Chinese demand for Russian timber is forecast to grow by a third in the next five years, leading to increased illegal felling, according to environmental groups.
Greenpeace and WWF sources said China imported about 20 million m3 of lumber from Russia in 2004. They believe more than half the timber was illegally felled.
Timber poaching is also fuelled by low Russian export taxes on wood and China’s willingness to accept non-certified products.
