Adam Gustafson, principal deputy assistant attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Energy and Natural Resources Division, will serve as the head of the United States’ delegation for a Ministerial Meeting on Forestry this week at a Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) senior officials’ meeting.
The Forestry Ministerial meets every two or three years. This the first time the Justice Department will serve as head of the U.S. delegation that also includes representatives from the State Department, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Gustafson will represent U.S. interests regarding timber trafficking crimes.
“Timber trafficking is the third most profitable form of transnational crime, with revenue estimates ranging between $52 billion to $157 billion annually,” Gustafson said. “The illegal timber trade is an economic and security threat to the United States and all APEC members. It hurts American businesses and revenue, market share, and good paying jobs. By sharing enforcement strategies at home and abroad, and by improving collaboration across the U.S. government, we are fighting the illegal harvest and trade of forest products.”
APEC economies account for more than half of the world’s forests and approximately 80 percent of the international trade in forest products.