Global Witness, an international non-governmental organization, urged China—the largest importer of tropical wood products—to take the lead in developing processes to reduce climate impacts of the global wood trade.
China is the destination for two-thirds of all tropical logs on international markets, according to Global Witness, and much of that wood comes from countries with weak law enforcement that results in illegal harvesting of wood products. Illegal logging accelerates the loss of rainforests, which releases carbon stores and contributes to climate change.
"China’s leadership in global efforts to tackle climate change is more important than ever, and one area where it can have an immediate and far-reaching impact is in cleaning up its timber trade,” said Global Witness Senior Advisor Rick Jacobsen in a statement. “As a first step, we are calling on the Chinese government to enact measures to prevent illegal timber from entering its markets.”
