Bloodwood: Rosewood Trafficking Is Destroying This National Park | National Geographic

Cambodia was once cloaked with forests

Cambodia was once cloaked with forests this is what it looks like today more

this is what it looks like today more

this is what it looks like today more than half of the country’s trees have

than half of the country’s trees have

than half of the country’s trees have been clear-cut foreign appetites for red

been clear-cut foreign appetites for red

been clear-cut foreign appetites for red Timbers are driving the destruction and

Timbers are driving the destruction and

Timbers are driving the destruction and none is prized more than this

none is prized more than this

none is prized more than this Siamese rosewood in China rose wood

Siamese rosewood in China rose wood

Siamese rosewood in China rose wood furniture has become a status event the

furniture has become a status event the

furniture has become a status event the best cuts of wood selling for up to 80

best cuts of wood selling for up to 80

best cuts of wood selling for up to 80 thousand dollars a ton exports have also

thousand dollars a ton exports have also

thousand dollars a ton exports have also increased to the west what’s used to

increased to the west what’s used to

increased to the west what’s used to make coffee tables and fancy guitars

make coffee tables and fancy guitars

make coffee tables and fancy guitars this is where all gets made in here okay

this is where all gets made in here okay

this is where all gets made in here okay huge demand has attracted criminal

huge demand has attracted criminal

huge demand has attracted criminal syndicates that will go to any lengths

syndicates that will go to any lengths

syndicates that will go to any lengths to protect their profits as cambodia’s

to protect their profits as cambodia’s

to protect their profits as cambodia’s timber stocks run out they have moved

timber stocks run out they have moved

timber stocks run out they have moved into a new frontier national parks

into a new frontier national parks

into a new frontier national parks inside neighboring Thailand our bloggers

inside neighboring Thailand our bloggers

inside neighboring Thailand our bloggers are raising Virgin swans of forests that

