WWF - GFTN-China

GFTN Quarterly Newsletter, November 2009

2009-11-03

© WWF" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />Major highlights include:

* Enabling Markets to Work for Forets: GFTN at the World Forestry Congress 2009.
* Africa: Study Reveals Importance of Certification in Survival of Great Apes
* B&Q Secures Biggest Volume of Tropical FSC-Certified Plywood in the World
* Showcasing GFTN's Certified Wood Market in Latin America and the Caribbean
* Harmonizing Policy and Practice in China
* Sustainable Timber Revolution at Bovis Lend Lease
* Planting the Seeds of Sustainability in West Africa
* And more on GFTN's vision in action

A Special GFTN Announcement

2009-11-01

I would like to inform GFTN supporters that Richard McLellan has stepped down as the Head of GFTN to take up a position in WWF’s Conservation Communications Unit. I would like to thank Richard for his leadership over the last 18 months. During this time, Richard has overseen an important phase in the development of the GFTN. Under Richard’s leadership, GFTN has been consolidated under a global GFTN “brand”, with local offices adopting a common set of participation rules and aligning behind a global business plan. Richard leaves GFTN in a strong position to focus more on the external world and step up its engagement with business and industry.

A search for a new Head of the GFTN with a track record of leadership in the forest and trade arena is currently underway, (see announcement in this newsletter) and we would appreciate your support in spreading the word about this exciting career opportunity.

In the meantime, George White will act as the interim Head of GFTN as well continuing his role as the GFTN Responsible Purchasing Coordinator. Before joining GFTN in 2004, George worked for over 10 years with J Sainsbury plc in the UK and US on sourcing issues for products such as timber, paper, peat, fish and fuels, including the policies and procedures to allow group companies to meet their commitments to GFTN-UK. George has a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry & Forest Products Technology from Brunel University.

Kind Regards,

Rod Taylor

Director, Forests

WWF International

Enabling Markets to Work for Forests

2009-10-26

© Marcelo Tucuna" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />WWF and the GFTN attended the XIIIth World Forestry Congress, a week-long dialogue held October 18-23, 2009 in Buenos Aires, organized by the government of Argentina in collaboration with the Forestry Department of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, attracting 4,500 participants from over 160 countries. Throughout the week speeches, workshops, round-table discussions, poster presentations, parallel events, exhibits, study and technical tours will provide a forum for the exchange of personal experiences and for discussions on topics related to the conference theme, "Forests in development – a vital balance."

WWF strategically engaged attendees through three side events and an institutional presence in the Congress exhibition hall, focusing on how companies, governments, financial institutions and other key stakeholders could contribute to the conservation of the world’s valuable and threatened forests.

At the Congress, WWF challenged government leaders, NGOs and businesses, in a keynote presentation delivered by Rodney Taylor, Director of WWF International’s Forest Programme, to back an ambitious target on stopping forest loss—zero net deforestation by 2020—as a major element of efforts to avert the looming climate catastrophe.

To support this target, WWF addressed the critical role that forest companies play in providing solutions to climate change through responsible management of forests and plantations by showcasing its leading, innovative solutions—GFTN and New Generation Plantations Project—at a special event that attracted over 255 attendees. The discourse demonstrated how the global marketplace can be harnessed as a key force to conserve the world’s valuable and threatened forests, while providing economic and social benefits for the businesses and people that depend on them.

"WWF believes companies in the forest sector can play a critical role in providing solutions to climate change through sustainable management of natural forests and plantations,” said Rodney Taylor, Director of WWF-International’s forest programme.

Experts in industry and government shared their experiences and insights into how markets can advance responsible forestry and trade practices. Representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC) and State Forestry Administration of China shared how these market mechanisms are key to conserving the vital forests in their countries.

“WWF through GFTN has been instrumental in promoting responsible forest management in the Congo Basin, achieving credible certification for 4.7 million hectares since December 2005,” said Martin Tadoum, COMIFAC Deputy Executive Secretary.

Industry also recognized the vital role of responsible forest management and trade practices in their business operations, asserting that environmentally and socially responsible business practices not only benefit the world’s forests but also their commercial objectives.

“We view our commitment to responsible forestry and credible certification as a worthwhile investment. Sustainability and environmentally and socially responsible practices are good business for us,” said Savio C. K. Chow, President of Export, China Flooring Holding Co. Ltd, a GFTN Participant in China and Peru.

