Illegal Logging

The international trade in illegally logged timber is a major problem for the legal timber producing countries, not only in the developed countries but in the third world countries. Illegal logging has a massive impact on the environment.

When forests are being cut down by illegal loggers it is destroying the eco system, it is also killing of wildlife and their homes.

Many species of Plants are also being destroyed. We also must not forget about the indigenous people of these areas.

In 2003, the de-forestation rate in some parts of the Amazon was the second highest ever recorded at 26,000 square kilometres.

Animals like the Orang-utans face the biggest threat of destruction.

This is a species that at one stage had numbers in the hundreds of thousands and it has become one of the most endangered species in the world today because of illegal poaching, logging and man-made forests fires.

Research has released figures to state that over 1.6 billion people are dependent on the forests for their livelihood.

Illegal logging is advancing at very alarming rates. If it continues at current rate of destruction, 96 percent of the remaining forests will be gone by 2022. The problem of illegal logging stems from weak governing laws over the timber trade.

Neither the United States nor Japan has laws which prohibit the import of illegally logged timber. All this encourages these companies to boost profits and continue destroying our precious and necessary forests.

In Europe various groups and organisations have been set up to try and investigate and stop illegal logging.

There is a body called the WWF Illegal Logging Government Barometer which has been set up by the WWF to assess the efforts of the European governments.

The organisation implements the EU action plan on forest Law Enforcement Governance & Trade FLEGT.

This encourages partnerships between European countries to stop illegal logging. The problem must first of all be addressed by the current administration.

Governments around the world must stop accepting the import of these illegally logged timbers NOW.
 
Most of the money made on illegal logging is spent on weapons, drugs, gangs and organised crime.
 
When there is no demand for illegally logged timber then the supply will stop.

WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO EDUCATE THE WORLD AND OPEN PEOPLES EYES TO THE WORLD OF ILLEGAL LOGGING BEFORE IT IS REALLY TOO LATE!