A new decree by Madagascar's transitional government may fuel continued destruction of the country's tropical forests and biodiversity, warns a statement issued jointly by a dozen leading scientific and conservation groups.

The decree, issued by Andry Rajoelina, a politician who seized the presidency during a March military coup, allows the export of hardoods illegally harvested from Madagascar's national parks during the political crisis. The timber, much of which was cut from Marojejy and Masoala national parks, was previously banned from export following international outcry over the destruction of protected areas as well as the accompanying commercial bushmeat poaching of endangered lemurs and other wildlife.

While Rajoelina's government previously decreed a ban on further harvesting of precious woods, the statement says the new decree "will allow their export and surely encourage a further wave of environmental pillaging."

"Malagasy civil society, conservation and development organizations and the international community are united in lamenting the issue of the most recent decree, in fearing its consequences and in questioning its legitimacy," reads the statement. "Consumers of rosewood and ebony products are asked to check their origin, and boycott those made of Malagasy wood."

A Global Witness report estimates that $35 million worth of rosewood was been cut per month since Madagascar's political crisis escalated in January. Exploitation allegedly involves criminal gangs, government officials, and timber traders in France and China.

Madagascar's forests and wildlife have been hard hit by the crisis. Beyond illegal exploitation and trafficking, political instability has dried up the country's $390 million-a-year tourism business, much of which is based around ecotourism. Donors have also cut aid, seeking to avoid lending legitimacy to the unelected government.

Government decree sanctions trafficking of rainforest timber in Madagascar