James Latham, the UK’s leading timber and panel products distributor, is proud to have supported the Danish logging subsidiary CIB (Congolaise Industrielle de Bois) for the past five years. Lathams’ Timber director, John May, has seen the work first - hand and continues to champion the business and the Mbendjele people of Congo-Brazzaville by sourcing Sapele, Utile, Tiama, Iroko and Wenge species.

John explains: "Flying over the rainforest is something else, although the heat is quite unbearable, the views are breathtaking. Pokola is no ordinary logging area, and almost everyone who works there, works for CIB. The company is truly inspiring, providing electricity via generators, drinkable tap water, schools and even a nightclub!"

The workers live in red brick homes and the sick receive free medical check ups. Further modernisation is scheduled, with the arrival of a new hospital and even an international bank.

John continues: "As Lathams has such a strong commitment to the environment, we endeavour to use materials which are responsibly sourced, so we are particularly pleased to support CIB, especially as Pokola is the only logging town in tropical Africa that supplies timber which meets the international standard."

Lathams is the UK's major outlet for timber from Congo Industrielle de Bois (CIB) whose Kabo concession in Congolaise Brazzaville gained FSC certification in 2006 and chain of custody systems are in place to track the wood from forest to consumer.

For further information about James Latham, contact the marketing department on 0116 257 3415 or email marketing@lathams.co.uk.

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For further media information, contact Rebecca Jones or Tim Roberts at Connectpoint PR on 0161 817 4200, fax 0161 817 4212 or e-mail rebecca.jones@connectpoint.co.uk .