logging in Honduras ©Vanessa Kurtz/ Progressio

The UK is the third largest importer of illegal timber in the world and we need your urgent help to put a stop to it.

Around £700 million of illegally-sourced timber comes into the UK each year. But now a Bill from Barry Gardiner MP is due for its Second Reading in Parliament on October 17. It would be a crucial step towards ending this destructive trade, making it illegal to distribute or sell illegally-sourced wood in the UK.

Despite rhetoric on illegal logging from the UK Government, they have not yet taken strong enough action.

Please support Barry Gardiner's Illegal Logging Bill by writing now to Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment.

Not only are poor producer countries losing £7.5 billion a year because of illegal logging, we as consumers may unwittingly be buying wood that contributes to deforestation, climate change, loss of biodiversity and poverty in developing countries.

Corrupt public officials, the terrorising of poor communities and even the murder of community activist opponents of environmental degradation, are part of the wide-ranging criminality surrounding illegal logging in developing countries.

Progressio also wants you to urge the UK Government to take a stronger lead in Europe where imports of illegal timber amount to £2 billion each year, but where forestry legislation covering all 27 member states appears to have stalled.

Please email Hilary Benn now and and urge the UK Government to take a lead in achieving legislation in both the UK and EU. It will be a positive step towards eliminating illegal logging.

Alternatively download and post the sample letter below:

letter to Hilary Benn MP (22k Word)

Please note to have any effect your emails and letters must reach Hilary Benn by 17 October 2008 when the bill receives its second reading.

Thank you for taking action

Lizzette Robleto
Advocacy Officer