Russia Loses USD 1 Million from Tree Poachers in 2002

The total volume of illegally processed timber in Northwest Russia in 2002 was estimated at approximately 11.2 million cubic meters or 36 percent of the total legal volume of processed timber, says Forest Program Coordinator for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Russia Andrey Ptichnikov. According to WWF, in 2002 Russia lost approximately USD 1 million to the illegal cutting down of trees. Moreover, according to Goskomstat, the official turnover (export and internal consumption) of Russian wood market is USD 6.5 million. According to research conducted by WWF in Sweden, of the ten largest companies exporting timber from Russia to Sweden (Lemo Agency AB, Metsaliito, Stora Enso, Esswell International AB, etc.) not one can confirm the legality of what transpires with all their purchased timber.

60 percent of exported Russian timber is sold to Finland, while 15 percent is sold to Sweden.