Lessons from the 'ramin war'.

(From Business Times (Malaysia))

THE ramin trade conflict re-emerged in a big way early this month following a report by Indonesian environmentalists Telapak and London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) that highlighted a leak in Indonesia's ban on ramin exports and how the contraband timber ended up in Malaysian shores.

The Primary Industries Ministry, which is the custodian of Malaysia's forests and the timber trade, did not like the report's tone. Malaysia takes pride in its logging practices, which have become part of international standards when it comes to sustainable forest management.

An almost three-hour meeting took place two …