Illegal logging: the human cost

Illegal logging not only threatens the planet's future, it has frightening consequences for people living in developing countries.

Juan Trujillo (not his real name) is a farmer from Ecuador. He was forced off his land 12 years ago because a logging company wanted access to the surrounding forest.

He says, 'The company forced local people to sell them the land and those who didn't leave were removed by force, with bags over their heads.

'The company representatives were well-armed and willing to burn what they had to burn and do what they had to do to get people out. People were locked up in prison. They had to flee.'

Juan was a member of a small association of local farmers. They resisted the pressure to leave, because they had papers that guaranteed that the land was theirs.

'They sent in 200 people to kidnap us - 36 of us were held for three days, ' he recalls. 'They beat people up, in ways you cannot imagine. 'They have no conscience. They just want what they want for themselves and don't care who suffers.'

Juan's story is not uncommon. Loggers, speculators, palm plantation owners, ranchers, farmers and the indigenous communities are all competing for ownership of the valuable rainforest in Ecuador.

Today, Juan is working with Progressio's partner, Accion Ecologica, to fight for the restoration of his family's farmland. Although Juan has high hopes, he is also realistic about the powerful interests he and other farmers are up against. It is an uneven contest between a few poor farmers and major industry.

Take action now to end illegal logging

Action in the UK to prevent the importing and distribution of illegally-sourced wood will help protect the livelihoods of people like Juan.