Global Witness has welcomed the new UK coalition government’s pledge to criminalise the import or possession of illegal timber.
The group said the pledge showed much-needed leadership on the issue within the EU.
“Without strong measures in importing countries like the UK, we may lose the fight to end deforestation in developing countries, and ultimately the battle to reverse climate change,” said Dr Rosalind Reeve of Global Witness.
The coalition government promises to introduce measures to make the import or possession of illegal timber a criminal offence. The move clarifies the UK position ahead of June’s meeting of the EU Council of Agricultural Ministers at which EU legislation to control illegal timber imports will be discussed.
