Controlling timber imports into the EU - Joint NGO Statement

Although this statement focuses on illegal logging, we would like to state that legal and illegal logging are often closely linked and that legal logging can be highly destructive.

The illegal aspect of the current timber trade is only part of the wider problem of a timber industry that has largely been unable to regulate itself and is destroying forests and peoples’ livelihoods on a grand scale. Actions addressing the illegality of operations can therefore not be seen as separate from actions addressing the wider issue of destructive logging practices. It is ultimately the issue of forest sustainability that needs to be addressed.

As many forestry legal regimes permit or even encourage corporate malpractice and deny the rights of forest dependent peoples, it is vital that FLEGT initiatives do not reinforce inappropriate laws.