Although one would like to think that the problem of illegal logging, illegal deforestation and the illegal timber trade is decreasing globally, this is by no means the case. Revenues from illegal logging and the timber trade are substantial, and the schemes used are becoming increasingly complex, with organised crime groups becoming ever more involved. It is estimated that 15–30% of all timber harvested globally is illegal, while in some tropical countries, illegal logging and the timber trade are estimated to account for as much as 50–90% of all logging activity.

In general, the greatest problems occur in countries with high levels of corruption, weak legislation and poor enforcement, as well as in countries experiencing military conflict or with unresolved property rights. Often, government officials themselves are involved in illegal activities, or oversight is so weak that tackling crime is extremely difficult, even if there is a political will to do so. There is no shortage of cases where one state institution denies that the country has problems with illegal logging or timber circulation, while another believes that, for example, half of all logging is carried out illegally. The most problematic areas are tropical forests – in the Congo Basin countries on the African continent, the Amazon Basin countries in South America, as well as countries in Southeast Asia. Outside of tropical forests, the biggest problems with illegal timber harvesting currently exist in Romania, Ukraine, the Russian Far East and Siberia.