Timber from forest conversion – the need for rules

The document argues that timber from forest conversion is becoming a dominant source of global timber trade but often lacks the strict regulatory frameworks applied to selective logging. This creates legal loopholes that companies may exploit to access valuable timber under the guise of land clearance for agriculture, mining, or infrastructure. To mitigate risks of illegality and land-grabbing, the author recommends three essential requirements: clear and detailed rules for the entire supply chain, a definition of legality that incorporates land title and community rights, and full public transparency of data regarding clearance permits and timber volumes.

• Conversion timber is increasingly dominant in global trade due to forest clearing for infrastructure, mining, and agriculture, yet it is often subject to less regulation than selective logging.
• The absence of specific laws for conversion timber in some tropical countries creates legal loopholes that companies may exploit to clear forests solely to access timber without actually developing new land use.
• Tracing conversion timber is more difficult than tracing selective logging because the stumps, which serve as permanent markers of origin in selective logging, are typically removed during the clear-cutting process.
• The legality of conversion timber must be defined broadly to include not only clearance permits but also land allocation, environmental protections, and the respect of customary land tenure rights of local communities.
• There is a significant lack of official statistics and trade data distinguishing conversion timber from selective logging at both global levels (e.g., ITTO) and national levels, hindering the ability to monitor illegal practices.

APA

ClientEarth (2018). Timber from forest conversion – the need for rules. https://www.clientearth.org/media/pfuarftw/legal-toolkit-on-forest-conversion-factsheet-3-timber-from-forest-conversion-the-need-for-rules-ce-en.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Timber from forest conversion – the need for rules. 2018. https://www.clientearth.org/media/pfuarftw/legal-toolkit-on-forest-conversion-factsheet-3-timber-from-forest-conversion-the-need-for-rules-ce-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=ClientEarth |title=Timber from forest conversion – the need for rules |date=2018 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/pfuarftw/legal-toolkit-on-forest-conversion-factsheet-3-timber-from-forest-conversion-the-need-for-rules-ce-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{clientearth2018timber, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Timber from forest conversion – the need for rules}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, year = {2018}, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/pfuarftw/legal-toolkit-on-forest-conversion-factsheet-3-timber-from-forest-conversion-the-need-for-rules-ce-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }