07/04/2005 – European
timber companies joined WWF, Greenpeace and
the Forests and the European Union Resource
Network (FERN) in urging the European Union
to adopt new legislation that outlaws imports
of illegally sourced timber and associated
wood products into the EU.
A statement promoted by the three NGOs and
signed by over 70 European companies was presented
today at a conference on illegal logging,
governance and trade, organised by FERN, Greenpeace
and WWF at the European Parliament.
Companies such as B&Q, Homebase and Habitat
(UK), Castorama (France), IKEA and Skanska
(Sweden), Unital (Union of Italian Industries
of Wood Furniture), JYSK Nordic (Denmark)
and Puertas Luvipol (Spain) are calling for
clear rules in Europe for fair competition
and sustainable markets.
"Cheap imports of illegal timber and
the non-compliance of some firms with basic
social and environmental standards destabilise
international markets, threaten jobs and create
unfair competition. Without a clear European
legal framework, companies that behave responsibly
and want to invest in sustainable practices
will always be disadvantaged," said André
de Boer, Director of the Dutch Timber Trade
Federation.
"As one of the largest importers of
illegally sourced timber and related products,
the EU has the duty to assume its responsibility
by stopping these activities," said Beatrix
Richards, European Forest Policy Officer at
WWF.
"Industry and NGOs are united in saying
that the EU must take immediate action to
create accountability in this sector by adopting
new legislation and promoting sustainable
forest management worldwide."
Illegal logging contributes heavily to the
destruction of biodiversity and the impoverishment
of millions of people that depend on forests
for food and income. It fuels social conflict
and is frequently associated with organised
crime.
To address this problem, the EU Commission
adopted in May 2003 an Action Plan for Forest
Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT)
and submitted to the Council a proposal for
voluntary partnership agreements with producer
countries aimed at improving governance in
the forestry sector and implementing a traceability
system to ensure that only timber licensed
as legal will be exported to the EU.
Although the proposal could under certain
conditions have a positive impact, NGOs and
industry agree that a voluntary approach alone
is insufficient to tackle the problem.
"The timber sector is unusual in that
it gives consumers no guarantee of the legality
of the products they buy," said Fiona
Hall and Chris Davies, members of the European
Parliament, ALDE Group.
"As members of the European Parliament,
we intend to represent the public interest
and demand that the Commission deliver a report
on legislative options to tackle illegal logging
that it promised for mid-2004."
Environmental NGOs have also highlighted
that unsustainable logging and trade can be
as destructive as illegal logging, and are
calling for the EU to be clear that tackling
illegal logging is just the first step on
the road to achieving sustainable forest management.
"The remaining forest surface of our
planet is melting like snow in the sun due
to the greed of a few people," said Sebastien
Risso, Greenpeace's Director of EU forest
policy.
"We need to act now to guarantee sustainable
management of this common good, with the full
involvement of local populations and within
the framework of sustainable development and
poverty reduction."
Notes:
• The industry statement follows the publication
of a similar statement signed by some 180
NGOs and the release of a legislative proposal
commissioned by WWF, Greenpeace and FERN in
December 2004.
• Illegal harvesting operations are often
associated with corruption and organised crime
and according to the World Bank, cost governments
in developing countries an estimated 10-15
billion euros every year in lost revenues.
This overshadows the European Commission’s
annual development assistance budget of approximately
10 billion euros. The UN Food and Agriculture
Organisation said in a report published last
month that better management of the world's
forests is crucial to reducing conflict and
avoiding war in regions like Africa.
• FLEGT is next due to be debated at ministerial
level at the 30 May Agriculture Council. A
letter sent from DG Trade on behalf of Commission
President Barroso to Greenpeace said: "It
is our intention to report back to Council
on the assessment of additional legislative
measures before the Summer break".
• For a full criticism and political recommendations
regarding the FLEGT licensing scheme and partnership
agreements, see http://eu.greenpeace.org/issues/forests.html
