Forests and forest resources provide critical economic, social, and environmental benefits for APEC economies and the world as a whole. The United Nations estimates that over 1.6 billion people worldwide depend directly on forests for food, clothing and shelter.

Importantly, APEC economies account for approximately 53 percent of the world’s forests, 60 percent of global production of forest products, and 80 percent of global trade in forest products. APEC forest products trade was valued at over $150 billion in 2010.

Forest resources are therefore important to APEC economies, businesses and citizens. Illegal logging and associated trade, however, have brought about adverse economic, environmental, and social impacts and is a significant problem facing the Asia-Pacific region.

In 2011, APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade directed officials to establish an experts group in order to promote trade in legally harvested forest products, combat illegal logging and associated trade, and build capacity. In Honolulu, Hawaii in 2011, APEC Leaders committed to work to implement appropriate measures to prohibit trade in illegally harvested forest products and undertake additional activities in APEC to combat illegal logging and associated trade.

Thus in 2011, the APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade was created to enhance the efforts of member economies to take concrete steps to combat illegal logging and associated trade, promote trade in legally harvested forest products, and support capacity building activities in member economies.

The Experts Group directly supports the overarching goals envisaged by APEC Leaders and Ministers. Specifically, in Yokohama, Japan in 2010, APEC Leaders pledged to seek growth that is compatible with global efforts for protection of the environment and to transition to a green economy. APEC Leaders further agreed to enhance cooperation to address concerns with illegal logging and associated trade and to promote sustainable forest management and rehabilitation.