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Uganda has policies and laws that can foster legal timber trade. This chapter reviews the key sources of timber and current production channels in Uganda. It describes policies and laws governing timber trade and challenges encountered in the quest for legal timber trade. We also show the underlying and proximate causes of illegal timber trade and its impacts on livelihoods, environment, and economy. The sources of timber in Uganda were previously the government-owned forest plantations and natural forests which have dwindled. There is a timber deficit and this has proliferated illegal trade in timber which affects national and local government revenue and forest degradation. Formal, informal, and a mix of formal and informal systems are the main channels of timber production. The responsible agencies that are mandated to ensure legal timber trade are engulfed by institutional weaknesses and socio-cultural and political landscape that is riddled with dishonesty, impunity and lack of transparency. There is need for more engagements to build momentum for promoting legal timber trade and enforcement of rule of law. This can be attained through improved inter- and intra-institutional collaboration, improved accountability and creating incentives for legal timber trade.

This article seeks to comprehend the way the illegal timber economy in the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Council (BTAD) in Assam is integrated within a constellation of power and authority. Based on over ten months of ethnographic field research, our analysis shows that the timber trade is indeed characterized by what can be conceptualized as an excess of sovereignty. However, a burdened agency is still exercised by those in the timber trade. Moreover, the authority structure consisting of state, rebel and non-armed actors do not directly engage violently in the trade, but are more interested in taxation, governance, or indeed wildlife protection, showing the other side of this multiple authoruty structure. As the article shows, different ethnic groups, which are often thought to be diametrically opposed to each other, collaborate in the local timber commodity chain. However, these collaborations are characterized by highly unequal relations of exchange. As we argue, those that have preferential access to the authority structure can use this to dictate the terms of interaction. Finally, while the timber economy is usually characterized by the operation of the constellation of power and authority, there are interstitial moments where the (violent) interactions among the actors embeded in the structure weaken the direct territorial control by them. As a result, times of violence are often also those in which the trade can flourish.

The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10549811.2013.767913 ; The forest of eastern Afghanistan consists of two primary types; a low elevation broadleaf forest of evergreen oak, and a high elevation conifer forest. The average Afghan is dependent upon the oak forest for the daily necessities of fuelwood and fodder. The conifer forest provides the prized deodar cedar as a commercial product enriching criminal syndicates and insurgent organizations. The study makes five general findings. First, the role of timber revenue as a source of hard currency for insurgent organizations is increasing. Second, the illegal timber trade poses a direct threat to successful counterinsurgency operations. Third, the timber trade is a complex web involving interactions of the Afghan government, insurgent organizations, and local communities. Fourth, smuggling disruption by international coalition forces alienates the local population and can be counterproductive. Fifth, natural forest ecosystems in Afghanistan are experiencing accelerated disturbance from timber harvest since insurgents began taking over the illegal timber trade.

This article examines the different kinds of illegal logging that takes place in Vietnam, challenging the typical approaches to understanding and classifying the various criminal activities involved. We argue that either overlooking the classification of illegal logging or relying solely on illegal timber volumes and legal descriptions to categorise the crime is not sufficient to comprehend its diverse nature. This leads to inappropriate measures to tackle the crime. Instead, this study suggests that illegal logging should be categorised into three types, which are fundamentally distinctive, not only with regard to the volumes of illicit timber and the legislative definitions of the crime, but also (and more importantly) with reference to the attributes of harvesters, the degree of their involvement and their motivations, and the level of organisation involved in criminal commissions.

