Illegal logging threatens certified timber trade and sustainable development

Illegal logging and trade grew to threatening dimensions since early 2000, especially in tropical countries. A study by Chatham House estimated the global damage from illegal logging to timber producing countries at USD 15-20 billion annually. The consequences are deforestation and forest degradation, loss of biodiversity, increase in carbon emissions, but also often conflicts with indigenous peoples, violence and human rights abuses. It is up to the producing as well as importing countries to prevent illegal logging and trade, as set out in the G8 Action Program on Forests. Since then, various measures by governments and the private sector have been initiated. Implementation of these measures has started to produce results, but governments have been sluggish in implementing them.