For more information contact Hisayo Fujikawa (hisayo.fujikawa@wwfus.org)

Showcasing GFTN’s Certified Wood Market in Latin America and the Caribbean

2009-10-25

The GFTN showcased its certified offering in Latin America and the Caribbean in the first Business Roundtable held within the World Forestry Congress, organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization on October 21 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Strong interest in the GFTN’s certified offering was particularly expressed by companies from Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, who are seeking credibly certified sources of hardwoods native to Latin America.

The World Forestry Congress is a major international event dedicated to forestry and environment issues and now in its thirteenth edition, the Congress devoted a full day to strengthening the global trading networks through a Business Roundtable, organized by the government of Argentina and sponsored by FAO and USAID/BOLIVIA, whose objective was to strengthen long term business relationships.

“Foresters know that after planting, there will be much to reap, and just as they expect well-rooted trees to begin growing, we also intend to plant and prepare for when there are good business opportunities,” said Daniel Maradei, Organizer of Business Roundtable.

The Business Roundtable organized a series of face-to-face meetings in a dynamic business environment where participating companies related to forestry worldwide could interact and broaden their commercial networks. Over 200 businesses from 31 countries participated in the Roundtable, creating business intentions of US$36 million from the roughly 900 meetings that occurred during the day-long event.

GFTN-Latin America and Caribbean (GFTN-LAC) actively participated in the roundtable, presenting the certified product offering from the national GFTN programmes in Bolivia and Peru and elsewhere throughout Latin America. The GFTN-LAC representatives presented the responsibly managed supply of forest products from their respective members, with an approximate total of 60 business meetings where they could collect useful information on current market demands that could be transferred to its member companies.

“The main challenge of GFTN-LAC lies in meeting the sustainability challenges of the forest sector with the economic viability of its members through a market based mechanism. This is why participation at trade events, such as the World Forestry Congress Business Roundtable, is a high priority and can provide business links of the certified wood supply of GFTN-LAC participants with global markets for responsible forest products” said Raúl Dancé, coordinator of GFTN-LAC’s trade efforts.

For more information contact Raúl Dancé (rdance@wwfca.org)

Investment Screening Guidelines for Financial Investors

2009-10-23

© Andreas Beckmann, 2006" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />This innovative resource will identify key environmental and social principles and criteria that need to be considered in all investment decisions pertaining to the forest sector, such as timber, pulp and paper, and other sectors whose activities impact forests, including palm oil cultivation and mining.

Please sign up here to receive more information about the tool and a notification when it is released.

Kimberly-Clark and WWF Work Together to Conserve the World's Forests

2009-10-21

Washington, DC and Dallas, TX – Kimberly-Clark Corporation, one of the world’s largest producers of tissue products, has joined WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network and committed to increase its use of wood fiber from sustainable sources to help protect the world’s forests. Protecting the world’s forests is critical to addressing climate change as deforestation accounts for nearly 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

“Deforestation is responsible for producing the same amount of CO2 emissions as every plane, train and automobile on the planet,” said WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts. “We commend Kimberly-Clark for continuing to demonstrate leadership and a strong commitment to protecting the world’s most important forests by improving their business practices. WWF’s work with leading companies like Kimberly-Clark is essential in combating global climate change and protecting the abundant biodiversity in the world’s great forests.”

“Sustainability is foundational to our business strategy at Kimberly-Clark,” said Tom Falk, Chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark Corporation. “We continue to focus on our strategy for sustainable growth and know that companies who make better choices for the environment and society will contribute to a healthier planet, and achieve long-term success.”

As the world’s largest consumer of industrial timber, pulp and paper, the United States market is critical to protecting forests worldwide. WWF will work with Kimberly-Clark to help implement the company’s global fiber procurement policy and provide support as it progressively increases the amount of responsibly harvested fiber used in making tissue products. Kimberly-Clark has set a target of buying 40% of its North American tissue fiber from recycled and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified sources by 2011 and WWF will provide technical assistance and feedback in reaching that goal.

In addition to participating in the GFTN, Kimberly-Clark has also pledged to support WWF’s efforts to protect High Conservation Value Forests—forests that are especially significant because of their environmental, socio-economic, biodiversity or landscape values. The company will fund the development of robust tools for identifying, mapping and monitoring these high conservation values in priority regions such as the Indonesian island of Sumatra, home to some of the richest and most biological diverse tropical forests on the planet.

