ZLV Online

Abstract

Illegal logging and the international trade in illegally logged timber are a major problem for many timber-producing countries in the developing world. It causes environmental damage, costs governments billions of dollars in lost revenue, promotes corruption, and undermines the rule of law and good governance and funds armed conflict. It retards sustainable development in some of the poorest countries of the world. Consumer countries contribute to these problems by importing timber and wood products without ensuring that they are legally sourced. In recent years, however, producer and consumer countries alike have paid increasing attention to illegal logging. This paper summarizes the situation of the EU´s timber market with an emphasis on illegally harvested timber, and analyzes current legislative measures that may affect supply and demand of timber and that may influence operators in both the pulic and private sectors.