Canadian logging giant, Interfor cuts approximately 3.4 million cubic metres of temperate rainforest each year, largely through clearcuts of up to 40 hectares - the size of around 60 soccer pitches. Despite concerns over its environmental impact, clearcutting remains the dominant harvesting method in Canada. The Japanese government recently made a historic announcement by stating that they are going to eliminate illegal logging by setting rules at the importing side. In July 2000, following an extended Greenpeace campaign with 26 protest actions around the world, the heads of government at the G-8 Summit in Okinawa, Japan, agreed to examine how best we can combat illegal logging, including export and procurement practices. Clearly, these powerful importing countries are of profound significance in terms of driving demand for wood production throughout the world.
Japan plays a big role in world wood products trade.
It imported 73 million m3 of wood products in 1998, a substantial part of this from British Columbia's last coastal rainforests. The Japanese government s decision can have a significant impact in stopping illegal and destructive logging in the world s last remaining ancient forests. Greenpeace has launched an international cyber-campaign, calling on volunteers to help track down forest products that have been logged in the Great Bear Rainforest on Canada s West Coast.