“We believe our relationship with WWF will take our sustainability efforts to a new level,” said Suhas Apte, Vice President of Sustainability for Kimberly-Clark. “We look forward to working together to develop new tools to provide more data that will help protect High Conservation Value Forests.”

Kimberly-Clark and WWF will also collaborate to support FSC certification for privately-owned small and medium-sized forest management units, resulting in an increase in the area of FSC-certified forests and volume of FSC-certified products worldwide.

About Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Kimberly-Clark Corporation and its well-known brands are an indispensible part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people—nearly a quarter of the world’s population—trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in more than 80 countries. Kimberly-Clark had global net sales of $19.4 billion in 2008. Kimberly-Clark employs nearly 53,000 full-time employees, 400 part-time employees and 1,700 people on short-term contracts. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company’s 137-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

Note to Editors:

By facilitating trade links between companies committed to responsible forestry, the GFTN creates market conditions that help conserve forests while providing economic and social benefits for the businesses and people that depend on them. With combined annual sales of $64 billion, trading by GFTN participants represents 16% of all forest products bought or sold internationally every year. Read more about the GFTN’s work on supporting responsible forest management and trade at www.worldwildlife.org/naftn.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC is a certification system that provides internationally recognized standards, trademark assurance and accreditation services to companies, organizations, and communities interested in responsible forestry.

Markets Key to Saving World’s Forests

2009-10-20

Buenos Aires, Argentina – In an engaging dialogue Monday evening, WWF showcased its leading, innovative solutions—the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) and New Generation Plantations Project, bringing together key stakeholders from the private sector, environmental community and government. The discourse demonstrated how the global marketplace can be harnessed as a key force to conserve the world’s valuable and threatened forests, while providing economic and social benefits for the businesses and people that depend on them.

"WWF believes companies in the forest sector can play a critical role in providing solutions to climate change through sustainable management of natural forests and plantations,” said Rodney Taylor, Director of WWF-International’s forest programme. “Five to ten years ago, the only way NGOs could get the attention of companies was to campaign against unsustainable business operations. But now we find that companies are self-motivated to act responsibly. On the producer side companies want to do good forestry and on the buyer side they view responsible purchasing as a means to secure a long-term supply of raw materials."

The evening gathered experts in industry and government to share their experiences and insights into how markets can advance responsible forestry and trade practices. Representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC) and State Forestry Administration of China shared how these market mechanisms are key to conserving the vital forests in their countries.

“WWF through GFTN has been instrumental in promoting responsible forest management in the Congo Basin, achieving credible certification for 4.7 million hectares since December 2005,” said Martin Tadoum, COMIFAC Deputy Executive Secretary.

Industry also recognized the vital role of responsible forest management and trade practices in their business operations, asserting that environmentally and socially responsible business practices not only benefit the world’s forests but also their commercial objectives.

“We view our commitment to responsible forestry and credible certification as a worthwhile investment. Sustainability and environmentally and socially responsible practices are good business for us,” said Savio C. K. Chow, President of Export, China Flooring Holding Co. Ltd.

“CMPC is pleased to participate in the New Generation Plantations Project and pledges its continued support and commitment to achieve the most successful results,” said Daniel Contesse,Vice President of CMPC's Forestry Operations.

Global Forest & Trade Network

GFTN is WWF’s initiative to eliminate illegal logging and drive improvements in forest management while transforming the global marketplace into a force for saving the world’s valuable and threatened forests. By facilitating trade links between companies committed to responsible forestry, the GFTN creates market conditions that help conserve forests while providing economic and social benefits for the businesses and people that depend on them. A growing network, GFTN is comprised of over 295 companies from across the forest products industry. Trading by GFTN Participants represents 16 per cent of every forest product bought or sold internationally, with combined annual sales of US$64 billion. For more information, visit gftn.panda.org.

New Generation Plantations Project

New Generation Plantations explores how plantations can support biodiversity conservation, benefit local communities and contribute to economic growth. The project presents a new perspective on plantations that involve meaningful consultations with stakeholders and consider how plantations fit within a wider conservation landscape. Through a constructive collaboration between industry, government and civil society, this project seeks to mainstream new generation plantations as the global norm, creating plantations which unequivocally help to maintain a “living planet” for future generations. For more information, visit panda.org/forestry/newgenplantations.

