In addition to the U.S. Lacey Act and the EU Timber Regulation, Australia has passed a law banning illegal timber imports. The Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Act (ILPA) came into effect on November 29, 2012. The Act makes it a criminal offense to “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly import illegally logged timber or timber products into […]
Traditional large-scale oil palm plantation operators in Indonesia and Malaysia, where over 85% the world’s palm oil is produced, are seeking fresh ground to grow, as available land in South East Asia becomes scarcer. Veteran plantation companies and new arrivals to the scene are on the hunt for land in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, […]
The European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) came into effect in March 2013 and prohibits placing illegally harvested timber and wood products on the market in any EU country. The EUTR applies only to wood and wood products being placed for the first time on the EU market. Due Diligence Under the EUTR, EU operators, including […]
Leading the World with a Policy to Protect Forests from Harmful Trade The United States Lacey Act, named after Iowa Congressman John Lacey, was originally passed in 1900, and its impacts have given it renown as the most successful conservation law. Initially aimed at combatting illegal wildlife trafficking, the Act made it a federal crime […]
In addition to the many functions forests fulfill for local populations and for humankind globally, they are also crucial for the world’s climate. Deforestation and forest degradation not only releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, it also dramatically reduces the capacity of ecosystems to adapt to climate change. Healthy natural forests store vast amounts […]
Time to Win the War on Timber in Gabon Over the past months, Gabonese authorities have quietly but decisively started to crack down on illegal logging and related trade in their forests. Their efforts will be broadcast today – as we celebrate International Day of Forests, in the documentary Green Eden: the War on Timber. […]