Timber from unsustainable logging allegedly being sold in EU as ethical

Campaigners say some of the wood is going to companies supplying Ikea, though it and logging firm deny wrongdoing

Laws to protect biodiversity in Ukrainian forests are failing to prevent environmentally unsustainable logging that is harming wildlife, and the resulting timber is being sold to EU consumers as ethical and sustainable, a green campaign group has alleged.

Trees are being felled during silent periods, when forests are supposed to be left intact so that birds and other wildlife can nest and reproduce, according to an investigation by the environmental charity Earthsight.