Forest Crime

Tariffs. Sanctions. Export controls.
They dominate the headlines — and rightly so.

They shape markets, influence geopolitics, and keep trade professionals on their toes.

But while we’re tracking container movements and customs codes, another layer of global trade risk is hiding in plain sight:

🌲 Forest Crime: The Supply Chain’s Blind Spot

Illegal logging. Timber laundering. Wildlife crime.

It sounds and feels rather distant.
You might picture the Amazon.
Chainsaws in the jungle.
Not a boardroom issue, right?

Until you realize how deeply it’s embedded in global supply chains — from furniture to flooring, packaging to pulp.

What the UNODC Report Just Revealed

The latest report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime made it clear:

The facts:

• Global timber demand is rising.

• Enforcement is struggling to keep up.

• Regulations vary by region.

• Shell companies shift liability across borders.

Just like sanctioned goods or tariffed materials, illegal timber finds a way in — often disguised, relabeled, or co-mingled with legal products.

Forest Crime’s Global Playbook

Here’s how it works:

• Rogue timber is harvested illegally, often in protected forests.

• Permits are forged, or corruptly issued.

• Logs are mixed with legal wood at mills or in transit.

• Shell companies obscure the true origin.

• Buyers down the line — sometimes unwittingly — import and sell the product.

It’s supply chain sleight of hand.
And it's costing the planet — and businesses — more than most realize.

So, What’s Within Our Control?

This can feel overwhelming. But like any complex trade risk, it comes back to what you can influence.

🌲 Procurement? Ask more questions about sourcing.
📊 Compliance? Go deeper than documentation — validate origin.
💼 Leadership? Recognize ESG isn’t just about reporting — it’s about risk.
🔍 Audit? Follow the money — especially where cash is common.

Final Thought

Forest crime may not dominate the policy headlines.
But it’s growing in scope, complexity, and proximity to legitimate markets.

As trade enforcement gets sharper on origin and traceability, this risk is going to matter more — not less.

You can’t fix everything.
But you can ask smarter questions.
You can demand better transparency.
You can raise the bar.

Start with that.

Thanks for reading.
Have questions, ideas, or insights from your end?
Feel free to reach out on LinkedIn or reply by email — always up for a conversation.