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Gathering Takes First Steps to Coordinate Efforts Against Illegal Logging

The Nature Conservancy helped bring more than 120 company representatives, government officials and conservationists together last week — for the first time ever — to coordinate actions to combat the illegal logging that is devastating many forests around the globe.

Major companies from Europe, North America, Africa and Asia participated, as did officials from the European Commission, China, the United States, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines and the World Bank. Joining the private sector and government leaders were social and forest conservation leaders from around the world.

The meeting, which took place from March 8-10, was organized by The Forests Dialogue, an international coalition of private landowners, forest products companies, conservationists, retailers, foreign assistance organizations, unions and academia. Nigel Sizer, director of the Conservancy's Asia Pacific Forest Program, was chairman of the meeting's organizing committee. The Nature Conservancy was one of 11 sponsors of the dialogue.

During the meeting, forest product companies and environmental groups discussed cost-effective policies and tools to curb the flow of illegally harvested wood into the global market. Government officials pledged to work together with businesses and conservationists to combat illegal logging.

Illegal logging is devastating the forests of Indonesia. Over half of the logging in Indonesia is illegal.

"Combating illegal logging is a serious task that requires a clear agenda and continuous effort," said Transtoto Handadari, spokesman for the Indonesian Forestry Department. "The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry is committed to stopping illegal logging but needs international assistance from all parties involved in sustainable forest management, including the wood trade, to work to save the tropical forests of Indonesia and promote the welfare of local communities."

"This meeting marks the end to talk and a shift to concerted action on a scale that will make a real difference to communities, companies and forests," said Sizer.

Concrete actions arising from the discussions include:

1. A call for G8 Ministers meeting in Derby, England, March 17-18, to implement existing government commitments including increasing development assistance for poor countries to combat illegal logging and recognizing their responsibility as major consumer nations to reduce imports of illegally cut wood.
2. A delegation from The Forests Dialogue will visit Governments to stress the importance of coordinated action between China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Europe and North America to combat trade in illegal wood.
3. Strengthening and expanding three existing partnerships addressing illegal logging — Conservation International/American Forest & Paper Association Alliance, the Global Forest and Trade Network and the WBCSD/WWF Framework Agreement.
4. Encourage Governments to use existing laws more effectively to achieve exemplary prosecutions. These laws include those to combat money laundering, tax evasion, falsification of documents, and false claims. The laws apply in consumer and producer countries alike.

For more information:

• Press Release: Business, Governments and Conservationists Hold Unprecedented Gathering to Combat Illegal Logging
  More than 120 forest products company representatives, government officials and conservationists gathered this week – for the first time ever – to coordinate actions to combat the illegal logging that is devastating many forests around the globe.
• Where We Work: The Nature Conservancy in Indonesia
  Since 1991 The Nature Conservancy has worked in partnership with Indonesia’s government and people to protect the country’s irreplaceable natural resources.
• How We Work: The Forests Dialogue
  The Forests Dialogue is a group of individuals from diverse interests and regions that are committed to the conservation and sustainable use of forests.
• How You Can Help: Adopt an Acre®
  The Adopt an Acre® program has protected more than 600,000 acres of forests around the world. Help us continue to protect more of these irreplaceable resources.
• Archive of our Saves of the Week and Success Stories
  Read more about our work to save the last great places on Earth.