'Too much' illegal wood in EU markets

Almost one-fifth of wood imported into the EU in 2006 came from illegal or suspected illegal sources, it has been claimed.

Russia, Indonesia and China are the main sources of the wood with the major importers being Finland, UK, Germany and Italy, says a new WWF report.

The conservation organisation is now calling for “strong” EU legislation to prevent illegal wood entering the EU markets.

In 2006, the WWF says the EU imported between 26.5 and 31 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.

Anke Schulmeister, WWF forest policy officer, says, “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.

“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.”

WWF urges 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, it says.

The European commission is expected to propose legislation on this issue in the coming months.

The WWF study highlights the “ineffectiveness” of the existing EU Forest and Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Licensing Scheme in stopping trade in illegal wood. 

The report traces the ten main routes for illegal wood trade with the main trader being Russia with 10.4 million cubic metres of illegal or suspicious wood transferred to EU countries in 2006.

While the second position is held by Indonesia, China has recently become a major player, having tripled its exports of wood and paper products to the EU between 2003 and 2006, with 32 per cent suspected to be from illegal sources.

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