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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 12:11 pm
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Results for illegal timber
7 results foundAuthor: VERIFOR Title: Meeting the Challenge of Timber Legality Verification: A Policy Brief Summary: Worldwide, interest in timber legality is growing. The handwringing that has sometimes characterised debate on illegal logging is giving way to practical measures designed to increase the proportion of timber that is harvested and traded according to the law. Proponents argue that the verification of timber legality can encourage good forest governance and ensure access to markets that might otherwise be restricted. This policy brief considers the merits of that argument. It draws on the collective knowledge of 100 forest governance practitioners and researchers who, in late 2008, attended an international workshop on the issue organised by the VERIFOR project (Box 1) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It describes the process of effective timber legality verification, identifies the challenges, and presents eight key messages for policymakers. Details: London: VERIFOR, 2009. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 15, 2010 at: http://www.verifor.org/RESOURCES/workshop_summary.pdf Year: 2009 Country: International URL: http://www.verifor.org/RESOURCES/workshop_summary.pdf Shelf Number: 119936 Keywords: Illegal TimberOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Scheyvens, Henry Title: Enhancing Customs Collaboration To Combat The Trade In Illegal Timber Summary: This report builds on the initiatives of the Asia Forest Partnership and East Asia and Pacific FLEG to promote cooperation among Customs, Forestry and other authorities to reduce the trade of illegal wood products. The goal of this review is to assist Customs and timber trade regulating agencies in their efforts to improve control over the international tropical timber trade, thereby preventing trade from being a driver of illegal logging and thus supporting the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests. This study is based on a wide-ranging analytical review of (i) Customs and illegal logging literature, (ii) international legal instruments, (iii) bilateral arrangements that assign or imply a role for Customs in combating the trade of illegal timber, (iv) model and existing agreements for Customs mutual administrative assistance, and (v) existing Customs networks. The review was augmented through consultations including Customs, Forestry and other officials, experts and key stakeholders. Further input was provided through the peer review workshop for this paper, which was held on 28-29 October 2009 in Bangkok. Details: Kanagawa, Japan: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, 2010. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2011 at: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/upload/2784/attach/iges_trade_in_illegal_timber.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/upload/2784/attach/iges_trade_in_illegal_timber.pdf Shelf Number: 120723 Keywords: Customs EnforcementIllegal TimberIllegal TradeOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: World Growth Title: A Poison, Not a Cure: The Campaign to Ban Trade in Illegally Logged Timber Summary: Environmental groups, such as WWF and Greenpeace, have a global goal of halting commercial forestry and forestry in native forests. One of their strategies to advance this campaign is to generate global concern that illegal logging is a major global problem. One presumption is that high volumes of illegally-sourced wood products are entering the global market. This presumption cannot be substantiated and is very likely to be untrue. The campaign urges trade bans on imports of illegal timber. It has also been driven by industrialized countries, in particular the UK. The campaign is also supported by protectionist interests in the timber and paper industry in the U.S., the EU and Australia, with the aim of limiting imports of more competitive products from developing countries. It is commonly alleged that commercial interests drive illegal logging and that this, in turn, causes severe deforestation. This contention is wrong. The causes of deforestation and illegal logging are complex: they include poverty, increased population growth, poor governance and weak property rights. In most cases, illegal logging represents a failure of developing economies to enforce the law. The Extent of Illegal Logging The extent of illegal logging is uncertain. Most studies and policies have been based on a 2004 study by Seneca Creek and Associates for the American Forest and Paper Association which finds between 8% and 10% of produced and traded timber may come from suspicious sources. Other research shows only 15% of globally produced timber is traded. Even if it were desirable to use trade controls to achieve non-trade purposes, the share traded is so small, that leveraging is negligible and prospects of success very small. Though the report is cited frequently in the literature, it suffers from significant flaws, including a lack of comprehensive and reliable data sources. These limitations are acknowledged by the study’s authors who state that there is limited information on illegal logging and that it is impossible to know the extent of illegal forest activity with any degree of certainty. The study is now outdated with the incidence of illegal logging decreasing in key countries in recent years. The 2004 global estimate is, for the most part, based on illegal logging in Indonesia, with global wood exports principally attributed to the country. Since the report, a briefing paper by Chatham House has demonstrated that incidence of illegal logging has decreased by between 50% to 75%, with estimates of illegal logging in Indonesia as low as 40% as compared with the 70% to 80% estimated by Seneca Creek. Details: Arlington, VA: World Growth, 2011. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 14, 2012 at: http://www.worldgrowth.org/assets/files/WG_Illegal_Logging_Report_5_11.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.worldgrowth.org/assets/files/WG_Illegal_Logging_Report_5_11.pdf Shelf Number: 125254 Keywords: Crimes Against the EnvironmentIllegal LoggingIllegal TimberOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Greenpeace Title: Logging: The Amazon's Silent Crisis Summary: A two year Greenpeace investigation has confirmed that logging in the Amazon is still out of control and often taking a predatory form. Governance in the timber sector in the Brazilian Amazon is weak and open to exploitation, allowing criminals launder illegal timber as legal with official documentation. It is estimated that in Para State the largest producer and exporter of timber in Brazil, 78% of logging occurring there is illegal. Greenpeace investigated specific cases of the sector's systemic crime and found links between cases of fraud and the global marketplace. The United States is the largest importer of Brazilian timber and companies like Lumber Liquidators, the country's largest national hardwood flooring retailer, has purchased wood from exporters that have bought wood from saw mills that have processed laundered timber. This investigation below discusses the Brazilian timber sector today and explains how the system is designed to fail and easily defrauded. Then the investigation illustrates on five emblematic case studies of timber laundering on a massive scale that until recently have flown under the radar. The investigation then follows the timber from the forest to the saw mill to the exporter to the USA, European Union, and Israel where valuable Amazon timber varieties like Ipe are utilized for walkways, piers, hardwood flooring, decking, and siding. Details: Amsterdam: Greenpeace, 2014. v.p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2014 at: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/forests/Our-current-projects/amazon-rainforest/Logging-The-Amazons-Silent-Crisis-/ Year: 2014 Country: Brazil URL: Shelf Number: 133317 Keywords: Illegal Logging (Brazil)Illegal TimberNatural Resources |
Author: World Growth Title: Wronging Indonesia -The EU's Bait and Switch Illegal Logging Policy and its Impact on Indonesian Enterprises Summary: The EU is delaying implementation of a 'Voluntary Partnership Agreement' (VPA) with Indonesia on illegal timber exports. Indonesia has complied with EU demands at significant cost, but the delays mean Indonesia's exporters will now have to comply with a different, more costly system of regulation. This report examines the implications. Illegal logging first emerged as a campaign issue in 1998. The illegal timber trade was linked to global concerns over deforestation. Action against illegal logging in developing countries was supported by Western industries that were facing increased competition from timber and paper producers, particularly in China. It was also supported by environmental campaign groups that made unsubstantiated claims about the levels of illegal logging taking place globally. However, there has been very little ground-based research on levels of illegal logging in many countries. Indonesia has often been considered a 'worst offender' for alleged exports of illegal timber. This has in part been due to high levels of administrative overlap during the country's transition into a democracy. Despite this, Indonesia has undertaken successful action to reduce levels of illegal logging and been a driving force in taking action against illegal logging internationally. In 2003 the European Union (EU) first announced it would attempt to prevent the sale of 'illegal' timber on European markets through a combination of domestic legal instruments and international agreements. They are the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) and Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPA) respectively. These policy instruments have emerged following a long international campaign based on unsound data and emotive campaigning by Green groups and uncompetitive manufacturers in Europe. Voluntary Partnership Agreements were introduced as the key policy measure for Europe to take action against 'illegal' timber. The VPAs were ostensibly introduced as a means for exporting nations to 'fast track' timber products into Europe from nations that comply with European regulatory demands. The real purpose is to pressure developing countries that export timber products to apply