Brazil. Indonesia. Google Image Result for. WELCOME TO ILLEGAL-LOGGING.INFO! Illegal logging. Illegal logging threatens some of the most valuable forests globally – from the Amazon to the Russian Far East.
And yet, for many of the people that live in these forests, illegal logging is a vital source of income - sometimes it is the only way to survive. But at other times it threatens their lives. Increased demand for forests products has brought some financial benefits for poor people living near to forests. But there is also evidence to show that usually, poor communities who are completely dependent on forests lose out to powerful interests, logging companies and migrant workers who reap most of the benefits. Illegal Logging. The most important U.S. policy initiative to reduce illegal logging and its associated trade in recent years is the 2008 Lacey Act amendments.
The amendments make it illegal to trade plants and plant products, including wood and paper, harvested or traded in violation of the laws of a foreign country. It also requires importers to file a declaration with the name of the country of harvest and the genus and species of plants contained in their products, although the declaration requirement has yet to be phased in for composite wood products or for pulp and paper. AF&PA has been a strong proponent of international efforts to suppress illegal logging and trade. AF&PA played an active role in a coalition of forest products industry, environmental and labor groups in advocating for passage of the 2008 amendments, because trade in illegally sourced fiber is a serious detriment to the industry’s sustainability, the environment, and the global economy.