For years, we thought that Rainforest Reliefwas just too small to affect decisions being made by users or potential users of rainforest wood in other countries. But the internet has changed all that. Now, with our web presence, we're able to be in touch with companies around the world — in an odd way.

Rainforest Relief often receives letters from wood suppliers or buyers from overseas who are confused about what we do — and are seeking to do business with us. Usually, they've come upon our website — probably by searching for keywords — and then they email us to either sell us tropical woods or they're seeking to buy wood products of some kind.

Usually, we simply reply with a letter trying to educate them about the problems associated with what they are selling, or are looking to buy. We have already convinced one supplier in China to consider ending their use of lauan plywood (see the link below and to the right). In a more recent case, we decided to ask your help.

Benpa Yapi Malzemeleri Dis Tic, Ltd., is a plywood importer and wholesaler in Istanbul, Turkey. After receiving their email we wrote them a response (see below). But we are looking for your help to let them know that there are others also watching their decision.

Benpa Yapi Malzemeleri is seeking to shift into imports of tropical plywood from Indonesia or Malaysia. Benpa Yapi Malzemeleri is a medium-sized company by most standards and is looking to buy 3000 m3/year of tropical plywood. That's about 106,000 sheets of 3/8" plywood per year!

Please take a moment to contact this company and ask them to reconsider their decision to shift into imports of tropical plwyood from Indonesia. You can email Savas Balci, the person who contacted Rainforest Relief seeking tropical plywood. You can click here to open an email with a sample message to Mr. Balci, or you can write your own email to Mr. Balci at sabalci@superonline.com.

Please also email us to let us know that you've sent an email and we'll keep you informed of any developments.

Thanks for your help!

Benpa Yapi Malzemeleri's letter to Rainforest Relief

Dear Sirs,

We are importer and wholesaler of plywood in Istanbul, Turkey. To increase our product range about it we plan to work with Malaysian or Indonesian Plywood company and we are willing to buy:

2500*1250 18MM ,13PLY, WBP GLUE, GRADE AA, BOTH SIDE FILM FACED 120GRFENOL, FROM TROPHICAL HARD TREE AND KEURING [keruing] CONSTRUCTION PLYWOOD.

We have already working with China (poplar core), India (Rubber tree) and Russia (Birch). Our aim is to sell hard playwood Malaysian or Indonesian instead of Russin Birch plywood in Turkey. Thats why if we negotiate on the price and on the quality the next year will work with higher capacity.

If you may supply this product to us for 2006 period we are going to buy over 5000m3, we request your export prices deliver Istanbul, Turkey as 40' containers cif or cnf prices.

Thank you very much for your interest and early reply.

Best Regards
Savas Balci

BENPA YAPI MALZEMELERI DIS TIC.LTD.

ADRESS: FLORYA CAD.HANDAN APT.NO: 19-7 FLORYA, ISTANBUL/TURKEY
TEL/FAX: +90 212 624 77 06
E-MAIL: <>sabalci@superonline.com


Rainforest Relief's reply to Benpa Yapi Malzemeleri

Dear Mr. Balci,

Please understand that you have contacted an environmental organization that is opposed to the use of tropical plywood from Indonesia and Malaysia! The logging and purchasing of tropical plywood from Indonesia and Malaysia is responsible for massive destruction of rainforests — some of which have been in existence for 65 million years. We implore you to rethink your strategy and to NOT buy plywood that is tropical in origin. Currently the logging of Russian birch is questionable and likely of illegal origin, as it is currently estimated that 50% of logging in Russia is being done illegally. However, current estimates are that 75% of logging in Indonesia is being done illegally! And even legal logging is responsible for the destruction of ancient rainforests and the wiping out of a vast diversity of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.

The destruction of rainforests in Africa has already lead to massive droughts and the displacement of millions of people. This same phenomenon is now occurring in Central America. Indonesia had the third largest area of rainforest in any one country just 20 years ago and those forests have now been reduced by 65%!

Please reconsider your use of this product. If you decide to concentrate on rubberwood and poplar, Rainforest Relief would be very pleased to help you market your products in the United States (our website receives 180,000 hits/month). If, however, you decide to move forward with plans to use plywood from Indonesia and Malaysia, we will be forced to highlight your company as one that is helping to destroy Earth's remaining rainforests and should therefore be boycotted.

Please let us know of your decision in this matter.

Sincerely,
Tim Keating, Director
Rainforest Relief

cc: Jeffrey Lockwood, Rainforest Relief Northwest Chapter Director
Greg Hile, Old Growth Campaign Coordinator, Rainforest Action Network
Scott Paul, Ancient Forest Campaign Director, Greenpeace US
Jim Ford, Forest Campaigner, ForestEthics