standards determined by the EU to regulate exports, under the threat of import bans. VPAs require the implementation of a licensing system for exporters wishing to export timber products to Europe that verify the legality of the product. For many developing nations this is a costly exercise. VPA uptake has been slow. This has been in part due to a reluctance of developing nations to enter into trade agreements that propose conditions on non-trade items, such as environment and labour. The slow uptake and potential loopholes for non-VPA timber prompted European Greens to press for the introduction of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR). The EUTR is set to come into effect in 2013. It threatens European operators with legal action if they sell 'illegal' timber in European markets and/or do not make efforts to mitigate the risk of selling 'illegal' timber on European markets. This risk can be mitigated with the implementation of tools such as independent third-party verification of timber being exported to Europe, distinct from the VPA licensing system. This is an expensive undertaking for many developing country exporters. Licensed VPA imports were supposed to be exempt from the EUTR and considered risk-free once VPAs were operational. In the case of Indonesia, a VPA has been completed and signed, but is yet to be ratified by the EU. According to Indonesian officials, the EU appears to have stalled the agreement completely. This means Indonesian timber exporters are effectively in policy limbo. They have chosen to have their products verified through the VPA-backed Sistem verifikasi legalitas kayu (SVLK - timber legality assurance system) with the promise of avoiding further costly verification under the EUTR. However, the VPA has stalled, and SVLK is not currently recognised under the EUTR. Indonesia's forest and forest-related industries are significant contributors to Indonesia's economy. There are many large and medium businesses exporting forest products to Europe. There are more than 18 million micro and small forest-based enterprises, producing wooden items, furniture and timber that also export to Europe. Most of these businesses are family enterprises comprising less than four people. For many Indonesian businesses, implementing the systems required under the VPA is prohibitively expensive. The EU's own modelling has indicated it will have a detrimental impact on Indonesia's industry. The new EU policies are likely to have a significant impact on trade with partner nations such as Indonesia. These impacts would ordinarily be obviated by legal obligations under international trade law and/or bilateral trade agreements. However, the legality of these policies under international trade agreements is questionable. The actions by the EU constitute a classic 'bait and switch' strategy. Indonesia has been promised a particular action by the EU; the EU has since reneged. It is now offering Indonesia an inferior agreement, despite securing significant and costly policy actions from Indonesia. Under bait and switch, customers are invited to purchase an item at a low price. The vendor then informs the customer that it is no longer available and must accept a more expensive item. Under European law this type of behaviour is illegal under the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive. Indonesia has taken leading action on illegal logging globally. It has negotiated in good faith with Europe. In this case, the 18 million-plus Indonesians dependent upon the forest industry are likely to consider themselves wronged by Europe. Given these grievances, Indonesia has solid grounds to consider action through the World Trade Organization Details: Arlington, VA: World Growth, 2012. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2015 at: http://worldgrowth.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/WG_FLEGT_2012_final.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Indonesia URL: http://worldgrowth.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/WG_FLEGT_2012_final.pdf Shelf Number: 135506 Keywords: ForestsIllegal Logging (Indonesia)Illegal TimberNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Saunders, Jade Title: Trade in Illegal Timber: The Response in Vietnam Summary: This paper is part of a broader Chatham House study which assesses illegal logging and the associated trade. The Vietnamese government has made some progress towards tackling illegal logging and the associated trade. It has negotiated a voluntary partnership agreement (VPA) with the EU, a process that has prompted a review of relevant legislation and improved the government’s engagement with civil society. In addition, it has signed agreements with Lao PDR and Cambodia in which it has committed to coordination on forest management and trade. However, there has been little progress in policy reform, and there is still no legislation regulating illegal timber imports. There is a high level of awareness of illegal logging and associated trade within the private sector: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custody (CoC) certification has increased rapidly, particularly in the furniture sector. But efforts are hampered by poor access to third-party verified raw material. Both trade data