Decking the Forest
How Colombia's Unlawful Timber Exports to the U.S. Sustain Armed Groups and Illegal Logging
A multi-year investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA US) exposes how Colombia’s timber exports—especially timber used for decking and flooring—are entering U.S., EU, and Canadian markets without the legal documents required to prove lawful origin.
Between 2020 and 2023, an estimated 94% of Colombia’s decking and flooring exports lacked the certificate required by Colombian law, amounting to around USD 24 million. EIA found that some of this trade is linked to illegal armed groups and involves the exploitation of local communities in conflict-hit regions, particularly Colombia’s Pacific and Amazon forests.
“The findings of this investigation also lay bare how some Afro-Colombian communities in Colombia’s Pacific region are coerced into logging their forests under abusive arrangements that leave them in debt, with some claiming they suffer conditions akin to slavery.” — Susanne Breitkopf, Deputy Director, Forest Campaign, EIA
Key Findings
- Los Cedros Hardwood Flooring, a prominent Colombian exporter, admitted to paying illegal armed groups in Chocó and Antioquia to facilitate logging operations. Between 2020 and 2023, 93% of its exports lacked the required legal certificate.
- Maderas Santa Rita exported Cumaru decking and flooring from the Pacific region. None of its exports between 2020 and May 2023 had the mandatory certificate, and half of its Cumaru purchases are under official investigation or lack timber transport permits.
- In the Amazon, C.I. Casa en Madera exported uncertified timber to the U.S., while its owner has links to areas where no logging appears to have occurred—raising concerns of timber laundering. EIA also found evidence that the regional environmental authority, Corpoamazonia, had issued falsified inspection reports for those areas.
- 16 U.S. firms, including Cedro Rojo, Amazon Hardwoods, Brazilian Lumber, and Sabra International, imported timber that lacked the legally required documentation—potentially in breach of the Lacey Act.
Despite legal requirements under Resolution 1367 of 2000, Colombian authorities have failed to issue the mandatory certificates in most cases. At the same time, U.S. and EU importers appear to have failed to exercise due care or due diligence, as required by law.
In March 2025, the U.S.-Colombia Secretariat for Environmental Enforcement Matters determined that concerns raised about Colombia’s enforcement of this law remain unresolved, confirming “potential inadequacy in complying with the issued legal resolution.”
EIA Calls for Action
- Colombia must enhance traceability by digitizing and publishing information on timber concessions, harvesting, transport, processing, and exports.
- Importers must ensure full legal compliance, and enforcement of the Lacey Act and EU Timber Regulation must be strengthened.
- Middlemen and exporters must be held accountable for exploiting forest communities and laundering timber.
Company responses
EIA contacted both exporters and importers to share the main findings presented in this report and to offer an opportunity to respond. Los Cedros Hardwood Flooring responded by denying paying armed groups and stated that it possesses all the required certificates — though it did not provide copies. Lumber Plus, a U.S. importer, replied stating that its Colombian supplier, Maderas Santa Rita, provides documentation on the timber’s origin, which Lumber Plus reviews prior to purchase. The company shared with EIA a flow diagram (fluxogram) of timber exports covering January to February 2023, several timber transport permits, a document requesting approval for a logging area, and other official documents relating to Maderas Santa Rita’s operations. However, despite EIA’s request, no certificates for secondary processed products were included. No other companies responded to the allegations. Below are the responses received:
