Joint recommendations to halt the illegal timber trade: utilize the Lacey Act Amendments of 2008

A joint statement by various environmental and industry organizations calling for the full implementation of the 2008 Lacey Act Amendments to combat illegal logging. The authors argue that while the Act has reduced illegal wood imports by 32%–44%, significant gaps remain, including a declaration requirement that covers only 42% of the value of imported wood products. They recommend a White House mandate to prioritize enforcement, the completion of the plant import declaration phase-in by the end of 2022, and specific funding allocations totaling over $80 million across agencies including USDA APHIS, CBP, and the USFS to enhance technology, staffing, and international cooperation.

• Illegal logging is identified as the third-largest global transnational crime, generating between US$52–157 billion annually and contributing to climate change and the undermining of legal timber prices.
• The Lacey Act Amendments of 2008 have successfully reduced the import of illegally sourced wood products into the United States by 32% to 44% according to a 2015 analysis.
• A significant gap exists in the law's implementation: the declaration requirement for species and country of harvest currently applies to only about 42% of the value of wood products imported into the U.S., leaving approximately $45 billion of imports uncovered.
• A 2019 study by the World Wildlife Fund, World Resources Institute, and the U.S. Forest Service found that 55% of 73 wood products purchased from U.S. retailers had incorrect species claims.
• The authors propose specific funding increases for several U.S. agencies to bolster enforcement: $12 million for USDA APHIS, $15 million for the FWS Office of Law Enforcement, $15 million for CBP, $20 million for USFS International Programs, $5 million for the Department of Justice, and $15 million for the State Department and USAID.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). Joint recommendations to halt the illegal timber trade: utilize the Lacey Act Amendments of 2008. https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/policy/legislation/joint-recommendations-to-halt-the-illegal-timber-trade-utilize-the-lacey-act-amendments-of-2008/

Chicago

WWF International. Joint recommendations to halt the illegal timber trade: utilize the Lacey Act Amendments of 2008. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/policy/legislation/joint-recommendations-to-halt-the-illegal-timber-trade-utilize-the-lacey-act-amendments-of-2008/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=WWF International |title=Joint recommendations to halt the illegal timber trade: utilize the Lacey Act Amendments of 2008 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/policy/legislation/joint-recommendations-to-halt-the-illegal-timber-trade-utilize-the-lacey-act-amendments-of-2008/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{wwfinternationalndjoint, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Joint recommendations to halt the illegal timber trade: utilize the Lacey Act Amendments of 2008}}, publisher = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/policy/legislation/joint-recommendations-to-halt-the-illegal-timber-trade-utilize-the-lacey-act-amendments-of-2008/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }