Illegal Logging

April 25, 2005

The issue of forest crime and forest law enforcement has been the focus of international
governmental, non-governmental and industry discussions in recent years. Illegal logging not only contributes to deforestation but also undermines the viability of legally harvested and traded forest products and is a serious detriment to forest sustainability. The environmental destruction caused by illegal logging creates negative perceptions of the forest products industry in general and the ICFPA commits to work with all interested groups to find solutions to this growing international problem.

Acknowledging that forest law enforcement is the responsibility of domestic authorities and addressing it at the international level raises issues of national sovereignty and interpretation, ICFPA members may develop country-specific approaches to address the question of verifying legality in timber trade. However, the ICFPA is unified behind the following principles:

•  Encourages sustainable forest management according to internationally agreed principles. Acknowledges that voluntary and market-driven certification systems can partially address the problems associated with illegal logging. The private sector must be vigilant in situations where illegal logging is suspected and all levels of government must work to enforce laws established to prevent it.
•  ICFPA strongly supports the conservation of forest areas which have been designated for protection by law. ICFPA encourages governments and the private sector to work together to end all illegal logging from areas where timber harvesting is expressly prohibited.
•  ICFPA members commit to abide by domestic and sovereign laws pertaining to logging and harvesting in any country where logging and tree removals take place.
•  In countries where such laws are not in place, we support the establishment of laws and regulations that promote and advance sustainable forest management and their subsequent enforcement.
•  ICFPA supports government monitoring and assessment of forests as essential to devising appropriate and effective measures to counteract illegal logging and trade of illegally harvested wood. Accurate and reliable information will greatly improve the ability of government and private landowners to curtail illegal activity.

The ICFPA associations commit to conduct consistent with these principles.