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A timber truck fully loaded with logs drives over a very simple wooden bridge in a forest.
© Thünen-Institut
A timber truck fully loaded with logs drives over a very simple wooden bridge in a forest.
Institute of

WF Forestry

Article on factors associated with illegal logging

IIlegal logging is a global problem that can result in serious negative environmental, social, and economic impacts, such as deforestation, degradation of biodiversity, and loss of government revenues. Despite recent international efforts to combat illegal logging, the problem remains widespread.

© Thünen-Institut; Tarcisio Schnaider - stock.adobe.com

Although the scientific literature on this topic is extensive, there has been little systematic research analyzing the causes of illegal logging. The study presented here addresses this knowledge gap with a cross-national examination of those factors suspected to be associated with illegal logging.

The logistic regression analysis conducted confirms many widely held assumptions, but also provides some new insights on the factors associated with illegal logging. For example, it is shown that, in addition to geographic characteristics, factors related to institutional quality (such as the degree of rule of law and the presence of corruption) and the economic development of a country are of major importance for illegal logging. Armed conflict is not associated with illegal logging across countries. The results of the study are also of interest for possible improvements to existing policies to combat illegal logging.

  • Bösch M (2021) Institutional quality, economic development and illegal logging: a quantitative cross-national analysis. Eur J Forest Res:in Press, DOI:10.1007/s10342-021-01382-zPDF Dokument (nicht barrierefrei) 912 KB
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