13th Illegal Logging Update and Stakeholder Consultation

Illegal logging and the international trade in illegally logged timber is a major problem for many timber-producing countries in the developing world. It causes environmental damage, costs governments billions of dollars in lost revenue, promotes corruption, undermines the rule of law and good governance and funds armed conflict. It retards sustainable development in some of the poorest countries of the world. Consumer countries contribute to these problems by importing timber and wood products without ensuring that they are legally sourced. In recent years, however, producer and consumer countries alike have paid increasing attention to illegal logging.

The thirteenth in the series of illegal logging update meetings organised by Chatham House will take place on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th January 2009. The provisionnal agenda includes:

• Ghana and Cameroon's VPA process
• Lessons from Malaysia’s VPA process
• REDD & forest governance
• Private sector initiatives
• Forest certification