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The document outlines Poland's implementation of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) through the Forestry Law (Ustawa o lasach), detailing the role of regional inspectors for environmental protection as the Competent Authority. It specifies administrative fines for illegal timber placement and due diligence failures, ranging from 5,000 PLN to 500,000 PLN, and notes that criminal sanctions for illegal logging can include up to 5 years imprisonment. Enforcement data shows 100 checks in 2016, 115 in 2017, and 80 between January and September 2018. The brief highlights strengths in customs cooperation and weaknesses regarding the requirement to prove intent in criminal cases and the mandatory withdrawal of sanctions if violations were unpreventable.

The report details a systemic failure in Peru's forestry sector where official documents, such as Forest Management Plans and Forest Transport Permits, are used to legitimize illegal logging. Analysis of 1,024 permits from 2017 shows that a significant portion of timber is high-risk, particularly from the Loreto and Ucayali regions. The document identifies specific public officials and regents who approved plans for nonexistent trees and argues that weak enforcement of administrative and criminal penalties creates an environment of impunity for organized crime networks.

The report finds that while some progress has been made in forest transparency and law enforcement, governance improvements are too slow to significantly reduce deforestation. It highlights critical failures in securing indigenous land rights, persistent corruption, and increasing violence against land defenders. While some Asian economies have adopted demand-side regulations against illegal logging, systemic weaknesses in enforcement and transparency continue to hinder forest protection.

The report finds that improvements in forest governance are too slow to measurably reduce deforestation, with significant gaps remaining in the legal recognition of indigenous land rights and the enforcement of forest laws. While some progress has been made in transparency and demand-side regulations in emerging economies, corruption remains rampant and violence against land defenders is increasing. The assessment highlights that secure tenure for local communities is more effective for forest protection than legally protected areas, yet a substantial portion of occupied lands remains unrecognized by governments.

The report finds that improvements in forest governance are too slow to quantifiably reduce deforestation, with significant gaps remaining in the legal recognition of indigenous land rights and the enforcement of laws against illegal logging. While some progress has been made in transparency and demand-side regulations in emerging Asian economies, corruption and violence against land defenders continue to undermine forest conservation efforts.

The report finds that while some progress has been made in forest transparency and the adoption of demand-side regulations, overall improvements in forest governance are too slow to effectively reduce deforestation. It highlights critical failures in granting land rights to indigenous peoples and local communities, rising violence against land defenders, and endemic corruption. The document emphasizes that strong governance is a necessary condition for forest protection, noting that illegal deforestation remains prevalent in major producers of palm oil, soy, and beef.

The report finds that improvements in forest governance are too slow to measurably reduce deforestation, with natural forest loss increasing by 42% between 2014 and 2017 compared to the previous decade. While some progress exists in transparency and international cooperation to combat illegal logging, significant challenges remain, including widespread corruption, inadequate implementation of existing laws, and increasing violence against land defenders. The report emphasizes that securing legal land rights for indigenous peoples and local communities is more effective for forest protection than legally protected areas, yet a substantial portion of their lands remain unrecognized by governments.

The report finds that improvements in forest governance are too slow to measurably reduce deforestation, with rampant corruption and illegal land conversion persisting. While some progress has been made in transparency and demand-side timber regulations, significant gaps remain in recognizing the land rights of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs). The document highlights a dangerous increase in violence and criminalization of land defenders and argues that secure tenure for IPLCs is more effective for forest protection than state-managed protected areas.

The document finds that while some countries have improved their legal frameworks to combat deforestation, implementation remains weak due to corruption, lack of resources, and a failure to recognize the land rights of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs). It highlights a strong correlation between high corruption and forest loss, and notes that illegal conversion for commercial agriculture—specifically palm oil, soy, paper/timber, and cattle—drives much tropical deforestation. While demand-side measures for timber are increasing in the EU, US, and Asia, similar measures for other commodities remain largely voluntary. The report also emphasizes the critical role of IPLCs in carbon storage, noting they manage 17% of total carbon in 64 assessed countries, yet face increasing violence and land grabbing due to insecure tenure.

