Impacts of illegality and barriers to legality: a diagnostic analysis of illegal logging in Honduras and Nicaragua
This paper summarises a diagnostic analysis of the illegal timber trade in Nicaragua and Honduras conducted by a team of local and international researchers during 2002. Evidence of the scale and dynamics of illegal logging in both countries, as well as its economic, social, environment
and governance impacts are presented. The paper describes how over-complex regulations and market competition from cheap illegal timber reduce the economic viability of operating legally. This particularly affects small-scale producer groups, leaving them vulnerable to economic capture by
illegal timber traders. The paper calls for a combination of measures to reduce regulatory “barriers to legality”, while tackling corruption and organised crime. Incentives for sustainable forest management, and regional coordination of forest law enforcement and governance in
Central America, are also required.
Keywords: Honduras; Nicaragua; barriers; governance; illegal logging
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Research Associate, Overseas Development Institute, Claywell Cottage, Aston Road, Duckington, Witney, OX29 7QZ, UK 2: Research Officer, Overseas Development Institute, 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JD, UK 3: REMBLAH-COSPE, Colonia El Sauce, 2 Etapa, Casa E-14, 31101 La Ceiba, Honduras 4: Arnoldo Contreras-Hermosilla, FAO Consultant, Forestry Policy and Planning Division, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy 5: IRAM, PO BOX 1643, Managua, Nicaragua
Publication date: 01 September 2003
- The International Forestry Review is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that publishes original research and review papers on all aspects of forest policy and science, with an emphasis on issues of transnational significance. It is published four times per year, in March, June, September and December. Theme editions are a regular feature and attract a wide audience.
The IFR is part of The Global Forest Information Service - GFIS
International Forestry Review has an Impact Factor of 1.705 - Editorial Board
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