Illegal logging in Eastern Europe
Illegal logging in Eastern Europe largely destroys natural forest areas and primeval forests in Romania , Bulgaria , the Balkans and western Ukraine .
Background and development
In Eastern Europe and parts of North Asia (Ukraine, etc.), space was created for numerous illegal activities during the phase of these countries' transformation to a free market economy . In addition, the Balkan wars led to a collapse of state institutions and control bodies in many states in the Balkan region . Even in the national mean, low salaries, some of which are barely enough to make a living, encourage corruption in many countries.
When the national laws were adapted to the new market economy conditions, the contradictions inherent in the system became clear: forest management opposed the nature conservation law. In some cases, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) ruled in 2008 that there is “inevitably” a violation of the law, even if there is no criminal intent behind it . He called for consistent laws for forest management.
Romania
In Romania, during the transformation of the country, many forest areas were returned to their private owners. Many of the private owners illegally clear parts of their property. Forest areas cover around 30 percent of Romania, of which almost 10 percent are plantings. As an EU member, the country is bound by the EU Timber Regulation, which came into force in March 2013.
The chance of not being prosecuted for illegal logging is 90 percent, says a spokesman for the WWF in Bucharest .
Initiatives and NGOs
The “Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project” (OCCRP) is an association of institutions and journalists who work investigatively in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus , Central Asia and Central America . The network researched extensive facts on the topic, which resulted in a documentary film. The undercover research for “Clear Cut Crimes” from 2016 shows the involvement of Romanian politicians and the Austrian timber merchant Holzindustrie Schweighofer and their boss Gerald Schweighofer in the mafia-like structures of the illegal timber trade. The film also shows the local citizen militia "The Cossacks" in western Ukraine, which is fighting against illegal logging.
NGOs
- The Environmental Investigation Agency , USA
Movies
- OCCRP 2016: Clear Cut Crimes
Individual evidence
- ↑ WWF 2008: Illegal logging and Germany. An analysis of the foreign trade data. April 2008
- ↑ Romania | Illegal logging portal. In: www.illegal-logging.info. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
- ^ Romania: Illegal deforestation in Europe's largest primeval forest - Die Welt
- ^ "Clear Cut Crimes," a Shocking Documentary Unveiling the Carpathian DISASTER. RiseProject Reveals Involvement of Austrian Timber Company Holzindustrie Schweighofer in Illegal Deforestation of Romanian and Ukrainian Mountains - Foxcrawl