Illegal logging is having a devastating impact on the world's forests and the international trade in illegally logged
timber is a major problem for many timber-producing countries in the developing world. Its effects include deforestation,
the loss of biodiversity and fuelling climate change. This creates social conflict with indigenous and local populations and
leads to violence, crime and human rights abuses.
Ancient forests have evolved over thousands of years into unique and vital habitats for millions of plant and animal species.
They are also home to millions of people who depend on them for their livelihoods and survival.
It is estimated that some 1.6 billion people worldwide depend on forests for their livelihood and 60 million indigenous peoples
depend on forests for their subsistence.
