On 21 March, the International Day of Forests is celebrated globally. In 2024, this significant occasion is commemorated under the theme "Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World." This celebration serves as a reminder of the indispensable role forests play in sustaining life on Earth, while emphasizing the urgent need for innovative approaches to tackle challenges such as deforestation and wildlife trafficking.
Despite significant technological advancements that have revolutionized forest monitoring, enabling countries to track and report on their forests more effectively, the challenge of deforestation persists as a pressing concern. Furthermore, the illicit trade in timber and wildlife continues to thrive, driven by sophisticated criminal networks and the lure of substantial profits. In response to these challenges, the World Customs Organization (WCO) plays a pivotal role in supporting Customs administrations to fulfill their responsibilities in effectively handling legal trade while combating illegal activities.
A recent collaborative initiative involving the WCO, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the International Tropical Timber Technical Association (ATIBT), and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) has focused on updating the annex to Explanatory Notes to Chapter 44 of the Harmonized System (HS), which lists tropical wood species.
These Explanatory Note provisions play an essential role in ensuring that Customs and trade understand the scope of HS classifications for tropical wood, improving their proper use. These classifications make international trade in products of tropical trees more visible, giving a clearer picture of their use levels and allowing Customs to apply appropriate controls. Hence, this work on the Explanatory Notes is essential to ensure the proper use of the classifications helping to protect these precious resources.
Initiatives such as Operation THUNDER, a joint global enforcement effort between WCO and INTERPOL, highlight the significance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational environmental crimes. Operation THUNDER aims to bolster coordinated action and provide support to the national law enforcement agencies in their fight against wildlife crime, including illegal logging. Notably, within Operation THUNDER 2023, over half thousand tonnes of illegal timber were seized.
WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders emphasized the pivotal role played by Customs in disrupting criminal networks, stating, “As part of a comprehensive strategy with other law enforcement partners, Customs needs to support the dismantling of criminal networks involved in illegal timber trade through information sharing and adapted risk management techniques.” He further underscored the importance of innovative technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS), GPS trackers, drones and remote sensing in empowering Customs and law enforcement agencies to effectively identify legal timber supply chains and combat wildlife trafficking.
As we mark the International Day of Forests 2024, we must renew our commitment to protecting and preserving the world’s forests through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable actions. Let us seize this opportunity to reaffirm our collective responsibility and energize the efforts of Customs to support the well-being of our planet and the conservation of biodiversity.