The EU’s figures are slightly higher. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Learn how to lock your computer. Use striking images, like falling trees or barren forests, to capture people’s attention. Many other countries have a lower, but equally concerning, amount of illegal logging happening within their borders. Illegal logging is a global problem with significant negative economic, environmental and social impact. A square kilometer of forest may be home to more than 1,000 species. There are two ways that you can act as a direct influence to stop illegal logging: by spreading the word amongst your community, and by ensuring that you support a political group with good environmental policies. The UN Environment Programme reports that illegal logging accounts for between 15% and 30% of global timber trade, and rises to 50% to 90% of the trade from tropical countries. Timber linked to one of Russia’s largest illegal logging scandals has entered the E.U. Ismael Manaligod, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said the Cagayan Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force had apprehended five conveyances and 26,123 board feet of lumber and flitches worth P1,306,174 from May 12 to Aug. 14, 2020. Though easier to deliver, letters and e-mail have a lower chance of getting your representative’s attention. Many lose their livelihoods and source of income when illegal logging occurs. In economic terms illegal logging results in lost revenues and other foregone benefits. Of the 13 companies that were investigated, 12 had broken the law. Rainforest Foundation US works to mitigate the climate crisis by addressing the major drivers of deforestation that put rainforests and the survival of indigenous peoples at risk: mining, agribusiness expansion, land grabbing, oil exploration and extraction, illegal logging, and poorly planned infrastructure development. All rights reserved. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Illegal logging is not widespread in the US, but we are the world’s largest importer and end user of wood, including from some countries that have high rates of illegal logging. WWF helped create the FSC nearly 20 years ago and we continue to encourage US consumers to buy wood products that are FSC certified. Make a symbolic animal adoption to help save some of the world's most endangered animals from extinction and support WWF's conservation efforts. WWF has created an online course about the Lacey Act and is now focused on ensuring the amendments are properly funded, implemented and enforced. Hitachi Vantara and Rainforest Connection Analyze Tree Top Eco-Acoustic Data to Predict and Prevent Illegal Logging. Illegal logging often takes place in countries with poor governance and law enforcement capacity, especially in tropical rainforests and the boreal forests in Russia’s Far East. In social terms illegal logging can be linked to conflicts over land and resources, the disem… The most straightforward personal strategy to fight against deforestation is to But the Peruvian government—with help from WWF and others—is turning this situation around. WWF works to ensure that the The Trans-Pacific Partnership—a trade agreement the US is negotiating with 11 other countries—includes conservation provisions, such as prohibiting trade in resources and wildlife that are harvested or exported in violation of national laws that protect wildlife, forest or marine resources. Owls, for example, prefer older trees with a larger diameter for nest cavities. Illegal, selective logging is not the principal cause of deforestation—that is, clear-cutting—or of the devastating fires that have alarmed the entire world. After a successful pilot to test the idea, the company has turned to the crowdfunding site Kickstarter to launch the project more broadly and is seeking $100,000 in funding. The impacts of illegal logging are varied, ranging from unchecked deforestation to the deprivation of sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities. In recent years, however, the Indonesian Government, with support from civil society, has made significant efforts to combat this destructive crime. WWF looks to big data and forensics to tackle the illegal wood trade and prevent the degradation of forests. The environmental effects of illegal logging include deforestation, the loss of biodiversity and the emission of greenhouse gases. In environmental terms illegal logging is associated with deforestation, climate change and a loss of biodiversity. Soiled paper cannot be recycled, so try to keep your supplies clean. For those who want to travel, look for events related to working in forests or surveying landscapes. Strategies to Prevent Illegal Logging 181 THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL LOGGING The Scale of Illegal Logging Illegal logging causes enormous damage to forests, forest peoples, and the economies of producer countries. Some have died or been threatened trying to expel illegal loggers from forests. Community leaders in Papua are inspiring people to support the approach that local communities, WWF, and others are starting to use to save Papua’s forests—which are some of the largest remaining intact forests in Southeast Asia, but are increasingly at risk of being destroyed to make room for palm oil plantations, as well as mining and industrial logging operations. Licenses to cut down trees are falsified. In the US, for example, the wood products industry loses as much as $1 billion annually from illegal logging. Some examples include. Deforestation and illegal logging are a serious problem for places like the Amazon rainforest. Forest trees and other plants soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it away as they grow and thrive. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). If a friend throws paper away when recycling options are available, say something like “You know, recycling is free and helps out the environment.”, If a family member buys products not approved by the FSC, show them an alternative and say “Next time, see if you can buy this. WWF® and ©1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF. CIEL works to reduce the demand for illegal and unsustainable timber using legal tools like the Lacey Act, EU Timber Regulation, and CITES. How to Help Prevent Cutting Down the Amazon. By using our site, you agree to our. Trees are extracted at volumes significantly higher than is permitted. Illegal miners will go to great lengths to circumvent efforts to prevent access to unused mines, such as using dynamite to blast through sealed entrances. Along with donations, some charities sell shirts, bags, stickers, and similar items to raise funds. Illegal logging has contributed to conflicts with indigenous and local populations, violence, human rights abuses, corruption, funding … Research source 1250 24th Street, N.W. As a result, we have a tremendous role to play in tackling illegal logging—which often happens in critical species habitat—and the associated trade of such wood. Shredded paper is harder to recycle, so keep your documents whole when possible. Together, they are transforming and modernizing Peru’s forest sector. In too many parts of the world, ineffective or corrupt governments make things worse by opening the door to illegal logging and other crimes. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. © 2021 World Wildlife Fund. Capturing # data from the sounds of the rainforest. World Wildlife Fund Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax ID number 52-1693387) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Conduct-Research-Step-19.jpg\/v4-460px-Conduct-Research-Step-19.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Conduct-Research-Step-19.jpg\/aid9509181-v4-728px-Conduct-Research-Step-19.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"