discrepancies and analysis of trade flows indicate that illegal trade remains a serious problem. The volume of imports of wood-based products at a high risk of illegality is estimated to have increased since 2000, while its share in the volume of total imports of wood-based products gradually declined until 2009 and then increased slightly: they are estimated to have comprised 18 per cent of the total by volume in 2013. In order to build on its response to illegal logging and related trade, the government should establish a legal responsibility for Vietnamese importers to ensure that their timber sources are legal. Furthermore, to increase domestic demand for legal products, it should establish a public procurement policy requiring the use of verified legal products. Within the framework of the VPA, broad and effective multi-stakeholder engagement will be vital to ensure that a robust timber legality assurance system is developed. In addition, proactive partnerships should be forged with high-risk supply countries to establish legality criteria and indicators that reflect the full scope of the relevant legislation in those countries. Details: London: The Royal Institute of International Affairs Chatham House, 2014. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2019 at: https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/20141210IllegalTimberVietnamSaunders.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Vietnam URL: https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/20141210IllegalTimberVietnamSaunders.pdf Shelf Number: 156860 Keywords: Environmental Crimes Forests Illegal Logging Illegal TimberIllegal Trade Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Center for International Environmental Law Title: Authorized to Steal: Organized Crime Networks Launder Illegal Timber from the Peruvian Amazon Summary: Illegal logging and its related international trade are currently considered the third largest crime in the world. In Peru, illegal logging and timber commerce have a long history. In "Continuous Improvement" in Illegal Practices in the Peruvian Forest Sector, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) identified timber exports at high risk of being illegal in 2015 and the practices used by exporters to avoid transparency and continue their trade in high-risk timber. With a new Forestry and Wildlife Law having taken effect in October 2015, CIEL has continued its investigation into Peru's illegal logging and timber exports to evaluate whether the new legislation has led to a significant decrease in rates of high-risk wood harvests and sales. This document analyzes domestic trade as well as the export sector, based on information contained in 1,024 Forest Transport Permits (GTFs) issued in June, July, and August of 2017. It examines results and files prepared by the Forest Resources and Wildlife Monitoring Agency (OSINFOR), the entity in charge of supervising and auditing logging areas. The findings reveal that illegal logging continues at an alarmingly high rate. Moreover, high-risk authorizations continue to be concentrated in local forests, private lands, and indigenous communities. In contrast to Continuous Improvement, which examined the private sector's actions, this document focuses on the public sector's role in the proliferation of illegal logging and its related trade in Peru. This analysis assumes that human error does not account for cases in which over 40 percent of the trees approved for harvest never existed in the authorized areas. The individuals involved in these cases are therefore identified by name for their role in facilitating the trade of illegal timber in Peru. These people are the specific forestry regents who wrote and filed the Forest Management Plans, the professionals who conducted on-site visual inspections in order to verify the accuracy of the Forest Management Plans, the professionals who wrote favorable reports and recommended that the plans be approved, and public officials who signed approval resolution forms and forestry contracts that authorized particular volumes and species of wood to be harvested and transported. In Peru, a series of laws regulate forest resources and wildlife management, and they stipulate administrative and criminal sanctions for those involved in trafficking and selling illegally felled wood. Nevertheless, so few cases and sanctions have been applied that there is little disincentive for Forestry and Wildlife Authorities to grant and verify official documents that are used to launder timber illegally extracted from the Peruvian Amazon. The report concludes with a series of concrete recommendations for Peruvian State entities, forestry companies, and financial institutions, that aim to generate meaningful changes that reduce illegal logging and promote legally extracted wood in Peru. Details: Washington, DC: Center for International Environmental Law, 2019. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2019 at: https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Authorized-to-Steal-August-2019-updated.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Peru URL: https://www.ciel.org/reports/authorized-to-steal/ Shelf Number: 158113 Keywords: Deforestation Environmental Crime Illegal Logging Illegal Timber |