are raising Virgin swans of forests that

are raising Virgin swans of forests that are also home to threatened species

are also home to threatened species

are also home to threatened species including the Asian elephant tigers and

including the Asian elephant tigers and

including the Asian elephant tigers and bears but they will be stopped if this

bears but they will be stopped if this

bears but they will be stopped if this man has anything to do with it i’ma get

man has anything to do with it i’ma get

man has anything to do with it i’ma get out for a gift cap goalie Mike McGee on

out for a gift cap goalie Mike McGee on

out for a gift cap goalie Mike McGee on the iron cat cupola which I publish and

the iron cat cupola which I publish and

the iron cat cupola which I publish and Simone is the director of top lone

Simone is the director of top lone

Simone is the director of top lone National Park part of a complex that is

National Park part of a complex that is

National Park part of a complex that is UNESCO World Heritage status

let us accompany his Rangers on an

let us accompany his Rangers on an operation to flush out the loggers let

operation to flush out the loggers let

operation to flush out the loggers let them be like rotten bad didn’t

them be like rotten bad didn’t

them be like rotten bad didn’t you done last year 7 Thai Rangers were

you done last year 7 Thai Rangers were

you done last year 7 Thai Rangers were killed in gun battles with loggers

killed in gun battles with loggers

killed in gun battles with loggers Galaga they lie on my captain more

Galaga they lie on my captain more

Galaga they lie on my captain more cutting his men spend half of every

cutting his men spend half of every

cutting his men spend half of every month patrolling remote jungle trails

month patrolling remote jungle trails

month patrolling remote jungle trails applied by the loggers peasants in here

applied by the loggers peasants in here

applied by the loggers peasants in here a lot of thickets vines but these guys

a lot of thickets vines but these guys

a lot of thickets vines but these guys just slide through like snakes it’s a

just slide through like snakes it’s a

just slide through like snakes it’s a little tricky for a big corner

one of the toughest parts about

one of the toughest parts about scrambling up these mountainsides is

scrambling up these mountainsides is

scrambling up these mountainsides is that everything you want to grab to pull

that everything you want to grab to pull

that everything you want to grab to pull yourself up with looks pretty much like

yourself up with looks pretty much like

yourself up with looks pretty much like this

looks like you found a Smuggler’s camp

looks like you found a Smuggler’s camp right here is that cigarette packs water

right here is that cigarette packs water

right here is that cigarette packs water bottles parks everything’s just

bottles parks everything’s just

bottles parks everything’s just discarded

up ahead

up ahead more cod recognizes a letter k carved

more cod recognizes a letter k carved

more cod recognizes a letter k carved into a tree the marking belongs to a

into a tree the marking belongs to a

into a tree the marking belongs to a logger you can chase him for months the

logger you can chase him for months the

logger you can chase him for months the loggers have grown so brazen that

loggers have grown so brazen that

loggers have grown so brazen that nowadays they taunt the Rangers on

nowadays they taunt the Rangers on

nowadays they taunt the Rangers on patrol but the Rangers keep hunting them

patrol but the Rangers keep hunting them

patrol but the Rangers keep hunting them despite a stunning lack of resources

oh good he can go to CP admit him cause

oh good he can go to CP admit him cause now God I would put young cow level as

now God I would put young cow level as

now God I would put young cow level as Omega noise

Omega noise

Omega noise Lukas whimpering going me go maybe impor

Lukas whimpering going me go maybe impor

Lukas whimpering going me go maybe impor happening soon Allah to Cornell oh

happening soon Allah to Cornell oh

happening soon Allah to Cornell oh keep it by a single egg and buttermilk

keep it by a single egg and buttermilk

keep it by a single egg and buttermilk inaho Cornetto packet pellicle my bacon

inaho Cornetto packet pellicle my bacon

inaho Cornetto packet pellicle my bacon seems like there’s a lot of obstacles

seems like there’s a lot of obstacles

seems like there’s a lot of obstacles and risk involved what keeps you going

and risk involved what keeps you going

and risk involved what keeps you going we got a blah blah good bit diamond to

we got a blah blah good bit diamond to

we got a blah blah good bit diamond to most appear now you lose you now have I

most appear now you lose you now have I

most appear now you lose you now have I might buy you one minute on what

might buy you one minute on what

might buy you one minute on what thinking on the third day of our Patrol

thinking on the third day of our Patrol

thinking on the third day of our Patrol K the logger we’ve been chasing decides

K the logger we’ve been chasing decides

K the logger we’ve been chasing decides to play with us you just can’t plan the

to play with us you just can’t plan the

to play with us you just can’t plan the freshly cut K looks like it’s the same

freshly cut K looks like it’s the same

freshly cut K looks like it’s the same guy who’s been taunting the ranchers

guy who’s been taunting the ranchers

guy who’s been taunting the ranchers here and judging by the color of the cut

here and judging by the color of the cut

here and judging by the color of the cut looks like it wasn’t made long ago

looks like it wasn’t made long ago

looks like it wasn’t made long ago they’re fresh shards here on the ground

they’re fresh shards here on the ground

they’re fresh shards here on the ground so we’re going to proceed forward see

so we’re going to proceed forward see

so we’re going to proceed forward see what we’re fine the Rangers try to catch

what we’re fine the Rangers try to catch

what we’re fine the Rangers try to catch up but the loggers attacked palm fronds

up but the loggers attacked palm fronds

up but the loggers attacked palm fronds to slow them down once again k and is

to slow them down once again k and is

