For many decades, part of the reason why illegal logging and associated trade continued was that consumers did not - and usually could not - distinguish between legally and illegally sourced forest products. The event was co-hosted by the World Bank and the Government of Indonesia. Logs are commonly cut on the Burmese side and then smuggled to processing facilities in China or Thailand.

Currently mostly found in the European Union, such procurement policies typically require government purchasers of forest products to treat certified or legally verified products preferentially when making buying decisions. Tanjung Puting National Park is a 4,000 square kilometre conservation area of global importance. Clean energy investments can help.

Illegal logging often takes place in countries with poor governance and law enforcement capacity, especially in tropical rainforests and the boreal forests in Russia’s Far East. TRAFFIC,[9] the wildlife trade monitoring network, strives to monitor the illegal trade of timber and provide expertise in policy and legal reviews. Call for investments in public health and human security, not nuclear weapons. Nobody should have to risk their life to vote. The EU, as a major timber importer, has implemented the European Union Timber Regulation as means to halt the import of illegally sourced wood products. The EU Timber Regulation (Regulation No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010) was approved by the European Parliament and Council in 2010. It prohibits the placing on the EU market for the first time of illegally harvested timber and products derived from such timber; It requires EU traders who place timber products on the EU market for the first time to exercise 'due diligence'; Once on the market, the timber and timber products may be sold on and/or transformed before they reach the final consumer. © Union of Concerned Scientists

Possible actions to restrict imports cannot meet with WTO regulations of non-discrimination. For example, the Republic of Estonia calculated a rate of 1% illegally harvested timber in 2003, whereas it was estimated to reach as much as 50% by the NGO "Estonian Green Movement". However, for many countries, NGOs are the only source of information apart from state institutions, which probably clearly underestimate the true figures. How the US Lacey Act Helps Reduce Illegal Logging in the Tropics. 2 Brattle Square, Cambridge MA 02138, USA If a plant is found to have been harvested in violation of the laws of the country where it was harvested, that plant would be subject to seizure and forfeiture if imported into the U.S. The identification of illegally logged or traded timber is technically difficult. They must instead be arranged in bilateral agreements. While illegal logging occurs in many parts of the world, much of it is concentrated in the tropics, where prized hardwoods are taken to make items like furniture, cabinets, and other architectural woodwork. In the forestry sector, cheap imports of illegal timber and forest products, together with the non-compliance of some economic players with basic social and environmental standards, destabilise international markets. [28], Governmental officials in charge of protected areas have contributed to deforestation by allowing illegal logging and illegal timber trading. [25] Due to the remoteness of these regions and the international demand for hardwoods, illegal logging is a threat that is hard to address and will probably continue contributing to deforestation. The Lacey Act also makes it unlawful, beginning December 15, 2008, to import certain plants and plant products without a Plant and Plant Product import declaration. [54], The Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation applies to importers into Australia of "regulated timber products" such as sawn timber, wood panels, pulp, paper products, and wood furniture. Urge Congress to be proactive in the face of extreme weather & COVID-19. [47], A Greenpeace investigation published in May 2014 demonstrates that EU Timber Regulation is ineffective if fraudulent paperwork is accepted at face value and there is not sufficient enforcement by EU authorities.[12].

The Saint Petersburg conference brought together nearly 300 participants representing 43 governments, the private sector, civil society and international organisations. A joint UK-Indonesian study of the timber industry in Indonesia in 1998 suggested that about 40% of throughput was illegal, with a value in excess of $365 million. It involves cutting trees without permits or removing trees from protected areas, and other activities such as avoiding taxes and laundering illegal logs. In 2008, the acquittal of a proprietor for a timber firm, Adelin Lis, alleged for illegal logging further galvanised public opinion and drew criticisms at the Indonesian political institution. The causes of illegal logging are varied and complex. It entered into force on March 3, 2013 and prohibits the placing of illegally sourced wood products on the European market. ITFMP Report No. Available figures and estimates must be treated with caution. The Europe and North Asia Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (ENA FLEG) Ministerial Conference was held in Saint Petersburg, Russia on 22–25 November 2005. In May 2003, an Indonesian Government investigation confirmed that Korindo was receiving illegal timber from notorious timber barons known to obtain timber from an orang-utan refuge – the Tanjung Puting National Park. [10], It is estimated that illegal logging on public land alone causes losses in assets and revenue in excess of US$10 billion annually. Climate change is fueling wildfires. Tell Congress to safeguard our elections. WFLC began in 1997 as a non-profit law firm dedicated to using our legal and scientific skills to protect Washington’s 10 million acres of irreplaceable forests owned by the state or private landowners.

