Log export bans have failed in reducing global deforestation.

According to a new study, log export bans have not successfully reduced global deforestation. Lumber producers in over 70 high-forest countries may face significant risks as the European Union prepares to roll out the EUDR in the coming months.

Over 70 countries currently impose log export bans (LEB), restricting the international export of various forest products. While these bans have effectively increased employment in developing nations by up to 25%, they have simultaneously accelerated deforestation in forest-rich countries.

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FIND US ON

This observation stems from two independent studies co- authored by Mouhamed Zerbo from CERDI, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, IRD, France. The studies analysed data from 124 developing countries possessing forest resources greater than 100 square kilometres over a 20- year span leading up to 2019.

According to Zerbo, “Our findings show that adopting LEB leads to a notable 22. 3% rise in deforestation compared to countries without such bans.” He emphasised that the results consistently held true across various assessments, including different measures of LEB and deforestation.

The first study highlights log export bans as a significant contributor to deforestation: “The adoption of LEB heightens competition for land between agriculture and forestry, resulting in agricultural expansion and subsequent tree cover loss,” said Zerbo. “Furthermore, it lowers log prices, increases wood utilisation by the wood processing sector, and adds extra strain on forest resources.”

Log export bans have created both advantages and disadvantages.

Zerbo notes their profound effects on sustainable forest management: “Loggers and raw log exporters often find themselves at a disadvantage, as diminished profits are redirected to other domestic producers. As logging becomes less lucrative, logging may shift from logging to farming, which can lead to forest conversion.” “Conversely, the beneficiaries—especially those within the timber processing sector—enjoy a surge in processing activities due to a rise in foreign investment in the country’ s abundant forest resources. This includes traditional sectors with limited processing capabilities requiring large volumes of logs, as well as foreign industries with substantial processing capacities that seek significant log supplies for economies of scale. As these sectors grow, the heightened demand for logs places additional strain on forests.”