[Index]
UNECE region countries
tackle illegal logging and trade of
illegally derived forest products
Worldwide, illegal logging causes economic
damage of $15 billion annually through
loss of revenues to governments, industries
and forest owners according to the World
Bank.
Representatives from
33 countries within the UNECE region of
Europe, North America and of the Commonwealth
of Independent States, and various representatives
of international organizations assessed
the role of illegal logging in the region
last week in Geneva.
Some countries acknowledged
relatively high volumes of illegal forest
activities and highlighted the impact
that this has on international wood markets
further exacerbating the challenge of
financing sustainable forest management.
Countries within the UNECE region stated
that illegal logging ranges from less
than 1% of annual harvests to over 35%.
The workshop found that illegal logging
occurs in all participating countries,
albeit to a minor extent in many. Nevertheless,
the workshop called for concerted actions
by governments, international organizations,
trade and non-governmental organizations.
In addition to analyzing
the extent, the UNECE Timber Committee
and FAO European Forestry Commission workshop
analyzed the causes and consequences.
Some of the prevalent causes are:
- Dispersed nature of forest authorities
over vast spaces
- Weak capacities and authorities granted
to forest and law enforcement agencies
- Rural poverty
- Lack of alternative energy supply
- Criminal commercial enterprises linked
to corruption, bribery and money-laundering
The consequences are
far reaching, affecting governments, trade
associations, forest industries, forest
and industry workers, and international
associations, and include:
- Yearly forest guards and workers
lose their lives trying to control illegal
activities
- Increased disregard for law, corruption,
damage to governance and social cohesion
- Loss of biodiversity and damage to
ecosystems
- Market distortion, unfair competition
and reduced profitability of legal trade
- Weakened consumer confidence in wood
products
A number of recommendations came from
the participants, including:
- Poverty reduction measure
- Call for improved documentation of
forest products traded internationally
- Strengthen authorities ability to
reject timber known to be illegally
harvested
- Promote national and international
cooperation
- Development of equitable and accepted
forest ownership structures
The outputs of the workshop
will be further discussed in the Joint
session of the UNECE Timber Committee
and FAO European Forestry Commission on
5-9 October 2004 in Geneva.
More details on the results
of the meeting, national reports and abstracts
of the state of illegal logging in 37
countries can be found at:
http://www.unece.org/trade/timber/docs/sem/2004-1/sem-2004-1.htm
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Christopher Prins
Chief, UNECE/FAO Timber Branch
Palais des Nations, room 456
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 2874
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 0041
E-mail: [email protected]
Ref: ECE/TIM/04/P03