G8 and illegal logging
Illegal logging is on the agenda of the first ever meeting of G8 Environment and Development Ministers on 17 and 18 March. The UK’s aim at the meeting – and for follow-on action – is to add impetus to efforts to control illegal logging and associated trade.
Image courtesy of Environmental Investigation Agency
What is illegal logging and why does it matter?
Illegal logging is the commercial harvesting of timber that breaks a country’s laws. This includes cutting, processing or transporting timber from forests without permission or payment of taxes, and often from protected areas (such as national parks) or forest areas which are for use by local people.
It matters because poor people suffer the consequences of illegal logging. It is a major problem for many timber-producing countries in the developing world. Illegal logging causes environmental damage, loses governments billions of dollars in lost revenue, promotes corruption, undermines the rule of law and good governance and funds armed conflict. It seriously limits sustainable development in some of the poorest countries of the world.
Image courtesy of Environmental Investigation Agency
What’s being done to tackle illegal logging?
No single action can stop illegal logging. We need to address issues of demand for illegally logged timber at the same time as helping countries to improve governance and law enforcement. Giving development assistance on the one hand while importing cheap illegal timber on the other doesn’t make sense.
Since the last UK G8 Presidency in 1998, which first brought this subject on to the international stage, a lot has happened. We have seen a significant increase in awareness of the issue and commitment to take action by many governments, including the UK. Some examples of recent initiatives include:
- The Africa Ministerial meeting in Cameroon in 2003 on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG). This followed a groundbreaking East Asia Ministerial Conference in Indonesia in 2001.
- A Ministerial Conference for Europe and North Asia will be hosted this year by Russia, which alone accounts for a quarter of the world’s forests. The UK is very pleased to be working with Russia on this.
- The European Union has an action plan for working with timber producing countries to tackle illegal \logging through partnership agreements. These agreements will be underpinned by a new EU regulation which will deny access to EU markets of illegally harvested timber from those countries. This regulation is now being discussed in the European Council and the UK is very supportive.
- The use of government procurement policies to ensure that only legal (and sustainable) timber products are bought by government purchasers. The UK Government’s public procurement policy for timber products requires central government departments to purchase wood products from sustainable and legal sources. The Timber Trade Federation has said that the policy has been the single biggest driver of their actions to get illegal timber out of the supply chain.
- A number of businesses and trade associations around the world now understand the threats and the costs of illegal logging. As a result, markets in some timber importing countries are starting to adjust. Companies are adopting responsible purchasing policies.
Image courtesy of Environmental Investigation Agency
UK aims for the G8 Ministerial
Much remains to be done and we need sustained effort from both timber producing and timber consuming countries. We believe the G8 has a unique role to play in helping solve the problem of illegal logging and associated trade.
In the G8 Environment and Development Ministerial the UK will be seeking commitments to do three things:
Increase support to timber producing countries in their efforts to tackle illegal logging. This is aimed at helping these countries to take advantage of new market opportunities and meet the requirements of more demanding markets.
Prevent illegal timber from entering the markets of G8 countries. If the G8 were to stop importing illegally logged timber this would have a profound impact on the problem.
Reduce the consumption of timber, by consumers and traders. Some G8 countries import large quantities of timber from countries where illegal logging is a serious problem. Governments are themselves significant consumers and by sending a clear signal that they will not buy illegally logged timber they can have an impact beyond their own immediate suppliers.
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