Illegal logging .

Just listening to the evening Udon news and they are reporting the police are investigating a gang operating in the Phu Foilom area after discovering a quantity of illegally felled Maipadoo trees. This is a tree similar to what we know as mahogany, red coloured and very hard wood .It is strictly protected and its cutting is prohibited even by the land owner on which it grows. Apparently there are several ancient specimens growing in this area on forestry and private land and gang members have been offering 50k baht for each to unaware land owners. They are said to fetch up to half a million on the open market .Unfortunately the farmers who permitted its cutting are now facing substantial fines or imprisonment .Also anyone found to be in possession of furniture made from this wood are also liable to prosecution .So watch out .


Illustrated the tree and timber .