The FAO brings together representatives of the governmental, non-governmental and private sectors to prepare a list of forest crimes

To combat illegal forest practices requires a consensual effort on the part of institutions, civil society and industry, both in countries that produce as well as in those that buy the wood. For this reason, the FAO met in Rome at the end of January 2002 with some 30 experts from the World Bank, the International Organization of Tropical Woods, NGOs dedicated to the promotion of sustainable sylviculture, and organizations such as Global Witness and Greenpeace, with the aim of discussing the impact of illicit forest activities and the possible forms of controlling them.

After preparing a list of forest offences, which ranges from indiscriminate logging to corruption in the commercialization process, the participants at the meeting analysed a number of alternative policies for the fight against illegal forest practices and explored the role of each of the parts in charge of implementing them.

The participants also debated a series of international initiatives such as "log-tracking" (follow-up technology for the wood) and encouraged the fight through the bilateral and regional structures that can prove more effective over the short term.

The experts also underlined the importance of intensifying the efforts for the dissemination of information, for transparency and for sensitizing public opinion in this respect.

For more information, please contact Manuel Paveri, Forest Policy and Institutions Branch, Forest Policy and Planning Division: Manuel.Paveri@fao.org.