Illegal logging in the Amazon
European timber companies today joined FERN, Greenpeace and WWF in urging the European Union to adopt new legislation that outlaws imports of illegally sourced timber and associated wood products into the EU.
A statement promoted by the three NGOs and signed by over 70 European timber companies was presented today at a conference on illegal logging, governance and trade, organised by FERN, Greenpeace and WWF at the European Parliament.
Companies such as B&Q, Homebase and Habitat (UK), Castorama (France), IKEA and Skanska International (Sweden), Unital (Union of Italian Industries of Wood Furniture), JYSK Nordic (Denmark) and Puertas Luvipol (Spain) are calling for clear rules in Europe for fair competition and sustainable markets.
"Cheap imports of illegal timber and the non-compliance of some firms with basic social and environmental standards destabilise international markets, threaten jobs and create unfair competition. Without a clear European legal framework, companies that behave responsibly and want to invest in sustainable practices will always be disadvantaged," said André de Boer, Director of the Dutch Timber Trade Federation.
"As one of the largest importers of illegally sourced timber and related products, the EU has the duty to assume its responsibility by stopping these activities," said Beatrix Richards, European Forest Policy Officer at WWF. "Industry and NGOs are united in saying that the EU must take immediate action to create accountability in this sector by adopting new legislation and promoting sustainable forest management world-wide."
Illegal logging contributes heavily to the destruction of bio-diversity and the impoverishment of millions of people that depend on forests for food and income. It fuels social conflict and is frequently associated with organised crime.
To address this problem, the EU Commission adopted in May 2003 an Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) and submitted to the Council a proposal for voluntary partnership agreements with producer countries aimed at improving governance in the forestry sector and implementing a traceability system to ensure that only timber licensed as legal will be exported to the EU. Although the proposal could under certain conditions have a positive impact, NGOs and industry agree that a voluntary approach alone is insufficient to tackle the problem.
"The timber sector is unusual in that it gives consumers no guarantee of the legality of the products they buy," said Fiona Hall and Chris Davies, members of the European Parliament, ALDE Group. "As members of the European Parliament, we intend to represent the public interest and demand that the Commission deliver a report on legislative options to tackle illegal logging that it promised for mid-2004."
Environmental NGOs have also highlighted that unsustainable logging and trade can be as destructive as illegal logging. Therefore the EU also needs to be clear that tackling illegal logging is just the first step on the road to achieving sustainable forest management". "The remaining forest surface of our planet is melting like snow in the sun due to the actions of a few people," said Sebastien Risso, EU forests policy director at Greenpeace. "We need to act now to guarantee sustainable management of this common good, with the full involvement of local populations and within the framework of sustainable development and poverty reduction."
Further information
Lucia Appleby, Communications Manager, FERN, Tel. +44-7843-093550, or e-mail lucia@fern.org.
Greenpeace UK press office on 020 7865 8255.
Claudia Delpero, Press Officer, WWF European Policy Office, Tel. +32-2- 7400925, or email cdelpero@wwfepo.org
Notes to editors
The industry statement follows the publication of a similar statement signed by some 180 non-governmental organisations and the release of a legislative proposal commissioned by FERN, Greenpeace and WWF in December 2004. The industry statement, NGO statement, legislative proposal and details of todays conference are available from WWF and Greenpeace
Illegal harvesting operations are often associated with corruption and organised crime and according to the World Bank, cost governments in developing countries an estimated 10-15 billion euros every year in lost revenues. This overshadows the European Commission's annual development assistance budget of approximately 10 billion euros. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation said in a report published last month that better management of the world's forests is crucial to reducing conflict and avoiding war in regions like Africa.
FLEGT is next due to be debated at ministerial level at the 30 May Agriculture Council. A letter sent from DG Trade on behalf of Commission President Barroso to Greenpeace said: "It is our intention to report back to Council on the assessment of additional legislative measures before the Summer break".
