Behind The Scenes: How Log Yards Hide the Destruction of Europe's Ancient Forests
EIA's Report Behind the Scenes takes detailed look at how the Austrian timber giant Holzindustrie Schweighofer, one of the largest wood processors in Romania, continues to fuel the destruction of Europe’s last old growth forests, in spite of five years of pledges not to source timber from national parks or protected areas.
Read EIA's 2015 Report: Stealing the Last Forest
Read EIA's 2017 Report: Illegal Logging in Rodna Mountains National Park
Recent Blog Posts
Mukulagate
09/16/2021
While the coronavirus pandemic rages on, ravaging Zambia’s economy and crippling its citizens' lives, new findings by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) show that illegal exploitation and trade in mukula (Pterocarpus tinctorius) persists unabated, benefitting a small number of well-connected and wealthy individuals. A probing undercover investigation into illegal mukula logging and trade sheds light on the apparent theft of more than 10,000 trees and unveils information connecting the Zambia Agency For Persons With Disabilities (ZAPD), the Ministry of Community and Social Services, the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, and the office of the vice president. Nearly two years after EIA’s exposé on the institutional looting of Zambian forests, it appears that the more things have changed with the pandemic, when it comes to mukula, the more they’ve stayed the same.
EIA calls on the FSC Board of Directors to stop the re-association of HS Timber
06/17/2021
During its meeting this week, the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) Board of Directors will determine whether to end its disassociation with one of the largest timber processors in Europe, the Austrian HS Timber Group (formerly known as Holzindustrie Schweighofer). At stake is not only HS Timber's hoped-for shot at restoring its name after a series of scandals, but also the reputation and the future of the FSC itself.
Recent Reports
Tainted Beef
05/27/2021
A new report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) reveals how beef sold in Colombian supermarkets is fueling illegal deforestation in protected Amazon forests and contributing to financing armed groups.
Carne Contaminada
05/27/2021
Un nuevo informe de la Agencia de Investigación Ambiental (EIA por sus siglas en inglés) revela cómo la carne que se vende en los supermercados colombianos está alimentando la deforestación ilegal en los bosques amazónicos protegidos y contribuyendo al financiamiento de grupos armados.
Recent Press Releases
US Company Pleads Guilty to Importing Illegal Timber from Peru
09/23/2021
US Company pleads guilty to importing illegal timber from Peru
The Lie Behind the Ply
06/30/2021
European Consumers of Tropical Plywood have been the Unwitting Drivers of Threatened Forest Degradation