The role of the private sector in forestry conflicts

Fifty per cent of tropical timber imported into the EU has been logged illegally. Illegal logging is the single most pressing environmental issue facing Indonesia, due to the enormity of ecological damage it creates. In some cases, the illegal logging business is part of a broader criminal network funded by military and government forces, yet there has never been a thorough investigation into how much of Indonesia’s illegal logging business is actually “conflict timber,” meaning wood that itself inflames violent conflict, or else wood that is financed by the revenue of conflict, as is often the case in Africa.

These ongoing issues, together with the large-scale destruction of tropical rainforests in general, have propelled the problem of illegal logging to the forefront of the political agenda in Europe and across the world.

The study, undertaken by adelphi in conjunction with local partners in Indonesia, focuses on possibilities for curbing both illegal logging and trade of illegally logged timber within the European and international markets. The study also examines possible contributions of the private sector for avoiding conflict and safeguarding local living conditions in Indonesia. It was presented in Loccum in 2003 at the conference “Enhancing the Environment for Peace: What Makes an Excellent Enterprise?” An English version of the study can be found online in PDF as well as printable formats.