By Martin Banks - 28th November 2007
EU commissioner Stavros Dimas has thrown his weight behind calls for increased efforts to combat the illegal timber trade
The Greek official, responsible for environmental affairs, says more needs to be done to stop de-forestation.
He was speaking on Wednesday outside the commission’s Berlaymont headquarters where Friends of the Earth activists had planted two trees to highlight the illegal trade.
About eight trees were also planted in several other ‘strategic’ locations in Brussels, including the landmark Atomium, Manikin Pis and Grand Place.
Dimas backed their campaign but declined to accept one of the trees presented to him by Anne van Schaik, of Friends of the Earth Netherlands.
She said, “Our action demonstrates the absurd contrast that trade in illegal timber on the EU market goes unpunished, while illegally planting trees is punishable.
“Half of Europe’s timber imports from high risk regions are illegal. “
Her comments were echoed by Dimas, who said, “I agree that illegal logging fuels the global forest crisis and threatens biodiversity and impoverishes forest peoples.”
Illegal planting of trees in the pavements and squares of Brussels is punishable but Dimas told protestors, “I have no problem with such protest action, in fact, I welcome it if it is going to help raise awareness of this problem.
“The illegal trade in timber is causing a lot of problems. Deforestation is responsible for no less than 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions and this is something we really have to deal with.”
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