Every two seconds an area of forest the size of a football pitch is destroyed. Yet here in the UK you can still buy furniture, books, cards and other products made from illegally or unsustainably sourced wood.

Forests are much more than just a collection of trees, they are home to wildlife forests and home to more than half of all land-dwelling animals, plants and insects! Forests are vital for people: around a billion people depend on forests for their livelihood. Ensuring the health of our planet forests play an important role in regulating the global climate - they absorb and cycle huge amounts of carbon and water. They're also thought to help provide 75% of the world's usable fresh water.

The WWF reports that illegally sourced wood is in our homes, but it’s our fault! It's likely every person in the UK has (or uses) products made with illegally logged timber. On average, each of us consumes just under a tonne of timber a year. Anything from 10 to 20% of that could be illegal depending on where it’s coming from.

So what’s going on?

In 2013, the EU introduced special regulations to prevent illegally logged wood being imported into Europe. However, due to some nonsense loopholes, only half the value of all timber and wooden products imported is covered. Fortunately there's an opportunity for change. In December 2015 the regulation is due to be reviewed. WWF are seizing this opportunity to prevent all illegally-logged timber entering the EU.

If it’s legal, it'll be sustainable, right?

Well no. 'Legal’ simply means the government has allowed its trees to be cut down. But that doesn't mean the long-term future of the forest has been considered.

That's why WWF asking UK businesses to pledge to buy timber and wood based products from sustainable sources by 2020 as well as supporting the legislation changes - so you can be sure the things you buy are both legal and sustainable.

It's time to say no to this nonsense. Add your name to the petition and #SaveForests