Contact: Betsy Hickman, GFTN Communications Manager, betsy.hickman@wwfus.org, +1 202 492-2464

Safeguarding the Climate, Biodiversity and People’s Well-Being

2009-10-19

© Marcelo Tucuna" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />Monday kicked off the first full day of the XIII World Forestry Congress, a week-long dialogue organized by the government of Argentina in collaboration with the Forestry Department of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, which has attracted some 4,500 participants from more than 160 countries. Throughout the week speeches, workshops, round-table discussions, poster presentations, parallel events, exhibits, study and technical tours will provide a forum for the exchange of personal experiences and for discussions on topics related to the conference theme, "Forests in development – a vital balance."

WWF challenged government leaders, NGOs and businesses, in a keynote presentation delivered by Rodney Taylor, Director of WWF International’s Forest Programme, to back an ambitious target on stopping forest loss—zero net deforestation by 2020—as a major element of efforts to avert the looming climate catastrophe.

WWF also showcased its leading, innovative solutions—GFTN and New Generation Plantations Project—for tackling forests, climate change and biodiversity issues by engaging with the private sector to adopt responsible production and purchasing practices for forest and agricultural products.

Unable to join WWF at the World Forestry Congress? Please download the presentations from today’s proceedings for an in-depth look at the collaborative efforts that WWF and the GFTN are undertaking with key stakeholders to conserve the world’s valuable and threatened forests. In addition to this keynote, WWF also engaged with the attendees through the Partners for Responsible Forestry Series, a week-long session of presentations at the WWF booth on collaborative efforts by the international conservation organization, through initiatives like the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) and work with other key stakeholders to safeguard the climate, biodiversity and people’s well being.

HP Joins WWF’s Global Forest and Trade Network

2009-10-15

WASHINGTON, DC, and PALO ALTO, Calif. – HP today announced it has joined the Global Forest & Trade Network in North America (GFTN-NA), a WWF initiative linking more than 300 companies globally that share a commitment to responsible forestry.

By becoming a member of the GFTN, HP has committed to progressively increase the amount of responsibly harvested fiber used in its paper products and sold globally. HP has set a target of 40 percent of its paper sales from Forest Stewardship Council certified or post-consumer recycled sources by 2011.

As part of meeting these goals, HP will be engaging with suppliers and informing customers of its commitment. WWF will provide technical assistance toward reaching these goals.

“For more than 50 years, HP has been a leader in environmental sustainability, delivering solutions that help customers reduce their environmental impact,” said Glen Hopkins, vice president, Global Media Business, HP. “We look forward to working closely with WWF to demonstrate the importance of responsible and sustainable forest management practices.”

Carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation are a main cause of climate change. Joining the GTFN is part of HP’s commitment to mitigating climate change by reducing its carbon footprint across its business operations, products and supply chain.

“Every year, more than 30 million acres of natural forest are destroyed to meet the growing demand for wood and agricultural products,” said Suzanne Apple, WWF’s vice president for Business and Industry. “With this new relationship, HP is helping to protect the world’s forests by sourcing and trading responsible forest products.”

HP sells more than 280,000 tons of paper annually, including HP Everyday Papers, small- and large-format papers, photo media and other branded media products to a global market with a concentration in North America and Europe. HP papers are sold in office supply and retail stores throughout North America, including Wal-Mart, Office Depot, Staples, Target and FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko’s).

Learn more:

###

HP and the environment

For decades HP has been an environmental leader, driving company stewardship through its HP Eco Solutions program, which spans product design, reuse and recycling as well as energy and resource efficiency. HP influences industry action by setting high environmental standards in its operations and supply chain, by providing practical solutions to make it easier for customers to reduce their climate impact and through its research on sustainability solutions that support a low-carbon economy. More information is available at http://www.hp.com/ecosolutions.

About World Wildlife Fund

WWF is the world’s largest conservation organization, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, stop the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.

The Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) is WWF’s initiative to eliminate illegal logging and drive improvements in forest management while transforming the global marketplace into a force for saving the world’s valuable and threatened forests. First established in 1991, the GFTN is the world’s longest-running and largest forest and trade program of its kind – assisting hundreds of companies in evaluating their procurement and implementing appropriate action plans to ensure sustainable supply. By facilitating trade links between companies committed to responsible forestry, the GFTN creates market conditions that help conserve forests while providing economic and social benefits for the businesses and people that depend on them. With combined annual sales of $64 billion, trading by GFTN participants represents 16% of all forest products bought or sold internationally every year. Read more about the GFTN’s work on supporting responsible forest management and trade at www.worldwildlife.org/naftn.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC is a certification system that provides internationally recognized standards, trademark assurance and accreditation services to companies, organizations, and communities interested in responsible forestry.

