world news - 27.09.2004
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
The consequences are far reaching, affecting governments, trade associations, forest industries, forest and industry workers, and international associations, and include:
A number of recommendations came from the participants, including:
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.
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Rural poverty
Lack of alternative energy supply
Criminal commercial enterprises linked to corruption, bribery and money-laundering
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
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
See also:
- — Timber products account for 4.2% of imports from outside CIS within 7 months in 2004
- — Byelorussia intends to modernize timber machinery fleet by acquiring Byelorussian machines worth $25.999 million
- — Russian timber cargo transportation to Finland was 27% of the total cargo turnover within 8 months in 2004
- — World chemical market pulp producer inventories increased by 200,000 tonnes in August
- — European consumer pulp stocks increased by 1% in August