How is the Bank combating illegal logging and forest sector corruption?
The market value of global annual losses from illegal cutting of forests is estimated to be US$10 billion. The Bank is actively involved in facilitating regional Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) initiatives in partnership with various donor agencies and governments. Through these regional initiatives, the Bank is helping to curb illegal logging and thereby reduce the degradation of forests, loss of government revenue from uncollected fees taxes, and support the development of a more level playing field for legitimate forest operators. The Bank is engaged in both Asia and Africa to implement actions agreed to at the Asia Ministerial FLEG in Bali, Indonesia, in September 2001, and the Africa FLEG Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in October 2003. The Bank is also facilitating the Europe and North Asia FLEG process that will culminate in a Ministerial meeting hosted by the Russian Federation in Fall 2005. Initial scoping activities for a potential FLEG initiative in
