Deforestation is one of the biggest problems that both the environment and biodiversity face. Suggestions and solutions to change this situation are detailed hereinafter.
Deforestation is one of the biggest problems that forests face. Each years, about 13 million hectares disappear. Furthermore, illegal logging represents another problem that forests face as it causes tax revenue losses (15 trillion dollars a year), biodiversity loss and damage in the quality of life of people depending on forests and jungles. Besides, it also promotes corruption and distorts the price of forest products by competing (and be compared) with legal and sustainable products.
In this context, the countries that want to reduce forest degradation and deforestation face the following challenges: to stop illegal trade and to increase the economic value of forests so that there be investments in sustainable management and recovery of the goods and services produced in them.
What is being done in the world?
Governments in different countries have implemented regulations to combat illegal logging and trade. Among them, the amendment to the Lacey Act, passed in 2008 by the U.S. Congress, stands out. It prohibits the sale and transportation of plants and by-products (including wood and wood-products) not complying with the laws of the United States or the laws of any other country.
Then, the European Parliament passed the FLEGT law, which sets forth policies and regulations for the implementation of laws and forest trade. It establishes partnership agreements with exporting countries to guarantee the legal source of the products entering into the European Union. Thus, companies that supply timber will have to provide reliable information on the source of their products.
Legality and commercial advantage
The Forest Trade Network is an initiative of Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (Argentine Wildlife Association) that seeks to strengthen legality in the sector and to promote the responsible use of primary and planted forests. The aim is to generate business opportunities that will allow buyers to acquire legal products and to establish policies for the responsible purchasing of timber. Besides, it supports producers in order that they manage their forests under quality standards, such as forest certification.
Any person in the sector may join the Network: forest owners, producers, processing industries, business persons, developers, architecture offices and consumer groups, among others.
Why joining? Joining to the Forest Trade Network not only means direct benefits to the environment, but also real benefits to the people taking part. For example, business opportunities, access to new markets, technical assistance and recognition. The Network also offers awareness campaigns warning about timber from illegal or unknown sources.
The Forest Trade Network represents an invitation to change the reality of the forest sector and to warrant the responsible use of forests, thus generating good business for everyone.
Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (FVSA) is a non-government, private, non-profit organization created in 1977. Its objective is to suggest and implement solutions to preserve nature, promote sustainable and responsible use of natural resources in the context of climate change. Since 1988, it is associated with and represents WWF in Argentina. Present in 100 countries, the World Wide Fund for Nature is one of the biggest private organizations in the world preserving the environment.
More information: www.vidasilvestre.org.ar
Source: Fundación Vida Silvestre (Forest Engineer Fernanda Alcobé) - CEDU (Argentine Chamber of Urban Developers)
Photograph: Marcelo Tucuna
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