Pro Tropenholz is an association of long-established timber importers and distributors with similar concerns..
A legitimate international timber trade does not lead to the destruction of the vital tropical forests.
A boycott does not address the issue of saving the forests.
The economic use of this precious resource enables the protection of the entire eco-system.
Sustainable use and a sensible afforestation also benefit the people living in or near them.
In 1999 the Federal Government published a report on tropical forests that listed the following ways of utilisation:
82% of the total timber use in the tropical countries is for firewood.
18% only is usefully applied.
75% (!!) of the 18% serve local consumption.
The remainder – 25% only of the total usefully applied timber - is exported from the various countries.
Relative to the total timber output from tropical forests a very small percentage – 4.4% reaches the international market.