Peru Admits to Illegal Mahogany Harvesting

Lima, Peru, March 3, 2011 -- Peru’s government has admitted that 70-90% of its mahogany exports were illegally harvested, according to a U.S. embassy cable revealed by Wikileaks.

Furthermore, according to a story by London-based Survival International, Peru’s government is aware that the illegal timber is being harvested using document falsification and other practices.

The revelation, according to the story, will embarrass several U.S. stores that told Survival they continue to import Amazonian hardwoods. According to Survival, several major home centers all confirmed they use the timber in their products.

The news comes just weeks after illegal logging in Peru made international headlines after it emerged that loggers have infiltrated protected areas inhabited by uncontacted tribes, forcing them to flee across the border into Brazil.