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Illegal logging

Let’s make illegal logging illegal!

Did you know that it is still perfectly lawful to import illegally felled timber and timber products into Europe?

This means that when you go shopping for paper or furniture, or buy something with cardboard packaging, or even do DIY using wood products in your home, you could be encouraging illegal logging in pristine forests around the world and impacting on the species and communities that rely on them.

While you can lower the risk of doing so by purchasing wood products with FSC certification, WWF believes our parliamentarians should introduce new laws that prevent illegal timber from being imported into the European Union.

Our one opportunity

After six long years of debate, we now at last have an opportunity to end the EU’s role as a market for illegal timber. A new EU Regulation has been proposed and is being shaped further over the coming months.

WWF is concerned that as this Regulation progresses, some MEPs and EU Member States will attempt to weaken it to allow business as usual.

Your pressure is working

Last month thousands of WWF supporters emailed their MPs asking them to contact Hilary Benn, the UK minister for the environment, to seek clarification that UK would engage constructively in the development of this Regulation.

Shining a spotlight on the issue seems to be working. The government has now opened up a public consultation and is seeking views. This is a great opportunity to express why we want tough regulation that ensures the EU’s role in illegal logging, and its devastating impacts globally, are stopped at last.

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How you can help

 

Mountain gorillas' natural habitat is threatened by illegal logging

Related links

• Illegal logging
• Deforestation and climate change
• Watch our film about the issue

The World Bank estimates that illegal logging could account for a loss to forest rich countries of at least US$15 billion per year