About HP

HP, the world’s largest technology company, simplifies the technology experience for consumers and businesses with a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.

Tetra Pak Inc. Joins Global Forest and Trade Network

2009-10-15

© WWF-Canon / WWF-Switzerland / A. della Bella" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />WASHINGTON, DC and VERNON HILLS, IL -- Tetra Pak Inc., a leading manufacturer of food processing and packaging systems, is joining WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network in North America (GFTN-NA) to promote trade of responsibly sourced forest products. The Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) is WWF’s initiative to eliminate illegal logging and transform the global marketplace into a force for saving the world’s valuable and threatened forests

“Companies like Tetra Pak, which seriously commit to responsible wood and paper sourcing, can have significant positive impacts on forest conservation,” said Suzanne Apple, WWF’s Vice President for Business & Industry. “WWF welcomes Tetra Pak Inc. to a global community of more than 300 companies that are continuously improving their business practices while promoting healthy forests.”

By joining GFTN in North America, Tetra Pak further strengthens its global commitment to responsible fiber sourcing, in line with existing GFTN commitments in Sweden and the UK. In 2008, 33% of Tetra Pak’s global paperboard supply was fiber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the independent, globally recognized and robust standard for responsible forest management. The company has an ambitious goal of progressively increasing the FSC-certified content in its liquid packaging board.

“By joining the WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network in North America, we’ll be adhering to the gold standard of sustainable paper sourcing and mill management,” said Ed Klein, Tetra Pak Inc.’s VP Environmental Affairs. “In addition, we have committed to implement a responsible purchasing policy for wood and paper for internal use in our US and Canada facilities, giving preference to FSC and post-consumer recycled content.”

Tetra Pak initially joined the GFTN in 2006 with the GFTN-Sweden program, where it could coordinate with the company’s centralized, international paperboard purchasing team based in Lund. In 2007, Tetra Pak-UK became a participant in GFTN-UK to reinforce Tetra Pak’s international commitment to responsible purchasing in the UK.

“Tetra Pak is committed to business practices that protect resources for future generations and the future of our business,” said Klein.

Tetra Pak is also a member of WWF’s Climate Savers program, which mobilizes companies to establish ambitious targets to voluntarily reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Tetra Pak has set an absolute target to reduce its emissions 10 percent by 2010, compared to 2005 emissions.

Learn more:

###

About Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak is the world's leading food processing and packaging solutions company. Working closely with our customers and suppliers, we provide safe, innovative and environmentally sound products that each day meet the needs of hundreds of millions of people around the world. With over 20,000 employees and operations in more than 150 countries, we believe in responsible industry leadership and a sustainable approach to business. Our motto, “PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD,"™ reflects our vision to make food safe and available, everywhere.

More information about Tetra Pak is available at www.tetrapakusa.com

About World Wildlife Fund

The Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) is WWF’s initiative to eliminate illegal logging and drive improvements in forest management while transforming the global marketplace into a force for saving the world’s valuable and threatened forests. First established in 1991, the GFTN is the world’s longest-running and largest forest and trade program of its kind—assisting hundreds of companies in evaluating their procurement and implementing appropriate action plans to ensure sustainable supply. By facilitating trade links between companies committed to responsible forestry, the GFTN creates market conditions that help conserve forests while providing economic and social benefits for the businesses and people that depend on them. With combined annual sales of $64 billion, trading by GFTN participants represents 16% of all forest products bought or sold internationally every year. Read more about the GFTN’s work on supporting responsible forest management and trade at www.worldwildlife.org/naftn.

SIG Combibloc Joins GFTN-Germany

2009-10-12

SIG Combibloc, one of the world’s leading system suppliers of carton packaging and filling machines for beverages and food, recently made a formal commitment to responsible forest management and trade practices by joining GFTN-Germany.

Traceability of fibre sources, known origins and sourcing from responsibly managed forests is of great importance for the company on a global perspective. Through their participation in the GFTN, SIG Combibloc will work together with WWF in order to develop a wood fibre use and liquid packaging board supply from responsibly managed and credibly certified resources.

This commitment is a natural extension of the company’s environmentally and socially responsible business practices. For instance, SIG Combibloc achieved chain of custody (CoC) certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for all of its European production sites in July. With this CoC certificate, the company is one of the first manufacturers to offer aseptic carton packs with the FSC label.

