Illegal logging not only destroys primeval forests and biodiversity, but has also a negative impact on the German economy. On 14 October 2008, Greenpeace published a study carried out by Ecologic, which shows that losses of turnover for the wood industry add up to an estimated one billion Euro annually (total revenue 2007: 10.3 billion Euro), caused by declining image and credibility at the consumer. Illegal timber also beats down prices for timber products and leads to shortages in specific types of wood. Mostly, the timber comes from Brazil, Indonesia, China, Congo, and Russia and was often harvested through overexploitation and the destruction of primeval forests.

The publication of the study experienced a great response in the print media:

• Süddeutsche Zeitung: „Mahagoni schadet nicht nur dem Image“, 14.10.2008 [German]
• Hamburger Abendblatt: „Holz aus Raubbau schädigt Wirtschaft“, 15.10.2008 [German]
• agrarheute.com: „Raubbau-Holz schädigt deutsche Wirtschaft“, 15.10.2008 [German]
• timber-online.net: „Illegales Holz schädigt deutsche Holzwirtschaft“, 14.10.2008 [German]