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Image courtesy of Environmental Investigation Agency
Tackling Illegal Logging: The UK's Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) Programme
The UK’s Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) Programme – known also as the Illegal Logging Programme - was launched in October 2002. It is aimed at facilitating reforms by national, regional and international institutions to address the problem of illegal logging and international trade in illegally harvested timber.
The causes of illegal logging – linked to poverty, corruption and failures of governance and markets – are complex. There is no single solution to the problem. Actions need to address the issue of demand for illegally logged timber at the same time as supply. This means that timber consuming countries such as the UK – the world’s fourth largest importer of wood products - must share responsibility with timber producing countries to tackle the illegal harvesting of timber and its associated trade.
The programme aims to contribute to a better understanding of the causes of illegal logging and to secure cooperation from a wide range of actors in developing and implementing solutions.
We focus on a number of priority areas with key partners in different regions of the world – in Africa, Asia, and Europe/North Asia. Follow the links below to learn more.
Priorities for action
Illegal logging: what is it and why does it matter?
Illegal logging is the harvesting of timber in contravention of a country’s laws. This includes cutting, processing or transporting timber from forests without permission or payment of taxes, and often from protected areas (such as national parks) or forest areas which are for use by local people.
It matters because poor people suffer the consequences of illegal logging. It costs governments billions of pounds annually in lost revenue, dwarfing development assistance to many timber producing countries. Illegal logging causes environmental damage – exacerbating the impacts of floods and droughts. It promotes corruption, undermines the rule of law and good governance and funds armed conflict. It seriously limits sustainable development in some of the poorest countries of the world.
How does UK government work to tackle illegal logging?
The UK’s Illegal Logging Programme relies on close cooperation between a number of government departments (DFID, Defra, FCO, DTI, HM Customs and Excise, the Forestry Commission and others) as well as regular communication with private sector and civil society stakeholders. DFID and Defra ministers hold regular briefings for civil society and the timber industry about the UK’s policy related to illegal logging.
An Intergovernmental Working Group on illegal logging led by DFID, Defra and FCO ensures that actions taken are jointly agreed and efforts co-ordinated. A unique partnership with the private sector – especially the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) - has helped ensure effective industry support. Dialogue with and funding of non-governmental organisations has broadened the impact of the programme.
In addition to the international programme directly funded by DFID, several of DFID’s country programmes, such as those in Indonesia, Cameroon and Ghana, include activities aimed at tackling illegal logging. Defra plays a leading role in implementing the UK Government’s timber procurement policy and co-ordinates UK inputs to related EU policy, while the FCO leads on inter-governmental relations.
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