Asia SWITCH Project
SWITCH-Sustainable and Responsible Trade Promoted to Wood Processing SMEs through Forest and Trade Networks in China, India and Vietnam
Asia is now the location of the world’s fastest growing economic development in the world. Rapid growth in both economy and population is causing many negative impacts that challenge many countries including China, India and Vietnam. The steadily increasing demand for natural resources, which this booming development requires, is placing pressure on valuable and threatened forests: annual loss of forest area in Asia is now estimated to be one million hectares.
In order to help SME wood processors to build their capacity for responsible sourcing and production of forest products, the project “Sustainable and Responsible Trade Promoted to Wood Processing SMEs through Forest and Trade Networks in China, India and Vietnam” (SWITCH) has been kicked-off with financial support from the European Union.
By 2010 when the project ends, it is expected that at least 600 SMEs in the wood processing sectors of China, India and Vietnam will apply sustainable production techniques and are providing certified sustainable forest products to national and international markets.
By doing so, benefits will accrue to forest producers and their employees and families, through productive and sustainable employment. In addition, wider communities will benefit through cross cutting issues related to environmental protection, including rural and downstream communities that rely on forests for their environmental services.
The long term objectives of this project are that by 2020 sustainable consumption and production in forest product markets worldwide will be predominated by best practice, leading to conservation of forests and supporting truly sustainable development in the three targeted countries.
From 9 to 13 February 2009, an inception workshop was held in Beijing to officially kick-off the project. The workshop gathered representatives from WWF Vietnam, WWF India, WWF UK, WWF China and Vietnam Timber and Timber Product Association. Participants discussed tools and techniques for team building, staff capacity building as well as an effective implementation among WWF, partners, consultants and the donor.
In order to help SME wood processors to build their capacity for responsible sourcing and production of forest products, the project “Sustainable and Responsible Trade Promoted to Wood Processing SMEs through Forest and Trade Networks in China, India and Vietnam” (SWITCH) has been kicked-off with financial support from the European Union.
By 2010 when the project ends, it is expected that at least 600 SMEs in the wood processing sectors of China, India and Vietnam will apply sustainable production techniques and are providing certified sustainable forest products to national and international markets.
By doing so, benefits will accrue to forest producers and their employees and families, through productive and sustainable employment. In addition, wider communities will benefit through cross cutting issues related to environmental protection, including rural and downstream communities that rely on forests for their environmental services.
The long term objectives of this project are that by 2020 sustainable consumption and production in forest product markets worldwide will be predominated by best practice, leading to conservation of forests and supporting truly sustainable development in the three targeted countries.
From 9 to 13 February 2009, an inception workshop was held in Beijing to officially kick-off the project. The workshop gathered representatives from WWF Vietnam, WWF India, WWF UK, WWF China and Vietnam Timber and Timber Product Association. Participants discussed tools and techniques for team building, staff capacity building as well as an effective implementation among WWF, partners, consultants and the donor.
