Archived press release

UK Tops EU Illegal Timber League

10 August 2001

According to an analysis of data on illegal logging, as much as 60% of tropical timber sold in the UK is likely to be from illegal sources, Friends of the Earth reveals today. This makes the UK the largest importer of illegal tropical timber in Europe, ahead of France, Belgium, Germany,Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Friends of the Earth is calling for new European and UK laws to make it illegal to import illegally sourced timber, together with stiff penalties for the corporations involved in this trade.

Friends of the Earth has produced a European league table for illegal tropical timber imports.Data shows the UK is likely to have imported 1 million cubic metres of illegal tropical timber in 1999, worth £140 million. The UK corporations responsible for trading and retailing tropical timber are therefore likely to be responsible for illegally logging 130,000 hectares of wildlife rich rainforest every year.

The league table finds that on average 50% of the European Union's tropical timber imports are likely to be illegal. In total, the EU corporations responsible for the trade imported and sold five million cubic metres of illegal tropical timber in 1999, with an import value of £800 million. As a result the EU was responsible for illegally logging 740,000 hectares of tropical forest.

The nature of the trade in illegally sourced material makes it impossible to know precisely how much illegal timber is traded. Friends of the Earth's league table has been calculated by comparing illegal logging rates in five of the main supplier countries - Indonesia, Brazil,Malaysia, Cameroon & Gabon - with tropical timber imports.

Illegal logging is one of the major causes of forest loss in tropical countries. In Indonesia, the biggest supplier of tropical timber to the UK, it is estimated by a UK Government sponsored study that 73% of logging is illegal. Over 70% of Indonesia's forests have now been damaged or destroyed, with 2 million hectares of forest being lost each year. In Brazil, the second biggest supplier to the UK, a report from the Brazilian Government found that 80 % of all logging in the only be purchased if accompanied by credible, independent certification to prove it is legal,such as provided by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Friends of the Earth campaigner Ed Matthew comments:

“Major corporations are making millions from trading in illegally sourced tropical timber.This is having a devastating impact on wildlife rich forests and on the people that depend on them. Tony Blair has made repeated promises that the G8 will combat illegal logging but the trade continues with the UK at the top of the European list of offenders. Its long past time for media friendly sound bites, it's time for tough legal sanctions to stop the felling.”

Notes for Editors

1. For further information see Friends of the Earth's “European League Table of Imports of Illegal Tropical Timber (PDF† format - 970K)” or contact the press office on 020 7490 1555.
2. The Green Claims Code is a voluntary code established by the government, listing the criteria for products which claim to be "green".

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust