New Zealand policy to address illegal logging and associated trade

Domestic work programme on illegal logging

Goal
Policy objective
Research

Goal

Awareness and action amongst New Zealand producers, suppliers and consumers contributes to addressing illegal logging.

Policy objective

Encourage stronger public and private sector awareness and action through enhanced communication, development of identification mechanisms for legal products and increased understanding of environmental, economic and social effects of the problem.

Action points to achieve this policy objective include:

creating a central website of information on illegal logging issues, policy development and implementation, updates on progress and opportunities for stakeholder input;
working with stakeholders, including forest owners, timber trade and building associations, architects, and NGOs to develop information for consumers, importers and retailers on sustainable and legal wood products;
continue to support and publicise enforcement activity in New Zealand to address domestic illegal logging;
undertake research to understand further the effects of illegal logging and associated trade on New Zealand; and
report back to Cabinet by February 2008 on the feasibility and practicality of introducing a regulatory requirement for a supplier’s declaration of conformity on all timber and wood products sold in New Zealand.

Research

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is currently commissioning independent research on the feasibility and practicality of introducing a regulatory requirement for a supplier’s declaration of conformity on all timber and wood products sold in New Zealand. Other options will also be assessed as part of this research. A key part of this work is in-depth consultation with stakeholders on various options to control the sale of illegally sourced timber and wood products in New Zealand.

Research assessing the nature, scale and impact of the trade in illegally harvested timber and wood products on New Zealand wood producers, both in global and domestic markets was completed in August 2007. For the report see Implications for the New Zealand Wood Products Sector of Trade Distortions due to Illegal Logging.

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