An analysis of tropical hardwood product importation and consumption in the United States

The consumption of forest products emanating from tropical rainforests is an issue that is receiving increasing attention in the United States. This attention stems from concerns over the sustainability of tropical ecosystems. However, trade statistics show the United States imported only 4.0 percent of all tropical timber products traded globally in 1989. In addition, the global trade in tropical timber products is estimated to be directly responsible for only about 4 percent of the volume of tropical forests cut. Therefore, U.S. imports account for less than two-tenths of one percent of the world’s tropical deforestation. The U.S. furniture industry consumed less than one- third (on a value basis) of all the tropical timber imported by the United States in 1993. Our calculations show that the U.S. furniture industry tropical wood consumption represents less than one-tenth of one percent of the world’s tropical deforestation.

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