Eliminating Illegal Timber Consumption or Production: Which Is the More Economical Means to Reduce Illegal Logging?

Xiaobiao Zhang,Bin Xu,Aijun Yang,Lei Wang,Hongqiang Yang

doi:10.3390/f7090191

Xiaobiao Zhang, Bin Xu + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/f7090191

Copy DOI

Abstract

Illegal logging, with its related trade of illegally harvested timber, is one of the main environmental and economic problems worldwide. Eliminating illegal timber consumption and production are two practical means to reduce illegal logging. However, the problem of determining which of the two means is more economical remains to be analyzed. In this study, an input–output analysis was conducted to evaluate the consumption and production of illegal timber in different countries. The Global Forest Products Model (GFPM) was employed to analyze the effects of eliminating illegal timber consumption and production on the added value of the forest sector at global and national levels. Results indicated that eliminating illegal timber production is more economical than eliminating consumption at the global level. The former is estimated to decrease the added value of the global forest sector only by 3.37% compared to 7.31% by the latter in 2030. Eliminating the production of illegal timber will result in uneven distribution of social wealth in the forest sector, and will pass the cost of reducing illegal logging onto developing countries. Developed countries would gain more added value and market scale than the global average, whereas developing countries would suffer a loss if illegal timber production is eliminated. Hence, developed countries are encouraged to provide financial support to help developing countries reduce illegal logging.

Highlights

Illegal logging is one of the main contributors to deforestation and forest degradation [1], and is one of the key problems to be addressed in the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) program [2]
The results show that eliminating the consumption of illegal timber is more disastrous than eliminating production
The main contribution of this study is the empirical analysis of the economic cost of eliminating the consumption and production of illegal timber

Summary

Introduction

Illegal logging is one of the main contributors to deforestation and forest degradation [1], and is one of the key problems to be addressed in the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) program [2]. Illegal logging undermines forest ecology and the environmental services of forests [3,4], and has become the main barrier to sustainable forest management [5]. Apart from its environmental effects, illegal logging leads to various socioeconomic problems. Trade of illegally harvested timber disrupts the global market [6] and often coexists with corruption [7], which results in reduced incentive to manage forests sustainably and efficiently [8]. The trade of illegal timber is the main purpose of and the incentive for illegal logging [6].

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion