A new report has attempted to estimate the volume of timber of “doubtful origin” being traded on the international market.
The study from the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has concluded that the total volume of “suspicious” round softwood and hardwood being traded internationally only adds up to 1% of global production. But as a proportion of total international trade the figures translate into 12% of round softwood and 17% of round hardwood .
Less than 4% of softwood lumber traded globally is considered illegal, but 23% of hardwood lumber exports and 30% of hardwood plywood shipments are thought to be suspicious.
The AF&PA report also states that economic analysis based on simulations from the Global Forest Products Model developed by the University of Wisconsin suggests illegal material depresses world prices by 7%-16% on average and US prices by 2%-4%, depending on the product.
The AF&PA says the problem goes beyond the value of trade lost. It believes the general public could associate logging in any country with illegal activity, hurting the “wood is good” image.
