Peru losses $44.5 million to illegal logging

Peru's National Institute of Natural Resources (INRENA) estimated that economic losses from illegal logging in the country reached at least $44.5 million in 2005, compared with total timber exports of over $160 million that year.

According to INRENA, illegal logging represented 15% of the total national timber production. Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata) are the species most targeted by illegal loggers. About 195 timber species are logged from the Peruvian forests, with mahogany and Spanish cedar representing one-third of the total exports.

According to Marco Romero, chief of INRENA's CIEF (Forest Strategic Information Center, established with ITTO funds in 1998), forest concessions and due controls of their operations are some of the tools to combat illegal logging activities. Last year, 15 forestry concessions were terminated after timber harvesting outside of the concession areas was detected.


edited:16/07/2007
uploaded:01/02/2006