According to the government of Amazonas, the state’s Environmental Police (BPAmb) seized 8,300 cubic meters of illegal wood between January 1st and October 2020.

Just how much wood is that? That’s about equivalent to 415 containers of wood (assuming 20 cubic meters of wood per container).

During the same period in 2019, BPAmb seized 679 cubic meters of wood. That means the volume of illegal wood seized by BPAmb increased 1122% in one year. Here’s what that looks like:

So what’s behind this giant jump? According to the Police, more inspections and their participation in law enforcement operations in southern Amazonas are the primary reasons for the increase.

1,500m3 of logs reportedly seized in Mapinguari National Park

It’s worth noting, however, that this trend of large increases in illegal wood seizures is not limited to the state of Amazonas.

In one month alone, a volume equivalent to 700 truckloads of wood was seized throughout the Brazilian Amazon. In the first half of 2020, illegal wood seizures by the Federal Highway Police in Rondonia were up 787%. Mato Grosso saw an increase of 149%, and SEMAS in Para reported an increase of 41%.

Concerned about legal risks in Brazilian timber supply chains? Join TimberCheck™ or check the Timber Risk Map. Want to know where your lumber originated? Start a WoodFlow™. Curious what the forest looks like after the harvest, request access to TimberSat™.