The report finds that while some countries have strengthened forest laws, overall governance remains weak, particularly in poor nations. Illegal deforestation is endemic, driven by commercial agriculture for palm oil, soy, and beef. Progress in recognizing the land rights of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) is slow, and the lack of secure tenure contributes to increased violence and land grabbing. The report emphasizes that strong governance and the empowerment of IPLCs are essential for effective forest protection.

The report finds that while some countries have strengthened forest laws, implementation remains slow and often undermined by corruption and a lack of political will. Illegal deforestation is driven largely by commercial agriculture, particularly in Brazil and Indonesia. Progress in recognizing the land rights of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) is slow, and these groups face increasing violence and criminalization. While some emerging economies in Asia are adopting regulations to curb illegal timber imports, overall forest governance remains fragile, particularly in poorer nations.

The report reveals that logging in the Solomon Islands is occurring at 19 times the sustainable rate, with natural forests predicted to be exhausted by 2036. It identifies systemic illegalities, including lack of landowner consent and breaches of logging codes, while noting that local communities see few benefits. China is identified as the dominant importer, purchasing 82% of the country's logs, and is urged to regulate its supply chain to mitigate commercial and environmental risks.

The document examines five types of illegality—resource rights, labor rights, other laws, fraud, and corruption—across several global commodity chains. It provides case studies on beef, palm oil, pulp and paper, cocoa, shrimp, olive oil, dairy, and soy, highlighting how illegal practices drive deforestation, biodiversity loss, and labor abuse. The paper argues that illegality is an underappreciated threat that increases with global food demand and climate change, calling for precompetitive cooperation between governments and companies to ensure supply chain transparency.

Global Witness found that logging operations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) frequently violate the Forestry Act, including logging in prohibited areas and ignoring landowner consent. Because China imports a vast majority of PNG's logs but lacks laws against importing illegal timber, its timber sector faces commercial and legal risks in markets like the US and EU. The report recommends that China implement mandatory due diligence for timber imports and that PNG establish a moratorium on new logging permits.

The document compares the US Lacey Act, EU Timber Regulation, Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation, and Japanese Clean Wood Act across definitions of illegal timber, key requirements, regulated parties, product coverage, and enforcement mechanisms.

The briefing examines the application of penalties under the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), concluding that current enforcement practices often fail to meet the EU legal standard of being 'effective, proportionate and dissuasive'. It highlights a prevalence of 'soft' enforcement approaches and a lack of transparency regarding sanctions, which creates an uneven playing field for companies. The document recommends the adoption of credible enforcement policies, increased public access to enforcement data, and the development of harmonised guidance on determining penalty levels.

The document outlines Bulgaria's EUTR framework, noting that while the Executive Forests Agency serves as the Competent Authority, enforcement is hindered by underfunding, low administrative fines, and high corruption. It details the legal mechanisms for reporting illegal logging and the challenges NGOs face in challenging administrative inaction.

The document outlines five essential requirements for a legal framework regulating forest clearance: unambiguous permits, environmental and social evaluations, explicit application timelines, protection of community and indigenous rights, and strong enforcement. It highlights risks such as the use of clearance permits as loopholes for illegal timber harvesting and the conflict between sectoral laws, providing case studies from Liberia, the Republic of Congo, Brazil, and Viet Nam to illustrate these legal failures.

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.

The 2018 Goal 10 Assessment finds that slow improvements in forest governance and the failure to implement existing laws contribute to ongoing deforestation. It highlights a critical gap between legal protections on paper and the practical security of land rights for indigenous peoples and local communities, noting an increase in land conflicts and violence against activists since 2014. While some Asian countries are introducing market restrictions on illegal commodities to complement EU, US, and Australian frameworks, the report emphasizes that local innovations for community empowerment require greater scaling and financial support.