to slow them down once again k and is accomplice to slip away the Patrol is

accomplice to slip away the Patrol is

accomplice to slip away the Patrol is over and the Rangers are frustrated to

over and the Rangers are frustrated to

over and the Rangers are frustrated to walk out of GN but back at headquarters

walk out of GN but back at headquarters

walk out of GN but back at headquarters they catch a break the poacher has been

they catch a break the poacher has been

they catch a break the poacher has been caught by another Ranger unit during a

caught by another Ranger unit during a

caught by another Ranger unit during a raid on a jungle camp so how long have

raid on a jungle camp so how long have

raid on a jungle camp so how long have you been logging how much one bag up Oh

you been logging how much one bag up Oh

you been logging how much one bag up Oh mommy I’m what might one find all of the

mommy I’m what might one find all of the

mommy I’m what might one find all of the men traveling with your tire were there

men traveling with your tire were there

men traveling with your tire were there any Cambodians in your group wonderful

any Cambodians in your group wonderful

any Cambodians in your group wonderful just a few miles away across the border

just a few miles away across the border

just a few miles away across the border in Cambodia a veteran smuggler agreed to

in Cambodia a veteran smuggler agreed to

in Cambodia a veteran smuggler agreed to speak with us i motive a young my

speak with us i motive a young my

speak with us i motive a young my general tandin crowd movement a crime

general tandin crowd movement a crime

general tandin crowd movement a crime Allen tells us our murder the uncrowned

Allen tells us our murder the uncrowned

Allen tells us our murder the uncrowned Amanda Taylor have Thai Rangers or

Amanda Taylor have Thai Rangers or

Amanda Taylor have Thai Rangers or police ever come after you have you been

police ever come after you have you been

police ever come after you have you been shot at

shot at

shot at okay claw pan jab that mine man several

okay claw pan jab that mine man several

okay claw pan jab that mine man several years ago the smugglers stepped on the

years ago the smugglers stepped on the

years ago the smugglers stepped on the land line left over by the Khmer Rouge

land line left over by the Khmer Rouge

land line left over by the Khmer Rouge but that hasn’t stopped him what can

but that hasn’t stopped him what can

but that hasn’t stopped him what can that be never done we have eluded minute

that be never done we have eluded minute

that be never done we have eluded minute and known it Melinda to a Delana

and known it Melinda to a Delana

and known it Melinda to a Delana could have wasted a aquatic are quite

could have wasted a aquatic are quite

could have wasted a aquatic are quite you can learn junkie whore guilty like

you can learn junkie whore guilty like

you can learn junkie whore guilty like you thought Souter going on over the

you thought Souter going on over the

you thought Souter going on over the last two or three years it’s just grown

last two or three years it’s just grown

last two or three years it’s just grown out of control they’re going in with

out of control they’re going in with

out of control they’re going in with ak-47 m16s hand grenades detonators all

ak-47 m16s hand grenades detonators all

ak-47 m16s hand grenades detonators all sorts of war weapons that they can turn

sorts of war weapons that they can turn

sorts of war weapons that they can turn against the Rangers Tim Redman works for

against the Rangers Tim Redman works for

against the Rangers Tim Redman works for free later the US government funded

free later the US government funded

free later the US government funded outfit that’s training the Rangers to

outfit that’s training the Rangers to

outfit that’s training the Rangers to combat rows with poachers as this

combat rows with poachers as this

combat rows with poachers as this resource is becoming finite and it’s

resource is becoming finite and it’s

resource is becoming finite and it’s becoming harder to find the risks that

becoming harder to find the risks that

becoming harder to find the risks that the loggers are willing to take is

the loggers are willing to take is

the loggers are willing to take is increasing how does the timber move from

increasing how does the timber move from

increasing how does the timber move from Thailand to Cambodia in onward to China

Thailand to Cambodia in onward to China

Thailand to Cambodia in onward to China when they come out to the forest oh I’ll

when they come out to the forest oh I’ll

when they come out to the forest oh I’ll have some middlemen waiting there with

have some middlemen waiting there with

have some middlemen waiting there with trucks or large vehicles to put the

trucks or large vehicles to put the

trucks or large vehicles to put the timber in and they’re actually making

timber in and they’re actually making

timber in and they’re actually making false panels underneath the floor of

false panels underneath the floor of

false panels underneath the floor of these trucks under the beds of the

these trucks under the beds of the

these trucks under the beds of the pickup trucks and they’re hiding it

pickup trucks and they’re hiding it

pickup trucks and they’re hiding it underneath and it all comes back to one

underneath and it all comes back to one

underneath and it all comes back to one person that I understand his name is

person that I understand his name is

person that I understand his name is Trey Pierre and he’s got the license to

Trey Pierre and he’s got the license to

Trey Pierre and he’s got the license to handle all of the timber from Cambodia

handle all of the timber from Cambodia

handle all of the timber from Cambodia and so pretty much all the roads come

and so pretty much all the roads come

and so pretty much all the roads come back to this one person

back to this one person

back to this one person this remote corner of Cambodia is where

this remote corner of Cambodia is where

this remote corner of Cambodia is where smugglers work inside Thailand bring

smugglers work inside Thailand bring

smugglers work inside Thailand bring their stolen timber and where we meet up

their stolen timber and where we meet up

their stolen timber and where we meet up with Mei ATAR one of the best

