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Illegal logging, and the trade in illegally sourced timber, is on the increase in tropical, temperate and boreal forests. It is one of the main causes of forest loss, undermines the rule of law and leads to substantial revenue loss for the state. It encourages forest crime, corruption and tax evasion, and has serious economic and social implications for the poor and disadvantaged.

Due to the nature of the crime, it is difficult to obtain statistics. It is, however, widely believed that approximately 50% of imports of tropical timber and about 20% of timber from boreal forests into the EU is illegally sourced.

Governments, in both producer and consumer countries, should urgently address the trade in illegally sourced forest products by using existing tools and developing new approaches to combat illegal logging.

Fern has been co-ordinating the activities of the European NGOs working on illegal logging at the European level.

The main NGO demands are: Consumer countries should support the efforts of producer countries by introducing legislation that would prohibit the import of and investment in illegal logging. Combating illegal logging also requires support to curb corruption and increase transparency. As important, laws must be reformed in producer countries to ensure land tenure rights of forest dependent communities are respected.