EU

Europe big illegal wood importer, says conservation group

Article published on the 2008-07-23 Latest update 2008-07-23 15:45 TU

(Photo: WWF-Canon/André Bärtschi)

The European Union imports massive amounts of wood produced by illegal logging, according to a report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It says that Finland is the worst offender but also names Britain, Germany and Italy as markets for illegal wood products from Asia. WWF demands new European laws to end illegal wood imports.

In 2006 the EU imported 30 million cubic metres of wood or wood products of illegal origin, according to the report, Illegal Wood for the European Market.

They are mainly from Russia, China and Indonesia, it adds.

Finland, which is one of the world's biggest paper makers, imports the most Russian wood to Europe and legitimate imports have declined since Moscow raised export duties in 2006.

According to WWF, some 3.7 million cubic metres of Russian roundwood was illegally imported into Finland that year.

Britain, Germany and Italy are the largest importers of furniture and other wood products, according to the WWF. It estimates that 40 per cent of these products come from illegal logging in China and Indonesia.

The EU currently has agreements with exporters but no legislation controlling the trade.  

"The problem with these is that it will never cover all different countries that are exporting to the EU, for example China," the WWF's Anke Schulmeister told RFI.

She wants a Europe-wide law which puts the onus on importers.  

"This bill should actually be operator-based so that operators would have to ensure that what they trade on the European market is legal," she says.