The EU is one of the world's major wood consumers, and with an annual import of close to 200 million cubic meters of timber, the EU has a major responsibility to ensure that its wood consumption does not lead to illegal exploitation and destruction of forests.

The timber is imported from all parts of the world, including Russia, Eastern European countries and many tropical countries, where illegal logging is a serious threat to the forests. World Bank figures have shown that an estimated €10-15 billion Euros per annum is lost on illegal logging each year and the EU is responsible for probably well in excess of €3 billion of this.
Read more about the EU's wood imports

WWF believes that the EU governments have a special responsibility to ensure that timber and wood-based products used in their public institutions has been sourced legally and sustainably. They also need to make sure that the correct enabling environment is in place to close down the trade in illegal and unsustainable timber and wood products within the private sector.

The Government Barometer presented on this website puts a focus on government actions against illegal logging, including their actions with regard to the responsible public procurement of wood.