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Deforestation, a major contributor to climate change, is
still rampant globally and European Union countries are guilty
of compounding the problem, according to a new WWF report.
Almost one-fifth of wood imported into the European Union
in 2006 came from illegal or suspected illegal sources - with
Russia, Indonesia and China being the main sources according
to the report - 'Illegal Wood for the European Market'.
In 2006, the European Union imported approximately 30 million
cubic metres of wood and related products from illegal origins
- equivalent to the total amount of wood harvested in Poland
in the same year. In all, 23 per cent of wood-based products
imported from eastern Europe originated from illegal or suspect
sources - with 40 per cent from South East Asia, 30 per cent
from Latin America and 35-55 per cent from Africa.
Major importers are Finland, UK, Germany and Italy and WWF
is calling for strong European legislation to prevent illegal
wood entering the EU markets. “Illegal logging destroys the
protective function of forests, increasing risk of natural
disasters such as floods and landslides and leads to deforestation,
one of the main causes for climate change” - said Anke Schulmeister,
WWF Forest Policy Officer.
“Illegal logging also pushes wood prices down, resulting
in major economic losses for states, industries and local
communities. Strong measures are needed at EU level to protect
the world’s remaining forests and our own future.”
The study highlights the ineffectiveness of the existing
EU licensing scheme - Forest and Law Enforcement, Governance
and Trade (FLEGT).
Even if all agreements - currently being negotiated by the
EU with partner countries under FLEGT - were concluded, about
90 per cent of the illegal wood would still enter the EU markets.
Furthermore, no such negotiations are planned with countries
like Russia and China and many products manufactured from
illegal wood such as furniture or paper are not covered by
FLEGT regulation.
WWF is urging the introduction of EU legislation to guarantee
that only legal wood is traded in the European market. Traders
should prove the origin and legality of wood and penalties
should be introduced for any violation.
The European Commission is expected to propose legislation
on this issue in the coming months.
To download - 'Illegal Wood for the European Market'
- Click
Here
[4.31MB]
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