Fires, clear-cutting, illegal and unsustainable logging and deforestation are putting forests at risk.

The EU is one of the world’s largest importers and consumers of timber and wood-based products. In addition, the EU is a top importer of commodities linked to deforestation, such as soy, palm oil, cocoa or meat. It’s essential that the EU’s consumption doesn’t lead to destruction of forests, ecosystems, and wildlife globally and that it doesn’t jeopardise the well-being of local communities.
 
To fulfill its commitments under the New York Forest Declaration in 2014, the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement in 2015, the EU needs to act now to stop deforestation, forest degradation and illegal logging.

To further the EU’s policy agenda on illegal logging, deforestation and forest degradation, we work on two important policy areas:
 
Illegal and unsustainable logging: WWF works to ensure that all wood products on the EU market are legally sourced. To achieve this we are working to make sure that both the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) and the EU Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) are properly implemented and enforced.
 
Addressing the EU’s role in global deforestation: WWF is advocating for strong EU action on deforestation and forest degradation, including legislative measures. On 23 July 2019 the European Commission published its communication on “Stepping up action to protect and restore the World’s forests. Whilst we welcome the communication as an important first step it now needs to be ensured that the actions become more precise in content and concerning their timelime. It is also important that legislation is developed that ensures that products placed on the European market are sustainable and not linked to deforestation or ecosystem conversion.[The communication proposes actions in five different areas including EU consumption, work with producer countries, strengthen international cooperation, work in the finance sector and better availability and quality of information.]