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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 3:43 am
Time: 3:43 am
Results for illegal logging (latvia)
1 results foundAuthor: Bystrom, Marie Title: Responsible Trade in the Shadow of Illegal Logging: Swedish Import of Latvian Timber and Wood Products Summary: Swedish imports of timber and wood products from Latvia have increased considerably over the last five years, reaching 4.2 million m≥ in 2001; this increasing trend in import is expected to continue. Latvian forests are high in ecological value, providing habitat to a number of threatened and endangered species. The forestry sector is also highly important to the Latvian national economy. Sweden’s position as a major importer of Latvian timber and wood products in conjunction with their reputation as actors taking responsible forest management seriously, warrants closer scrutiny of the origin and impact of the Swedish import from Latvia. Swedish timber and wood product import was first investigated by TRN and WWF Sweden in 2000, resulting in the report entitled, Towards Responsible Timber Trade? – A Survey of Actors and Origin of Timber from Russia and the Baltic States. As a follow-up investigation to this report and taking into account the problem of illegal logging in the Baltic States, Taiga Rescue Network, WWF Sweden and WWF Latvia have undertaken extensive research. The research, compiled in the following report, has sought to highlight the specifics of current Swedish imports through analysis of the level of knowledge of Swedish companies as to the origin and impact of their trade. Current mechanisms mean that a significant amount but not all of the Swedish import from Latvia can be traced back to its origin. However the impact on forests is less clear. Additional active steps need to be taken by Swedish companies to improve their knowledge of impact if they aim to achieve a level of responsible timber trade. A gap does remain in tracing the origin of timber procured due to the growing problem of illegal logging in Latvia. Such illegal activities have only recently been uncovered and documented across Latvia, the Baltic States at large and Russia. When considered together with guidelines for responsible trade and current mechanisms to trace timber origin, Swedish companies have a unique position and very important role to play in the campaign to eliminate illegal logging. Swedish companies have the capacity to fully develop programs establishing systems to trace timber, specify and enforce company environmental and purchasing policies to the ecological and socio-economic conditions of Latvia and obtain FSC chain-of-custody certification. Furthermore, it is our hope that this report will provide the basis for and encourage openness and dialogue among all stakeholders in Sweden and Latvia alike. Thus, developing transparent trade channels, eliminating illegal forestry activities and promoting the exchange of environmentally and socially sustainable forest management within the region. Details: Jokkmokk, Sweden: Taiga Rescue Network; Solna, Sweden: WWF Sweden; Riga, Latvia: WWF Latvia, 2002. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2013 at: http://www.taigarescue.org/_v3/files/pdf/3.pdf Year: 2002 Country: Latvia URL: http://www.taigarescue.org/_v3/files/pdf/3.pdf Shelf Number: 128216 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal Logging (Latvia)Natural Resources ConservationOffenses Against the Environment |