Make illegal timber illegal
6 March 2009

Illegal logging is still a massive problem facing the world's forests.

According to a recent report by WWF, 20% of the total timber imports to the EU are illegal or of suspected illegal origin.

Much of this timber is then sold on to manufacturers and businesses legally under current EU laws.

Illegal timber causes deforestation, leading to:

  • Social conflict, violence, crime and human rights abuses
  • Biodiversity loss and climate change
  • Lost taxes for developing country governments

In 2003 the European Commission unveiled its action plan on illegal logging.

The action plan, Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT), has the potential to combat illegal logging and address the trade in illegally sourced timber.

A waiting game

After years of waiting, legislation has been proposed.

All EU governments have the opportunity to shape this legislation.

New laws for the timber trade

The UK Government must push to ensure that:

  • Only legal and responsibly produced timber is traded on the European market.
  • The responsibility to prove the legality of timber products must lie with the companies
  • It covers all timber products.

And that social, environmental and human rights impacts are taken fully into account.

ActionAct now for a strong timber law

Dear Hilary Benn,



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Friends of the Earth is a collective name for Friends of the Earth Trust, registered charity 281681, company number 1533942, and Friends of the Earth Limited, company number 1012357, both of which may use the above information. In both cases the registered office is at 26-28 Underwood Street, London, N1  7JQ.

Forest destruction on paper plantation owned by APP in Sarawak, Malaysia

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