Thai rosewood, which fetches exorbitant prices on the international market, was granted protection under international law on Tuesday, with China the main target, but it was not immediately clear how much effect it will have. A 1989 National Logging Ban already prohibits logging of all rosewood and other precious wood species in Thailand. But huge demand and weak law enforcement means Thai rosewood is smuggled into neighboring countries and shipped to end-users, principally China. Member states at the annual Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) voted to list Thai rosewood under Appendix II of the CITES which regulates trade of threatened species through logging permits and agreed quotas.—Reuters
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