Asean: The Effects Of Illegal Logging
The Effects of Illegal Logging: Illegal logging and associated illegal trade directly threatens ecosystem and biodiversity in forests throughout Asia and the world. It is having a devastating impact on the world’s forests and negatively the economic and ecological system of optimal forest management. A staggering 80% have already been destroyed or degraded and much of what remains is under threat from illegal logging and destructive illegal logging. Its effects include deforestation, the loss of biodiversity and fueling climate change. (http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2002/timber mafia/resources/resources consequences2.html). According to the text of the 1998 G-9 meeting held in Birmingham on forest management, “ Illegal logging robs national and sub-national governments, forest owners and local communities of significant revenues and benefits, damages forest ecosystems, distorts timber markets and forest resource assessments and acts as a disincentive to sustainable management. International trade in legally harvested timber including transfer pricing, under invoicing and other illegal practices, exacerbates the problem of Illegal logging”. Natural resources offer a rich opportunity for corruption. (www.illegal-logging.info/item single.php) Indeed, environmental crime – illegal logging, theft of public lands, diversion of oil revenues, or other illegal appropriations of public assets – is a modern growth industry that is frequently facilitated by corruption. Studies indicate that while corruption affects all societies, the incidence is particularly high in many of the poorest nations. Bribe-taking, graft, sweetheart deals, political payoffs, influencing peddling, cronyism, patronage and nepotism are a few of its many faces. (http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2002/timber mafia/resources/resources consequences2.html). Many are confused why global warming or greenhouse effects the environment through illegal logging. Scientifically, only trees
Bibliography: Books: Cunningham, William (2004)