session 14 ic2011 tibbets
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
The Lacey Act and its Implications for the Forest Products Industry
Ashlee Tibbets
Oregon State University
General Introduction
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• What is illegal logging?
• Why should we care?
• How has it impacted the United States?
• What has been done globally?
• What has the United States done?
General Introduction
“Illegal logging, associated trade and corruption increase environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and deforestation and hence climate systems.
Illegal logging also damages the livelihoods in the poorest countries, causes loss of revenues to governments, distorts markets and trade and sustains conflicts.”
-Leaders of world’s largest consumer countries (EIA 2007)
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Roadmap of this presentation
Research Objectives
Illegal Logging
Lacey Act
Preliminary Results
Plans for the Future
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Research Objectives: Primary
Understand how the forest products wholesale industry is working with and responding to the Lacey Act.
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Research Objectives: Secondary
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Enhance understanding regarding how forest products wholesalers in the U.S. view and comply with the Lacey Act
Enhance understanding regarding how managers see the present and future implications of the Lacey Act.
Unveil possible communication shortcomings between the U.S. government and companies
Illegal Logging backdrop
Illegal deforestation and forest degradation contributes: (INECE 2010)
1/5 GHG emissions
Habitat destruction
Biodiversity loss
Billions of dollars of government revenue
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Illegal Logging backdrop
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Export-oriented illegal logging
Does not benefit communities or governments who should be benefiting (EIA
2007)
Estimated $15 billion annual loss to developing countries (World Bank 2006)
Supply and Demand
Lacey Act: Inclusion of plants
1900
Originally intended to protect the interests of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, or to wildlife or the wildlife resources of the U.S. (FWS 2009)
In 2008, the terms “plant” and “plant product” were added to the protected species listExcludes common food crops and scientific specimens of plant material (e.g. genetic alterations)
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Lacey Act: Enforcement
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4 government bodies
Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
U.S. Customs
Homeland Security
Lacey Act: U.S. Forest Products Industry
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1. Prohibits trade in illegally sourced material2. Requires documentation
- Country of origin- Species name- Quantity and value
3. Establishes penalties- Forfeiture of goods- Fines- Jail
Lacey Act: Illegality and Due Care
Illegalities
• Theft of plants
• Taking plants from protected areas
• Taking plants without authorization
• Failure to pay royalties/taxes associated
• Disregard export laws (such as log-export bans)
Due Diligence
Intended to encourage log buyers to ask questions of their suppliers in order to reinforce the idea that the U.S. is no longer interested in buying illegally sourced wood products.
Different due diligence program for every company
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Research Methods
• Online questionnaire was sent to members of the Portland Wholesale Lumber Association (PWLA) and the North American Wholesale Lumber Association (NAWLA).
• Over 500 questionnaire were sent
– 80 bad emails
– Total questionnaires returned: 35
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Preliminary Results
Lacey basics
Where do respondents go with questions?
Due diligence practices
Global perspective
Communication
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Preliminary Results
Lacey basics
Where do respondents go with questions?
Due diligence practices
Global perspective
Communication
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Preliminary Results: Lacey Basics
70% well-versed in environmental policy
20% well-versed in the Lacey Act
-Respondents failed the knowledge questions
Could indicate
• Inadequately communicated
• Respondent was not the Lacey expert
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Preliminary Results
Lacey basics
Where do respondents go with questions?
Due diligence practices
Global perspective
Communication
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Preliminary Results: Questions
20% use official government resources
Others include: international shipping agencies, personal contacts, internet searches
Could indicate
• Subpar usability of websites
• Business aren’t aware of resources
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Preliminary Results
Lacey basics
Where do respondents go with questions?
Due diligence practices
Global perspective
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Preliminary Results: Due Diligence
Variety of answers-honest middlemen-visit country of origin-personal resources
Compliance does not equal competitiveness
Could indicate• How to market compliance• General public doesn’t appreciate compliance
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Preliminary Results
Lacey basics
Where do respondents go with questions?
Due diligence practices
Global perspective
Communication
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Preliminary Results: Global
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81% “steps should be taken to stop illegal logging”
88% “compliance with the Lacey Act will not affect illegal logging”
Could indicate
•Misunderstand the Lacey Act
•Lacey Act is missing a key element
Preliminary Results: Global
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60% “compliance with the Lacey Act will not be beneficial for the United States”
66% “the 2008 amendments were unnecessary”
100% “the amendments were inadequately communicated to them”
Could indicate•Policy makers need a better communication system•Education
Further Research
Personal interviews with respondents who indicated they are interested
Increase sample size
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Thank you!
Chris Knowles: Academic advisor
Anne Middleton: Environmental Investigations Agency
OSU Forest Business Solutions group: Sanity
Questions?
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