Mongabay: Australia this week passed long-debated laws to prohibit the import and trade of illegally logged timber.
The laws, passed Monday by the country's parliament, require Australian companies to conduct due diligence on timber and wood products they import from overseas. Firms found to source illegal timber will be subject to fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of goods.
The laws come after the United States and European Union passed similar regulations for timber imports.
Environmentalists...