are injured, in addition, lose some valuable timber.



3. felled Malaysian working tree is clearly visible a precious red-pink core.



4. Photographer Toby Smith writes the coordinates of the illegal logging in the national park. Such points are entered into the computer, so that after it was possible to calculate the damage caused by illegal woodcutters. Furthermore, this place should be fixed within a few weeks after felling.



5. A group of men dragged a felled tree rose to the river, which will be started up downstream. 4-5 drags this log about 6 km. along the river.



6. This work is very difficult and dangerous, often workers are injured limb.



7. stones painted in red and pink, while the workers dragged them felled rosewood. He did not raise, and dragged along the ground, as it is much easier.



8. Lumberjack Rosewood dragged to the river.



9. rosewood logs attached to other lighter types of wood. Often, because of the flow of such makeshift rafts break up, but they are connected again.



10. Teens watch alloy timber, even despite the fact that sometimes it is dangerous.



11. rosewood and other lighter trees constructed rafts.



12. In the temporary settlements of rosewood and other lighter trees constructed rafts.



13. The small settlement, where the wood is taken tractors and taken to the warehouse to the sellers.



14. Under cover of night the wood is delivered to the southern shore of the island. In addition to the Madagascar wood is also sent to the neighboring islands.



15. People are rice and food to the settlement, located deep in the National Park.



16. The camp lumberjacks. The only way for them to earn decent money - is illegally cut timber. Far from civilization illnesses and injuries common for workers.



17. A local trader offers counterfeit Chinese medicines.



18. The wood is delivered to the settlement on the cake. As soon as the water level is understood - as much as possible loaded timber and delivered to the camp, where the goods takes tractor.



19. Tractors and trucks pick up the wood and carry it to the city. Vehicles hired urban merchants.



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21. A kind of "Taxi" gives the wood rosewood in the city. In theory, these should be the trucks to transport people and goods, but in most cases they are used to transport timber.



22. Warehouse of wood near the port Vohemar. The small port is full containers of timber to be sent to China and other countries. Wood develops along the coast and is waiting for their turn to be sent, then warehouses are filled again. This warehouse belongs to Mrs. "Kara" Chan Hoyleyn and employs about 2,000 logs.



23. Timoleon Sambava Rabe, head of the Ministry of Forestry in the background stock illegally felled rosewood. It was he who legalized the illegal possession in the region, felling and removal of wood.



24. The container is filled with illegally felled timber. Each container can contain from 150 to 250 logs, which will be delivered to China or Europe. In order for local merchants to transport timber to other countries, they need only pay a small fee.



25. Containers in port with timber Vohemar.



26. The Meeting Rainer Tegtmayera and Adam Kedourie of investigative bodies involved in the affairs of the environment, with the members of the Madagascar Ministry. Despite the fact that many corrupt officials in the ministry, the new Minister of Environment is trying to help the investigating authorities.



27. Roger Mist, the seller of wood, went down with the plane. He repeatedly taken into custody, but because of the incompetence of the Court of Madagascar, lack of evidence and influential friends, he was never prosecuted.



28. Abdillo, head of the region Sava. He is without doubt one of the most influential figures in the northeastern region of the country and can immediately fulfill the orders of the government, monitors and local police. He admits that he is involved in the illegal timber trade, and even get a reward in the form of several containers of rosewood.



29. The book, which described in detail all the timber trade.



30. Alexander von Bismarck and Adam Kedourie of investigative bodies involved in the affairs of the environment, working undercover. The image of timber merchants, they speak with the manager of one of the warehouses.



31. This large warehouse owned by officials, hence the constantly sent large shipments of timber



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33. At the request stored tons of wood. From here it goes to the markets of USA, Europe and China.



34. Roger Mist Warehouse, which stores tons of wood. From here it goes to the markets of USA, Europe and China.



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37. Loading of containers on board the timber ship, which will go to Mauritius.



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