Illegal Logging

1. Illegal Logging Group 7:Allen, Christiana, Hunter, Mariah, and Tyler

2. Objectives • Analyze the international drivers of illegal logging. • Determine uses of illegally harvested trees. • Determine which forest types are most susceptible to illegal harvesting. • Analyze the effects of policy (domestic and international) on illegal logging practices.

3. Positives and Negatives of Illegal Logging As outline by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) • Deforestation and loss of biodiversity • Loss of government revenue • Cycles of poor governance and corruption • Increase in poverty • Loss of resources • Loss of revenue for government poverty reduction programs • Revenue fuels national and regional conflicts • Reduces incentives for sustainable forest management Negatives

4. Positives and Negatives of Illegal Logging As outline by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) • Alternative land uses provide benefits to locals • May actually increase revenue to governments • Forces responsible for enforcing laws may benefit from illegal logging and may be more willing to support governments • Lower timber prices increase the competitiveness of national industries • Consumers benefit from lower prices Positives

5. Illegal Logging Statistics in Tropical Regions

6. Corruption as a Driver of Illegal Logging

7. Products/ Uses Furniture Joinery Flooring Cabinets Boats Construction Instruments Source: FAO Corporate Document Repository, Profile of Existing Markets and Potential Market Prospects in Europe for Tropical Hardwoods

8. Difficulties in Tracking • Inconspicuously labeled cargo loads • Lost in paper work • Milled before source inspected • Monopoly supply chains

10. Examples of Illegal Logging Peru Canada

11. Difficulties Surrounding Policy • Unstable Governments • Often hindered by civil unrest • Unable to enforce policies • Difficult to determine who is doing the logging • Guerrilla fighters funding cause • Multi-million dollar operations • Foreign investors

12. Policy of Illegal logging • Developing countries • Find ways to implement effective policies • Find ways to enforce those policies • Developed Countries • Policies in place to reject illegal forest products • Offering incentives to proper forest practices

13. International Implications • Difficult to deduce drivers behind it (other than demand for timber, and lower costs) • Little information on impacts to international markets. • Difficult to track origin of timber • Difficult to prevent importation of illegal logs when origin is unknown • Corruption in timber source areas makes solutions difficult

14. International Efforts to Mitigate Illegal Logging • European Union- FLEGT • Voluntary partnership agreements (VPAs) • Timber regulations • Licensing • “Due diligence” • Public procurement • United Nations • REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries) • Financial incentives for industry and government • Supported by the United Nations, the World Bank and other initiatives.

15. International Efforts to Mitigate Illegal Logging • United States- Lacey Act • Violations are criminal and/or civil offenses • Origin of product, species, quantity, value • “Due care”

16. Problems Facing International Prevention • Countries work around restrictions • Lack of information • Corruption and/or unstable governments • Provides benefits to some communities, poverty • Poor forest management practices • Not all countries agree to terms • Poor licensing procedures

17. Summary of Main Points • Many different reasons why illegal logging is difficult to understand, track, and mitigate • Many international solutions are being implemented • Will they work?

18. Thanks for Listening! Questions?