Although deforestation rates in the tropics are reportedly slowing, the loss of both forest area and forest quality remains a significant issue for many countries. This is particularly true of Madagascar, where recent government instability has enabled a significant increase in the incidence of illegal logging of Dalbergia species from National Parks such as Marojejy and Masoala. The logs are exported with relative ease as export permits are being made available. While attempts have been made to improve the management of tropical forests, in 2005, the International Tropical Timber Organization considered that only 7% of tropical production forests were being managed sustainably. Given the challenges associated with halting illegal logging at source, emphasis has shifted to the control of the trade in forest products. The Convention on the Internationa Trade in Endangered Species provides a mechanism to restrict such trade, but the Madagascan Dalbergia species are not listed. In the USA, the recent amendments to the 'Lacey Act' could provide a significant disincentive to the import of illegally logged wood products, but it remains to be seen whether this Act can be enforced effectively.RÉSUMÉBien que les taux de déboisement sous les tropiques seraient à la basse, il n'en demeure pas moins que la perte de la couverture forestière et de la qualité des forêts restent des sujets sensibles pour de nombreux pays. Cela s'est avéré d'autant plus vrai à Madagascar que de récents troubles politiques ont été accompagnés par une augmentation significative de l'exploitation illicite de bois précieux, dont les bois de rose et les palissandres (Dalbergia spp.) dans les parcs nationaux comme ceux de Marojejy ou de Masoala. Les bois sont exportés assez facilement avec la délivrance de permis d'exportation dans un cadre législatif changeant. Dans le monde, il y a bien eu des essais d'amélioration de la gestion des forêts tropicales mais en 2005, l'Organisation internationale des bois tropicaux considérait que seulement 7% des produits sylvicoles issus des forêts tropicales étaient exploités de manière pérenne. Compte tenu de la difficulté à s'attaquer aux sources de l'exploitation illégale pour y mettre un terme, une attention particulière a été portée sur le contrôle du commerce des produits forestiers. La convention sur le commerce international des espèces de faune et de flore sauvages menacées d'extinction connue par son sigle CITES constitue un mécanisme permettant de limiter un tel commerce mais les espèces malgaches du genre Dalbergia pour les bois de rose et les palissandres ou Diospyros pour les ébènes ne figurent pas sur les listes de la CITES. Aux États - Unis, le nouvel amendement au 'Lacey Act' pourrait permettre de freiner de manière significative l'importation de produits forestiers exploités illégalement mais il faut voir si cette Loi pourra effectivement être imposée.

This paper presents an empirical analysis of the linkage between external timber trade in Ghana and the increased incidence of illegal chainsaw operations which do not only threaten the country's forests and other natural resources but also the erosion of the basis for sustainable agriculture which is the main-stay of the country's economy. It uses ethnographic data from case studies of a recent research in selected forest reserves fringe communities in High Forest Zone of the country to explain the frustrations of local people with government policies that favour export to the neglect of local demand for timber and wood products. Although government pronouncements suggest that it is gaining an upper hand in the battle against illegal logging operations, evidence on the ground suggests that the greater part of the lumber on the local markets is supplied through illegal means predominated by itinerant chainsaw operators and their urban financiers. The paper concludes that the country's forest and tree resources face massive degradation and overexploitation if the government does not take a bold decision on illegal logging, especially the activities of chainsaw operators. An option, though unpalatable and politically sensitive, may be the mainstreaming of chainsaw operations through the re-introduction of limited permits to registered local groups of timber traders and their chainsaw operators to supply the domestic market. This should be under a system which enjoins such groups to be collectively responsible for the activities of their members. And, the government should also strengthen the Forestry Services Division (FSD) to design and operationalize an enhanced monitoring and surveillance system of logging activities.

Illegal timber harvesting and trafficking is one of the most important economic and environmental problems in the Russian Federation. Illegal logging leads to degradation of forests and a shortage of timber in wood industries. One of the measures to counter illegal logging is the ban on the export of raw wood, which will take effect on January 1, 2022. However, such a measure will lead not only to control over the circulation of illegal timber, but also to a number of economic consequences. The impact of the ban on the inland market can be assessed using the point sectoral model of the forestry complex (PSM‑fc). The results of scenario calculations show that a ban on the export of raw materials can lead to a reduction in logging volumes and an increase in the share of products of deeper processing in exports

