Why boycotts won't work

Banning (tropical) timbers does not tackle the principle causes of deforestation. In developing countries forests are lost primarily because land is cleared for agricultural and industrial development, or because trees are felled to meet local demand for fuel and building materials. Poor timber harvesting may lead to forest degradation, and may indirectly contribute to deforestation, but will not lead directly to the removal of forests. According to FAO's 'State of the World's Forests 1997' report:

'Recent information on the nature and causes of change in forest cover suggests that expansion of subsistence agriculture in Africa and Asia, and large economic development programmes involving resettlement, agriculture and infrastructure are key factors behind forest cover change.' Timber harvesting is 'not a direct cause of deforestation', although it has been 'a facilitating factor in some areas through the construction of roads which make previously remote areas accessible to agricultural colonisers.'

Of the timber that is extracted, only an estimated 6% enters international trade (LEEC). In addition, all the countries of the European Union account for only 13% of the total market share of internationally traded tropical timbers. Trade restrictions are therefore a very weak 'lever' with which to seek to raise environmental standards in developing countries.

Even if boycotts were implemented, they would only lead to increased unemployment in supplier countries and swell the numbers dependent on subsistence agriculture. This would increase the pressure to convert forest into other uses.

Similarly, an effective boycott would have the adverse effect of reducing the economic value of tropical timber. This would in turn encourage local people and governments in tropical countries to clear tropical forests to be replaced by more economically rewarding agriculture or exotic plantations. Failing to make a living or to generate taxes from the forest, local people or governments would be forced to turn to farming.

Forests Forever believes that ultimately the major initiative, and the solutions to the problems of forests management will have to come from the producing nations and from national governments - through continual progress under the terms of commitments such as ITTO Objective 2000 and the Forest Principles signed at UNCED in 1992. This is because so many of the problems associated with forest management are outside the industry sphere of influence - issues such as land ownership, distribution of wealth in producing countries, and the allocation of resources to forest departments, can only be resolved at government level.