ST. PETERSBURG - November 21 - Officials from more than 40 European and North Asian governments will gather for the first time in St. Petersburg, Russia today to discuss a plan of action to tackle the problem of corruption, illegal logging and the trade in illegally logged wood products in the region. Ministers will launch the plan on Friday, 25 November.

This is the latest in a series of initiatives around the world to address poor forest governance, weak law enforcement and the lack of laws to prevent products made from illegally logged wood being freely available on the global market. Illegal and destructive logging is having devastating impacts on the livelihoods of indigenous and local communities worldwide and on the biodiversity in the world's last ancient forests, including those in Eurasia.

"Every day that bureaucrats avoid taking action to protect the world's last ancient forests, a forest area greater than the size of St. Petersburg is destroyed. Governments have the chance to save Eurasia's ancient forests this week. It's vital they take tough action and stop auctioning our last ancient forests, the heart of the planet, to the lowest bidder," said Alexey Yaroshenko, Greenpeace Russia forest campaigner.

The host nation, Russia is home to 22% of the world's remaining forests and produces the most timber in the European and North Asian region. Recent estimates indicate that between six and nine out of every ten logs are from trees that have been cut down illegally (1). Countries that import and sell products made from illegal timber include China, Japan, the US and the EU, which is the largest importer of logs from Russia and accountable for nearly half of Russia's plywood exports (2).

Greenpeace is urging governments to commit to domestic, regional and international measures to eliminate corruption and bribery, promote greater cooperation to improve law enforcement and to stem the market demand for illegal timber.

To achieve this, countries that produce timber, such as Russia, must ensure that their domestic policies and regulations promote sustainable and legal forest management, which recognizes and protects the right of local and indigenous peoples. Countries that buy illegally or destructively logged timber products must outlaw this trade and ensure the timber and timber products they buy come from sustainable sources.

"Unless this week's plan develops and enforces good forest management and incorporates laws that guarantee sustainable trade and consumption, the world's ancient forests and the life they support will disappear forever", said Yaroshenko.

Contacts at the Conference: Alexey Yaroshenko, Greenpeace Russia forest campaigner Tel: +7 903 129 46 37 Sze Pang Cheung, Greenpeace China forest campaigner Tel: +86 139 1146 0884

Notes to Editors:

(1) S. Mironov, Chairman of the Federal Council of the Russian Federation, September 2005 speaking at the international conference, Responsible use of Nature - 2005, www.rosbalt.ru/2005/9/7/224795.htm

(2) Figure by volume, from FAO FAOSTAT online database, quoted in FLEGT Proposal for an EU Action Plan, 21 May 2003, Annex 2 p. 28-29

For further information on the Conference and an NGO position statement, please see the Taiga Rescue Network press pack (available in English, Russian and Chinese)

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