Lawmakers Oppose Illegal Timber Trade

[Judi Lynn]

Mar 13, 6:41 PM EDT

Lawmakers Oppose Illegal Timber Trade

By MATTHEW DALY
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It could be your new hardwood floor or coffee table, with a rich mahogany hue.

While the wood may look good, there is a strong chance it came from timber harvested illegally in places such as Honduras, Indonesia or Peru, labor and environmental groups say.

Now some lawmakers want to crack down on illegal logging around the world. Led by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., the group is seeking support for a bill to ban U.S. imports of wood products derived from illegally harvested timber.

Much like the movie "Blood Diamond," which portrays diamonds as fueling a brutal civil war in West Africa, lawmakers hope to make U.S. consumers more aware of where their new bedroom dresser or hardwood floor comes from.
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