08.12.2016
Global damage caused by illegal timber trade
Frankfurt, 8 December 2016. The illegal logging and trafficking of wood causes an annual damage of more than 152 billion US dollars worldwide and is affecting the environment, the economy and societies. The existing laws and regulations are not sufficient to curb current activities in this area. This is the result of a recent report by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO). The report shows that trade agreements between countries with the aim of ensuring the legal origin of timber have led to the shift of illegal trade to other less regulated markets. For example, China and India are currently the largest importers of illegally traded tropical timber, while Russia is the main source of illegally traded wood from boreal and temperate forests.