Under Australian law, illegal logging means ‘the harvesting of timber in contravention of the laws of the country where the timber is harvested’.

EC/99/03, WWF International (2002) The Timber Footprint of the G8 and China, The Peruvian Environmental Law Society (2003), Learn how and when to remove this template message, transmigration projects undertaken by the Indonesian government, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Program, Federal Forestry Agency of the Russian Federation, Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, "Dawn timber-laundering raids cast doubt on 'sustainable' Brazilian wood", "Protecting the Environment with Intelligence – EIA International", "Tree sleuths are using DNA tests and machine vision to crack timber crimes", "People Fixing the World: Is your wood from a legal source? 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. [25] In Kachin State, which has some of the largest expanses of relatively untouched forest, illegal logging accounts for up to half of the deforestation.
[20] This contributing social factor to deforestation reinforces the challenges faced by forestry sustainability in developing countries such as Indonesia. On the political front, the Indonesian governmental role in curbing deforestation has largely been criticised. [23], Due to the size and scope of Burma's forests, it is difficult for government organisations like Forest Department to regulate logging.

No purchase necessary. [51], The requirements under the new Amendments are two-fold. Illegal logging and the associated trade of illegally sourced wood products is a clandestine industry that threatens forests and economies alike. Prevention of Illegal Logging Practices). By continuing, you accept our use of cookies. The Conference brought together nearly 150 participants from 20 countries, representing government, international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector. This is now changing, as a number of consumer countries take steps to encourage the trade of legal wood and to support the enforcement of forest laws in wood-producing countries. Illegal logging contributes to deforestation and by extension global warming, causes loss of biodiversity, and undermines the rule of law. Text STOP to opt out. 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. Illegal logging is a pervasive problem, causing enormous damage to forests, local communities, and the economies of producer countries. The release of the Government's guidance coincides with the release of industry developed timber due diligence tools and information through the industry website of Timber Due Diligence. Some examples include Trees are harvested from protected areas and then traded illegally. 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. [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]. 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. The East Asia Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (EA FLEG) Ministerial Conference took place in Bali in September 2001. This webinar explores the broad and continually evolving landscape of science and climate litigation in the United States and around the world. Illegal logging and the associated trade of illegally sourced wood products is a clandestine industry that threatens forests and economies alike. The East Asia Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (EA FLEG) Ministerial Conference took place in Bali in September 2001. Sourcing Legally Produced Wood: A Guide for Businesses—2018 Edition, Australia Illegal Logging Prohibition Act. This includes a wide range of illegal activities, such as: logging of protected species; logging in protected areas; logging with fake … [28], Governmental officials in charge of protected areas have contributed to deforestation by allowing illegal logging and illegal timber trading. Major consumer-side laws related to illegal logging and associated trade include the plant provisions of the U.S. Lacey Act, the EU Timber Regulation, and the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Act. [10], It is estimated that illegal logging on public land alone causes losses in assets and revenue in excess of US$10 billion annually. [21], The Indonesian government grapples with the management of deforestation with sustainable urban development as rural-urban migration necessitates the expansion of cities. The Lacey Act is a 1900 United States law that bans trafficking in illegal wildlife. 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. 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. Corruption amongst local Indonesian officials fuels cynicism with regard to the governmental clampdown on illegal logging activities. Illegality may also occur during transport, such as illegal processing and export; fraudulent declaration to customs; the avoidance of taxes and other charges, and fraudulent certification.[1]. [29] Given that a mature, 30 year-old Siamese rosewood tree can fetch 300,000 baht on the black market, illegal logging is unlikely to disappear.[30][31].
ITFMP Report No. Urge Congress to be proactive in the face of extreme weather & COVID-19. Illegal logging does not necessarily only encompass the actual harvesting procedure itself, but all other aspect that may be included throughout the process. The event was co-hosted by the World Bank and the Government of Indonesia. 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. In 2008 Congress passed amendments to the Lacey Act, a century-old law that combats trafficking in illegal plants and wildlife, and thus closed the entire U.S. market to illegally sourced wood.

The conference took place as the United Kingdom prepared to pass the G8 Presidency to Russia.

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. Help promote sustainable management of tropical forests.lo. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Illegal Logging. Tell Congress to safeguard our elections. The scale of illegal logging represents a major loss of revenue to many countries and can lead to widespread associated environmental damage. Possible actions to restrict imports cannot meet with WTO regulations of non-discrimination. The landmark legislation entered into effect in May 2008 and was the world’s first ban on trade in illegally sourced wood products. The Conference brought together nearly 150 participants from 20 countries, representing government, international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector. 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. US electricity infrastructure is aging, inadequate, and vulnerable. 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. 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. An estimated 73 percent of all logging in Indonesia is believed to be illegal. The 1999 Forestry Law states that it is essential for companies to be endorsed by authorities in respective regions with an IPK permit, a timber harvesting permit, for legal approval of their deforestation activities. However, for many countries, NGOs are the only source of information apart from state institutions, which probably clearly underestimate the true figures. The US continues to keep intercontinental ballistic missiles on high alert—creating the risk of a mistaken nuclear war in response to a false warning. 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.

A preparatory conference was held in Moscow in June 2005. Lexington Books (2007). A blog on science, politics, and activism. 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.