Trade and imports of illegal timber: options for Europe

Around the world criminal exploitation and trade in forest resources is destroying forest ecosystems, undermining the livelihoods of local communities and depriving governments of much-needed revenue. Timber traders and powerful companies involved in processing, shipping and dealing in forest products operate at an international level where the international demand for timber and wood products provides a substantial market for illegal produce. The OECD estimates that the global trade in timber is worth more than US$150 billion per year (OECD 2001), with the EU being the world's largest importer. Estimates suggest that as much as 50% of EU imports of timber and wood products from Southern countries may be illegally sourced as with 20% from Eastern Europe and the Russian Federation (Forest Monitor 2001).