Socio-economic development of territorial communities in the Carpathian region of Ukraine largely characterizes the level of development of entrepreneurship and small business, which is associated with forest ecosystems and forest resources. Given the significant importance of forest ecosystems for the inhabitants of mountain communities, the issues of access of small businesses to forest resources and prevention of the use of illegal timber in business activities are extremely important. Therefore, the purpose of the research is to reveal opportunities for obtaining timber for business activities and to identify priority measures to promote the rights of small-scale businesses to use forest resources. The research was performed by the method of standard face-to-face survey of the representatives of local communities of Khust District of Zakarpattia Region, Kosiv District and Yaremche Town Council of Ivano-Frankivsk Region, and also Skole and Starosambir Districts of Lviv Region. The research areas are characterized by significant forest cover, and the forest industry plays an important role in the regions economy. The experts were the representatives of local governments, small businesses and forestry specialists (a total of 450 respondents), who are quite well acquainted with the state of affairs in the forest sector of the region and are leaders of public opinion. The analysis of the main threats to the forest ecosystems of the district showed that the most important of them are as follows: imperfect legal framework (72.0 %), corrupt timber harvesting schemes (65.3 %); unauthorized deforestation by locals (64.0 %), and low ecological culture of residents (64.0 % of respondents). The main factors that mostly motivate the use of illegal timber in small-scale business are as follows: the difference in prices for timber of legal and illegal origin (58.6 %), a fairly simple way to obtain timber (37.3 %), the presence of the shadow sector in the economy ( 26.0 %) and the lack of effective penalties (18.7 % of respondents). Priority measures to eliminate the use of illegal timber in business activities are found to be the following: cessation of illegal export of processed wood (64.7 %), strengthening customs control (61.3 %), improving the work of law enforcement agencies (60.0 %), and certification of timber origin (53.3 % of respondents). The main measures to ensure the rights of small-scale businesses to use wood and other forest resources are as follows: establishing partnerships between businessmen, the community and the authorities (33.3 %), ensuring transparency of the decision-making mechanism of the authorities (32.7 %), and openness and availability of information on forestry problems (27.7 % of respondents). The most important thing in ensuring the availability of small-scale businesses to forest resources is to reduce the number of permitting procedures and documents and also reduce the pressure of government and political structures on small-scale business and doing business. Ensuring access of small-scale businesses to timber and other forest resources, as well as transparency of business activities by residents of forest communities, will help improve the welfare of local residents and sustainable development of local communities in the Carpathian region of Ukraine. ; Наведено результати досліджень доступності деревини та інших лісових ресурсів для малого бізнесу, основних загроз лісовим екосистемам Карпатського регіону країни та дієвих заходів із запобігання використанню деревини незаконного походження в підприємницькій діяльності. Оцінено стан лісових екосистем Карпат мешканцями місцевих територіальних громад – лідерами громадської думки, фахівцями лісового господарства, представниками органів місцевого самоврядування та малого бізнесу. Встановлено частку обізнаності мешканців гірських регіонів з екологічними проблемами своєї місцевості, з чинним законодавством у сфері ведення лісового господарства в Україні та з правовим регулюванням у цій же сфері у країнах Європейського Союзу. Здійснено аналіз основних загроз лісовим екосистемам та встановлено найвагоміші з них – недосконала законодавча база, корупційні схеми заготівлі деревини; самовільне вирубування лісів місцевими жителями та низька екологічна культура мешканців. Визначено основні чинники, що найбільше спонукають до використання деревини незаконного походження в малому бізнесі (різниця в цінах на деревину законного та незаконного походження, достатньо простий спосіб отримання деревини, наявність тіньового сектору в економіці та відсутність ефективних штрафних санкцій), а також заходи, що сприяють усуненню використання деревини незаконного походження в підприємницькій діяльності (припинення нелегального експорту переробленої деревини, посилення митного контролю, покращення роботи правоохоронних органів і сертифікація походження деревини). Встановлено невідкладні заходи, що сприяють забезпеченню прав малого бізнесу на використання деревини та інших лісових ресурсів, зокрема: налагодження партнерських стосунків між бізнесменами, громадою та владними структурами; забезпечення прозорості механізму прийняття рішень владними структурами; відкритість і доступність інформації про проблеми лісового господарства. Визначено, що найважливішим у забезпеченні доступності малого бізнесу до лісових ресурсів є зменшення кількості дозвільних процедур і документів та зменшення тиску владних і політичних структур на малий бізнес та ведення підприємницької діяльності.