with Mei ATAR one of the best

with Mei ATAR one of the best investigative journalists working in the

investigative journalists working in the

investigative journalists working in the country with him is H Lane an

country with him is H Lane an

country with him is H Lane an independent investigator who tracks

independent investigator who tracks

independent investigator who tracks illicit rosewood I pretend to be the

illicit rosewood I pretend to be the

illicit rosewood I pretend to be the lighter blocking book huh

lighter blocking book huh

lighter blocking book huh and sometime I cook for them I sleep

and sometime I cook for them I sleep

and sometime I cook for them I sleep inside a jungle dinner to get

inside a jungle dinner to get

inside a jungle dinner to get information and to get them in evidence

information and to get them in evidence

information and to get them in evidence Cambodia is one of the highest rates of

Cambodia is one of the highest rates of

Cambodia is one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world no one can do

deforestation in the world no one can do

deforestation in the world no one can do anything again keep others water because

anything again keep others water because

anything again keep others water because uh I just say that the timber is

uh I just say that the timber is

uh I just say that the timber is belonging to get a visa lighter you can

belonging to get a visa lighter you can

belonging to get a visa lighter you can say the king of the roads working on the

say the king of the roads working on the

say the king of the roads working on the timber in Cambodia tree Piaf was once an

timber in Cambodia tree Piaf was once an

timber in Cambodia tree Piaf was once an advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen

advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen

advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen maintains close ties with the first

maintains close ties with the first

maintains close ties with the first family critics say that official

family critics say that official

family critics say that official protection is allowed to cut timber in

protection is allowed to cut timber in

protection is allowed to cut timber in Cambodia on an immense scale it is also

Cambodia on an immense scale it is also

Cambodia on an immense scale it is also emboldened time to trade rosewood

emboldened time to trade rosewood

emboldened time to trade rosewood poached from Thailand a recent

poached from Thailand a recent

poached from Thailand a recent investigation found that it allegedly

investigation found that it allegedly

investigation found that it allegedly made more than term 220 million dollars

made more than term 220 million dollars

made more than term 220 million dollars connecting illegally logged rosewood

connecting illegally logged rosewood

connecting illegally logged rosewood over a three-year period

over a three-year period

over a three-year period we headed to pnom Penh the capital to

we headed to pnom Penh the capital to

we headed to pnom Penh the capital to confront tree P up in the Cambodian

confront tree P up in the Cambodian

confront tree P up in the Cambodian government

Cambodian forestry officials refused our

Cambodian forestry officials refused our request for an interview but after

request for an interview but after

request for an interview but after several days of waiting

several days of waiting

several days of waiting representatives from tributes companies

representatives from tributes companies

representatives from tributes companies agreed to talk with us at a timber

agreed to talk with us at a timber

agreed to talk with us at a timber museum their building

museum their building

museum their building tarah tells us there’s also a warehouse

tarah tells us there’s also a warehouse

tarah tells us there’s also a warehouse on that property our Siamese Rose word

on that property our Siamese Rose word

on that property our Siamese Rose word is storage Atari you’ve been trying to

is storage Atari you’ve been trying to

is storage Atari you’ve been trying to get in for more than five years Mike

get in for more than five years Mike

get in for more than five years Mike this is the first time yeah all people

this is the first time yeah all people

this is the first time yeah all people that I know people have been arrested

that I know people have been arrested

that I know people have been arrested for coming around here Joshua

for coming around here Joshua

for coming around here Joshua even though me sometimes as a rider get

at the Museum entrance we are met by

at the Museum entrance we are met by prakruti a company spokesperson the

prakruti a company spokesperson the

prakruti a company spokesperson the massive columns in the main hall and

massive columns in the main hall and

massive columns in the main hall and made of rosewood which he insists was

made of rosewood which he insists was

made of rosewood which he insists was legally sourced all this would have

legally sourced all this would have

legally sourced all this would have license from government so every piece

license from government so every piece

license from government so every piece it’s not only big a small piece it’s

it’s not only big a small piece it’s

it’s not only big a small piece it’s only it’s all I had licensed from the

only it’s all I had licensed from the

only it’s all I had licensed from the government

government

government I know some NGOs are saying that the

I know some NGOs are saying that the

I know some NGOs are saying that the government has bent the law to give your

government has bent the law to give your

government has bent the law to give your group access to this timber which is a

group access to this timber which is a

group access to this timber which is a living we have a lot of bad idea from

living we have a lot of bad idea from

living we have a lot of bad idea from outside that’s holding that our company

outside that’s holding that our company

outside that’s holding that our company especially on the 3 p.m. that cut down

especially on the 3 p.m. that cut down

especially on the 3 p.m. that cut down the tree for only the business but truly

the tree for only the business but truly

the tree for only the business but truly it’s not that maybe all of the excuse is

