Stopping illegal logging of forests

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Central Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo). A road carved out of the rainforest for the transport of logs out of a logging camp.
© Rob Webster / WWF

WWF position paper

/ ©: WWF
What is the problem?
© WWF

Putting a dent into illegal logging

Illegal logging doesn't only concern people who depend on forests or endangered animals such as elephants and orangutans.

It also involves governments and consumers around the world who purchase timber products.

News & publications

This is why WWF recognizes that to really put an end to illegal logging, we need to tackle the problem on a range of fronts: from the busy aisles of furniture stores to the quiet undercover of ageless trees.

Read WWF's position statement on illegal logging
So what are we doing about the problem?

Promoting sustainable forestry

In order to combat illegal logging, we must work closely with the timber industry. That is why WWF created the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN), a global partnership comprised of suppliers, producers and purchasers from across the forest industry supply chain that are willing to lead the industry in sustainable forest management and trade.

The GFTN strives to eliminate illegal logging by helping its participants overcome forest management and responsible purchasing challenges while progressing towards credible certification.

As part of this effort, WWF promotes forest certification through the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Find out more about the GFTN’s work in advancing sustainable forestry

Tools for Companies

Forests, IKEA and WWF

WWF and IKEA joint forest projects aim to combat illegal logging, support responsible forest management and certification, and develop and promote innovative management tools—read on about the projects & successes.

Pushing for responsible timber trade

To reach their full potential, initiatives such as the GFTN need help from outside—such as international trade rules.

So with the support of WWF and other NGOs, the European Union is establishing an international licensing system for legal timber called the Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).

The plan is based on voluntary partnership agreements with timber producer countries, which will establish systems designed to identify:
  • legal products and license them for import into the EU
  • unlicensed – and therefore possibly illegal – products, that will be denied entry at the EU border.
Globally, WWF is also involved with the G8 Action Programme on Forests. This effort focuses on the assessment of G8 countries’ internal measures for public procurement policies, and is aimed at controlling illegal logging and the international trade in illegally logged timber.

What are VPAs?

The FLEGT Action Plan proposes Voluntary Partnership Agreements between the EU and individual timber-producing countries (FLEGT Partner Countries).
  • Legally produced timber exported to the EU would be identified by means of licences issued in Partner Countries.
  • Timber originating in a FLEGT Partner Country and arriving at an EU point of import without such a permit would be denied entry.
Find out more:

Making the Lacey Act create results

We support the US Legal Timber Protection Act (HR 1497) which prohibits imports of illegally harvested plants and timber products into the United States.

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Photos and graphics © WWF or used with permission. Text available under a Creative Commons licence.