Partners in crime: the UK and destruction of the Forest of the Great Apes.

Publication date: April 2002

Summary
Illegal and destructive logging is now the single largest threat to what's remains of the world's ancient forests. It is estimated that the UK is the largest importer of illegal tropical timber in Europe, with some 60% of all tropical timber coming into the UK being sourced from companies involved in illegal logging. By turning a blind eye to the origins of the wood coming into its ports, the UK Government is allowing this unscrupulous industry to profit from the international trade in this criminal activity. This complacency threatens to drive endangered species, such as the great apes, to extinction in the wild in our lifetimes.