2/6/2016

The term ‘illegal logging’ is often used as short-hand to describe illegal practices related to the harvesting, processing and trade in timber and timber products. Illegal logging and the related trade occurs when national or sub-national laws are broken at any point along the supply chain, for example: logging with an illegally acquired license or in protected areas; harvesting over allowed quotas; processing of logs without the necessary licenses; non-payment of taxes; or exporting products without paying export duties. It may also be linked with illegal forest conversion, in which natural forests are cleared for other land uses, such as agriculture, infrastructure and mining. 

There are various causes of illegal logging but often it is a symptom of wider governance problems, such as inappropriate legislation, weak institutions, unclear forest tenure, corruption and a lack of law enforcement.

The social, economic and environmental impacts of illegal logging and the related trade vary widely, depending on both the scale and the type of illegal activity. Thus, it may take place on an industrial scale, or entail small-scale infringements, with minimal or highly localized impacts. The type of illegality is also significant – for example, infringement of harvesting rules will have direct environmental impacts, while financial misdemeanors affect revenues and overall management of the sector. It should be noted that illegality and unsustainability are not synonymous – illegal practices may be sustainable and legal practices unsustainable. Illegal logging can also be an important part of the livelihoods of rural communities.

The complexity of the problem – both with respect to causes and impacts – means that there is no easy solution to illegal logging. Focusing only on law enforcement can reinforce corrupt networks or increase poverty amongst some forest users. Rather, multi-faceted approaches adapted to particular contexts are required to reduce illegal logging in an equitable manner. 

Keeping you updated,

Aaron Poole

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