Press Release: Commission commits EUR20m to the fight against illegal logging and the trade in illegal timber

The European Commission committed €20m on 21 December 2004 to support the EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), which aims to combat illegal logging and related trade. The Commission will support international and non-governmental organisations and the private sector, through a range of innovative pilot activities, to promote governance reform in countries affected by illegal logging and to facilitate trade in legally harvested timber. The release of €20m to support the FLEGT initiative forms part of a new commitment of more than €60m for projects to support the conservation and sustainable management of forests in developing countries.