Environment and Natural Resources Programme • Volume 8 • Number 14 • 25th July 2008

WWF: Stop European Imports of Illegal Wood Products

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Environmental group WWF has flagged the massive scale of European imports of illegal logs and wood products, and is calling for an effective response.

WWF published a new report, “Illegal Wood for the European Market: An Analysis of the EU Import and Export of Illegal Wood and Related Products,” based on data from 2006. According to the study, nearly one fifth of wood imported into the EU in 2006 was either illegal or suspect. WWF cites Russia, Indonesia and China as the main sources and Finland, Germany, the UK and Italy as the main importers.

An estimated 30 million cubic metres of illegal wood was imported into the EU in 2006. WWF states that Finland was of particular concern, since close to half of all timber exports from Russia were first processed into pulp or paper in Finland before being exported to other countries in the EU.

WWF points an accusatory finger at the EU for its lax legislation concerning licensing. The existing EU licensing scheme, the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) system, excludes negotiations with key countries such as Russia and China and does not cover all wood products. Furniture and paper, for example, are not covered by the FLEGT scheme. Starting from the autumn of 2008, all timber imported into the EU must be certified as being logged legally, says WWF. WWF also urges the EU to adopt a more rigorous penalisation system concerning the illegal trade in timber.

Illegal logging has an effect on wood prices as well as the environment. The illegal business is bringing down timber prices and proving to be the cause of substantial economic losses for countries, industries and local communities. Illegal logging equally adds to deforestation, which is a major contributor to climate change and biodiversity loss. When logging is done illegally, it is most likely also done unsustainably, rapidly destroying local environments irreversibly. The companies logging illegally log endangered trees in the process, and do not take means to re-grow forests or pay due taxes to the producing country. Deforestation also leads to the loss of ecosystem services, as forests are no longer in place to protect from natural disasters such as floods and landslides.

“WWF: Finland EU’s Biggest Importer of Illegal Timber”, YLE UUTISET, 22 July 2008; “EU Countries Add to Illegal Logging Trade”, WWF RELEASE, 22 July 2008; “EU Fuelling Illegal Logging Trade”, EURACTIV, 22 July 2008.