The East Asia Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (EA FLEG) Ministerial Conference took place in Bali in September 2001. To facilitate the traceability of timber products, economic operators in this part of the supply chain (referred to as traders in the regulation) have an obligation to keep records of their suppliers and customers. [14] In Latvia, the situation is comparable; anecdotal evidence points towards 25%[15] of logging being illegal. The event was co-hosted by the World Bank and the Government of Indonesia. Therefore, a legal basis for normative acts against timber imports or other products manufactured out of illegal wood is missing. The AFLEG conference, the second regional forest law enforcement and governance meeting after East Asia, resulted in endorsement of a ministerial declaration and action plan as well as a variety of informal implementation initiatives. Demand the CDC continue collecting data on COVID-19 illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. [20] This contributing social factor to deforestation reinforces the challenges faced by forestry sustainability in developing countries such as Indonesia. Democracy and science can be powerful partners for the public good—and both are under attack. Prevention of Illegal Logging Practices). The Union of Concerned Scientists is actively monitoring the coronavirus pandemic and its implications for scientific integrity. [52], This Plant and Plant Product Declaration must contain (besides other information) the Genus, Species, and Country of Harvest of every plant found in commercial shipments of certain products, a list of applicable products (along with other requirements and guidance) can be found on the USDA APHIS website.

In 2008, the Act was amended to include plants and plant products such as timber and paper.

William D. Sunderlin and Ida Aju Pradnja Resosudarmo: Annual report 2003 from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the EC Development Policy and the implementation of External Assistance in 2002, Indonesia-UK Tropical Forestry Management Programme (1999) Illegal Logging in Indonesia. Its legislative ban on illegally sourced wood products is operational, while detailed regulations governing the Australian due diligence approach went into effect in November 2014. It includes the harvesting, transporting, processing, buying or selling of timber in violation of national laws.

[11] Although exact figures are difficult to calculate, given the illegal nature of the activity, decent estimates show that more than half of the logging that takes place globally is illegal, especially in open and vulnerable areas such as the Amazon Basin,[12] Central Africa, Southeast Asia, the Russian Federation.[13]. [24], Lack of regulations has led to unbridled and destructive logging that has caused environmental damage such as soil erosion, river contamination, and increased flooding. If effectively implemented, the Lacey Act will: Text "SCIENCE" to 662266 or sign up online. The Conference brought together nearly 150 participants from 20 countries, representing government, international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector. Illegal logging is the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws.

[51], The requirements under the new Amendments are two-fold. This unfair competition affects those European companies, especially the small and medium-sized companies that are behaving responsibly and ready to play by fair rules. Provide economic development opportunities. Thereafter, these farmers will move on to occupy another plot of land and continually practice their slash-and-burn technique. The meeting drew together ministers and stakeholders from Africa, Europe and North America to consider how partnerships between producers, consumers, donors, civil society and the private sector could address illegal forest exploitation and associated trade in Africa. It involves cutting trees without permits or removing trees from protected areas, and other activities such as avoiding taxes and laundering illegal logs. Can we prevent them from being used again? These illegal activities undermine responsible forest management, encourage corruption and tax evasion and reduce the income of the producer countries, further limiting the resources producer countries can invest in sustainable development. It agreed to the Saint Petersburg Declaration on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance in Europe and North Asia. Msg & data rates may apply. This test can tell", "Scientists are building a vast library of tree DNA in the fight against deforestation", "Havocscope Illegal Logging Market Value", "The Amazon's Silent Crisis: The EU Market and the EUTR", "TRAFFIC - Wildlife Trade News - Tanzania's disappearing timber revenue", indonesia trees indonesia without trees? This page was last edited on 19 September 2020, at 08:56.

The East Asia Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (EA FLEG) Ministerial Conference took place in Bali in September 2001. The Declaration includes an indicative list of actions, intended to serve as a general framework for possible actions to be undertaken by governments as well as civil society. Furthermore, the illegal trade of forest resources undermines international security, and is frequently associated with corruption, money laundering, organized crime, human rights abuses and, in some cases, violent conflict. The European Union Timber Regulation was adopted in 2010 and went into effect 3 March 2013. Learn more. Governments tend to underestimate the situation, given that high estimates of illegal logging may cause embarrassment as these suggest ineffective enforcement of legislation or, even worse, bribery and corruption. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. [22] The lack of accountability to deforestation with pertinence to transmigration projects undertaken by the Indonesian government illustrates minimal supporting evidence to testify to considerations for forestry sustainability in their development projects.

This is evident in places such as large protected swathes of northern Nan Province that were formerly covered with virgin forest and that have been deforested even while having national park status. Why isn’t it?