it’s not that maybe all of the excuse is

it’s not that maybe all of the excuse is not true for our company after a tour of

not true for our company after a tour of

not true for our company after a tour of the museum we asked to see the company

the museum we asked to see the company

the museum we asked to see the company warehouse

what kind of wood is all of this here

what kind of wood is all of this here this world is all in Arabic yes yeah we

this world is all in Arabic yes yeah we

this world is all in Arabic yes yeah we modified that we cut it down like this a

modified that we cut it down like this a

modified that we cut it down like this a little bit please this is ordinary wood

little bit please this is ordinary wood

little bit please this is ordinary wood yes but booty is lying

yes but booty is lying

yes but booty is lying most of the stacked planks and logs are

most of the stacked planks and logs are

most of the stacked planks and logs are in fact Rozsival when I press him on the

in fact Rozsival when I press him on the

in fact Rozsival when I press him on the origin of the wood he gets nervous and

origin of the wood he gets nervous and

origin of the wood he gets nervous and offers to show us proof it was legally

offers to show us proof it was legally

offers to show us proof it was legally cut in Cambodia none of this is coming

cut in Cambodia none of this is coming

cut in Cambodia none of this is coming from National Park or protector yes sure

from National Park or protector yes sure

from National Park or protector yes sure all of this is half our legal document I

all of this is half our legal document I

all of this is half our legal document I haven’t up to men if you want to see

haven’t up to men if you want to see

haven’t up to men if you want to see over solely the documents we look at

over solely the documents we look at

over solely the documents we look at confirm the planks of Rosewood as we

confirm the planks of Rosewood as we

confirm the planks of Rosewood as we suspected predictably they all bear

suspected predictably they all bear

suspected predictably they all bear official stamps from a forestry

official stamps from a forestry

official stamps from a forestry department attesting to their legality

tree Pia plans to open his timber museum

tree Pia plans to open his timber museum sometime next year that we were told

sometime next year that we were told

sometime next year that we were told without the slightest hint of irony that

without the slightest hint of irony that

without the slightest hint of irony that the project could be delayed by a

the project could be delayed by a

the project could be delayed by a shortage of rosewood trucks in the

shortage of rosewood trucks in the

shortage of rosewood trucks in the meantime foreign demand for rosewood

meantime foreign demand for rosewood

meantime foreign demand for rosewood furnitures as high as level 4 Thailand’s

furnitures as high as level 4 Thailand’s

furnitures as high as level 4 Thailand’s Rangers this ensures the battle against

Rangers this ensures the battle against

Rangers this ensures the battle against illegal logging in the jungle won’t be

illegal logging in the jungle won’t be

illegal logging in the jungle won’t be over anytime soon Chinese appetites are

over anytime soon Chinese appetites are

over anytime soon Chinese appetites are driving this trade but we know that some

driving this trade but we know that some

driving this trade but we know that some of this timber ends up in the West

of this timber ends up in the West

of this timber ends up in the West including in the United States what do

including in the United States what do

including in the United States what do consumers need to know probably what

consumers need to know probably what

consumers need to know probably what most consumers don’t understand in

most consumers don’t understand in

most consumers don’t understand in America when they’re sitting there

America when they’re sitting there

America when they’re sitting there drinking their cup of coffee off their

drinking their cup of coffee off their

drinking their cup of coffee off their nice rosewood table is that that’s

nice rosewood table is that that’s

nice rosewood table is that that’s probably coming from an illegal source

probably coming from an illegal source

probably coming from an illegal source people have risked their lives for that

people have risked their lives for that

people have risked their lives for that timber and I think there needs to be

timber and I think there needs to be

timber and I think there needs to be some due diligence by the consumers

some due diligence by the consumers

some due diligence by the consumers where did my table come from