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Clearcut forest in British Columbia

80% of the world's ancient forests have been destroyed. And illegal and destructive logging threatens much of what remains.

You can help stop this destructive logging of the world's remaining ancient forests. You are a consumer. You have huge power.

Simply stop buying illegal timber. You may not realise it, but the UK rates as Europe's worst criminal - with up to 60% of our timber imports coming from illegal sources.

These sources include countries such as Indonesia, Cameroon, Gabon and Brazil, where many of the trees cut down are also listed as endangered species. The wood includes meranti from Indonesia, sapele and utile from Africa, teak from Asia, and Brazilian and African mahogany. Do you know where the furniture in your house, or the paper in you office, comes from?

Three easy steps to help us stop the destruction of ancient forests:

1. Buy only FSC certified wood. All forest products carrying the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label have been independently certified as supporting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests.
   
   You will find forest products carrying a variety of other environmental claims, but the FSC certification system is the only one that assures the chain of custody from extraction of the wood, through processing, to the final consumer.
   
   
2. Ask your local shops to stock the FSC label. You'll be surprised how obliging they are. However large or small, furniture retailers, DIY stores, even construction companies, will only use products that sell. Consumer demand can force them into buying wood from well-managed forests, and force the loggers into producing it. Several major outlets -including IKEA and B&Q - have already committed to stop buying ancient forest destruction.
   
   
3. Encourage your company or organisation to buy FSC-endorsed products - be it an order for office paper, a major construction project or even a magazine. BBC Wildlife magazine is printed on FSC paper with no loss of quality.