1

Methods for Detecting Illegal Logging

Togu Manurung, Forest Watch IndonesiaWynet Smith, Global Forest Watch

Forest Law Enforcement and Governance ConferenceSeptember 11-13, 2001

What is Illegal Logging?

Generally, “illegal logging takes place when timber is harvested, transported, bought or sold in violation of national laws” (Brack and Hayman, 2001)

How do you document it?

By nature, illegal activities in the forest sector make it hard to document and estimate the true extent of the problem.

Methods

• Field Investigations

• Paper/Administrative Auditing

• Log Tracking/Chain of custody analysis

• Remote Sensing

Field Investigations

2

Detect:

• Illegal cutting in Parks• Illegal cutting outside and inside concessions• Illegal transport

Detect Illegal Transport

Methods:

• Observation• Interviews

Tools:• Cameras• Videos• Tape recorders• GPS• Maps

Results from a forthcoming report produced byGlobal Forest Watch Canada partners,

the Ontario Wildlands League and the Sierra Legal Defence Fund

Table 1 - Summary of Field Audit Findings

Violations Description

Logging in Area ofConcern (AOC) Buffers

33% of the AOC sites inspected wereviolated.

Logging in RiparianReserves

Of streams inspected, 88% of the reserves (3mof intact vegetation) were violated.

Inadequate WaterCrossings

64% of water crossings resulted insedimentation of streams, barriers to fishmigration and/or alteration of watercourses.

Inadequate Pre HarvestSurveys

Leading to inadequate protection of identifiedwildlife values and water bodies.

Reviewing license and concession allocations

against legislation

3

Cameroon… and the legality of the allocation of 23 concessions under thenew system is in question

UFA Bidding Results 1996-97UFA ID# Area Code Concession Holder Area (ha) Bid Price (CFA/ha/yr) Co. w/ High Bid Highest Bid

10-057 Production forest MBENG Gustave 32293 465 SOCADO 500010-058 Production forest SEBC 60823 2000 SEBC 200010-051 Production forest GRUMCAM 85812 1800 GRUMCAM 180010-054 Production forest SFID 68292 600 SFID 60010-047 Production forest MPONENGANG 125700 915 MPONENGANG 91510-021 Production forest GREEN VALLEY 71537 2500 DECO DIFFUSION 450010-023 Production forest SFCS 62389 1600 CCIF 410010-018 Production forest SIBAF 65832 900 PROPALM 370010-007 Production forest SEBC 113507 2000 SEBC 200010-009 Production forest BOTAC 88796 1050 NOZIE, M. 370009-006 Production forest Sarl FANGA 74092 2110 FANGA 211010-011 Production forest SAB 60838 2000 SAB 200010-012 Production forest SEFAC 62597 750 ETMC 100010-015 Production forest ETMC 155421 1000 PROMINCOM 272509-013 Production forest MAF 50296 1550 SCABOIS 170009-021 Production forest COFA 41965 400 SOFIT 130009-025 Production forest LA FORESTIERE DE CAMPO 86788 800 TROPEX 230009-025 Production forest LA FORESTIERE DE CAMPO 86788 800 TROPEX 230009-023 Production forest BUBINGA 56192 450 ONY BROS 202509-025 Production forest LA FORESTIERE DE CAMPO 86788 800 TROPEX 2300

Log Tracking:

Chain of Custody

Wood Flow

1

SPOT PAN - SPOT XS -

Remote Sensing Standard Aerial Photographs

This Space Imaging pan-sharpened image depictsmultispectraldata at 1-meter spacing.

1. Spruce and fir forest without disturbance.

2. Wet pine forests.

4. Secondary deciduous forest on burned areas.

8. Relatively recent clearcuts.

9. Railroad.

10. Logging roads with prepared surface.

11. Large settlement

Landsat 7 ETM

Russia

2

Expected Results

• Extraction of logging roads from imagery

• Indirect detection of illegal logging by roads

o in not yet allocated concessions,o entering from neighbour concessionso in protected areaso outside the annual allowable cut area

Cameroon: Illegal logging

March 2000

December 2000

Logging in an Unallocated Concession

Landsat 7 ETM+Imagery of

Forests in Canada

3

4