Kota Kinabalu: Any proposed move to list major traded timber species like Genus Shorea under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) must be substantiated by credible scientific evidence and accurate trade data, in line with the criteria established under the convention.
The Shorea species are “commercial tropical timber” in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, which are often traded under the common names such as meranti, seraya, balau, among others, and these are processed into timber products like sawn wood, veneer sheets, panels and plywood.
Malaysian Timber Association (MTA) President Tan Peng Juan said MTA had expressed serious concern over the 2025 attempt by the European Commission to propose the inclusion of the Genus Shorea under Appendix II of CITES at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20).
Despite the intended proposal not being included in the conference, he said they should ensure that all relevant data is readily available to address any future potential proposals from participating parties.
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