It would be "impractical" to use legislation to deal with illegal logging, says federal forestry minister Eric Abetz in the foreword of a long-awaited Australian government policy to eliminate trade in illegally sourced forest products.

"Rather, aiming for all traded timber to be independently certified as legal, sustainable – preferably both – is a sound, long-term objective," Abetz says.

However, Greenpeace campaigner Stephen Campbell told CE Daily the decision not to introduce legislation to ban the trade in illegal timber meant the government was effectively giving "a nod and a wink" to those trading in it.

"We believe very firmly that [the government] should legislate," he said. "It's doable."

The federal policy instead rests on voluntary measures and greater engagement with timber exporting and processing countries in the region.

The government will promote the adoption of independently accredited forest certification and chain-of-custody schemes, the policy says. A particular focus for this work will be countries "where there has been limited progress with forest certification".

The government will also develop a system to provide "interim proof of legality" of timber not sourced from forests that are certified or managed under a regional forest agreement.

Risk-based approach

Other proposed measures include:

• developing a risk-based approach to determine the legality of imported forest products;
• developing nationally consistent documentation for verifying and reporting on the legality and ultimately the sustainability of domestic and imported forest products;
• providing information to importers, wholesalers and retailers on accredited legal forest product exporting companies and operations;
• supporting the establishment of a working group on the legality of imported forest products;
• promoting the adoption of internationally accredited forest certification and chain-of-custody schemes;
• working "with relevant partners" to conduct supply chain assessments, "including assessments of exporting countries' legislative and regulatory requirements";
• providing guidance to timber importers; and
• developing advice for government departments on purchasing forest products.

Bringing Down the Axe on Illegal Logging – An Australian Government Policy To Eliminate Trade In Illegally Sourced Forest Products (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, October 3, 2007)