Illegal logging is a major driver of global deforestation

Worldwide, our forests are being cut down — sometimes illegally. We need forests to provide habitat for countless wildlife and to pull planet-warming carbon out of our atmosphere.

Our disappearing global forests

Forests are protectors.

Around the world, they give wildlife like orangutans, colorful tropical birds and jaguars a safe home. And trees are essential allies in defending our world from climate change by absorbing the greenhouse gasses that are warming the planet.

But globally nearly 25 million acres of trees are cut down every year, an area the size of Indiana. Some of these trees are cut down illegally, without permits.

The dark side of logging

Commercial logging refers to the process of cutting down trees to harvest their timber. While logging itself is a legitimate activity — when conducted legally — illegal logging is a crime. Common practices include logging in protected areas, logging of protected tree species and logging without permits. 

Illegal logging does harm beyond the trees that are cut down.

Loggers without proper permits might cut down more trees than is sustainable for the forest, log past boundaries into fragile forest areas, or log protected tree species, threatening the population’s survival and all of the wildlife that depend on those trees.

These illegal practices damage biodiversity and the health of the forest ecosystem. Many mature trees, and especially old-growth trees, take decades to grow back — if they ever do.

Where does illegally harvested wood come from?

While illegal logging is not common here in the United States, the U.S. is one of the world’s largest importers and consumers of wood — which sometimes comes from countries with high rates of illegal logging. The heart of the problem lies abroad in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, the dense Congo Basin in Africa and the iconic rainforests of the Amazon. 

In 2021, the World Wildlife Fund found that 94% of deforestation in the Amazon (and surrounding) rainforests had links to illegal activity. 

The FOREST Act can help stop illegal logging and protect forests

Due to the under-the-table nature of illegal logging, it is often difficult to track down and punish. (It’s not easy to determine what wood comes from legal versus illegal activity.) The bipartisan FOREST Act — which stands for Fostering Overseas Rules of the Environment for Sustainable Timber — plans to make that easier. 

The proposed legislation, introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Mike Braun and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Brian Fitzpatrick aims to address the problem by preventing the import of illegally harvested wood as well as promoting sustainable logging practices. It plans to require buyers to conduct their own due diligence in order to ensure that their supply chains are free from commodities linked to the illegal timber trade. The Act also includes provisions for imposing trade restrictions or penalties on those who fail to meet these requirements. 

Why trees matter

Illegal logging plays a major part in deforestation around the globe. And we need trees for more than just their timber. 

For one, forests are vital ecosystems that offer habitat to a diverse array of wildlife — from tigers to jaguars to orangutans. Each forest harbors its own unique variety of plants, too. Illegal logging disrupts these ecosystems and serves as a serious threat to biodiversity. 

Forests also play a crucial role in combating climate change by storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby mitigating the effects of global warming. When trees are chopped down, this stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, exacerbating the problem even further.

The fight against illegal logging is a global effort. One way to make a difference is by advocating for effective legislation like the FOREST Act. Send a message to your U.S. Senators today, urging them to pass the FOREST Act. Help protect our forests and those that call them home before it’s too late.