In October 2009, SIG Combibloc launched the first FSC-certified beverage cartons for fruit juice drinks and ice teas in Europe. The beverage cartons, marked with the FSC label, are now on sale in all German branches of the Lidl chain—one of Europe’s biggest food retailers.

This label packaging confirms that all the wood fibres used in the packaging are traceable without interruption along the entire value-added chain—from the labelled carton pack to the forest of origin—in accordance with the CoC standards of the FSC. The label also confirms that appropriate quantities of the wood used for manufacturing the carton pack were bought from FSC-certified forests managed to the highest standards.

Michael Hecker, Head of Group Environment, Health & Safety at SIG Combibloc said, “For us, the FSC CoC certification of our production plants in Europe is a milestone on the road to certifying 100 per cent of our plants world-wide in accordance with the FSC standards, in order to ensure for all carton packs complete traceability to responsibly managed or controlled sources”.

For more information contact Johannes Zahnen (zahnen@wwf.de)

Join the Global Forest & Trade Network in Buenos Aires for the XIIIth World Forestry Congress

2009-10-12

© WFC 2009" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />Join the Global Forest & Trade Network in Buenos Aires for the XIIIth World Forestry Congress from October 18-23, 2009. 5000 representatives from government, private sectors and NGOs of more than 160 countries will engage in a week of keynotes, presentations, round tables, side events and exhibitions at the event, which is considered to be the most important gathering for dialogue and experience exchange in the forestry sector.

The congress's objective is to “promote the forest sector and role of sustainable forest management (SFM), the services that forest provides to the world”. Congress will provide an opportunity to analyze forests’ functions as a natural resource on the local, regional and global scales. The relevance of every type of forest and its contribution to the planet’s sustainable development will be stressed.

Internationally renowned speakers, academic institutions, producers, environmentalists, indigenous and rural people, forest managers, technical experts and policy makers will be summoned to share ideas on forestry and offer a truly global dialogue.

At the Congress, WWF and GFTN will host a series of presentations and side events on the role of forests in safeguarding the climate, biodiversity and people’s well-being, including:

WWF’s Work with Companies on Forests, Climate Change and Biodiversity
WWF will showcase its leading, innovative solutions—GFTN and NGPP—for tackling forests, climate change and biodiversity issues by engaging with the private sector to adopt responsible production and purchasing practices for forest and agricultural products. GFTN will present its successful model for transforming the global forest products market into a force for conserving the world’s valuable and threatened forests, while providing economic and social benefits for the businesses and people that depend on them. Similarly, NGPP will demonstrate its newly developed model for engaging with companies, governments and market stakeholders on the issues surrounding responsible plantations management and new plantations development. Read more...
Advancing Sustainable Forest Management Through Responsible Investing and Financing Mechanisms
GFTN and FAST, together with the Forest Stewardship Council and the International Finance Corporation, will explore how responsible investing and financing mechanisms can help conserve the world’s forests, sharing experiences and lessons learned on the impact finance has on advancing sustainable forest management. The evening’s programme will address collaborative efforts in tackling the root cause of deforestation and forest degradation, through a partnership that supports responsible forest finance. Presentations and panel discussions will emphasize the importance of capacity building among the forestry operators and increased preferential support by financial institutions for sustainable forest operations that safeguard biodiversity, the climate and people’s well-being. Read more...
WWF’s Partners in Responsible Forestry Series: Collaborative Efforts to Safeguard the Climate, Biodiversity and People’s Well-Being
Join WWF staff and partner organizations for the WWF’s Partners in Responsible Forestry Series—over 30 presentations throughout the week of the World Forestry Congress on key issues pertaining to the forestry sector. Download the programme for a complete listing of presentations, speakers and the week’s schedule. Read more...

Certificación Forestal en Bolivia: Beneficios para las Comunidades, Empresas y Bosques

2009-10-02

© WWF / Andrés UNTERLADSTAETTER" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />Foro en La Paz, Bolivia

El jueves 8 de octubre se desarrollará en La Paz un Foro en el que se analizarán los beneficios que la Certificación Forestal ha generado para las comunidades, empresas y bosques en Bolivia, catapultando al país a un liderazgo mundial en materia de manejo sostenible de bosques tropicales nativos. Es organizado por el Consejo Boliviano para la Certificación Forestal Voluntaria (CFV) y el Instituto Boliviano de Comercio Exterior (Ibce).

“Bolivia cuenta con 53 millones de hectáreas de bosque –casi el 50% del territorio nacional– de las cuales el 17% está destinado al aprovechamiento sostenible. Además, Bolivia, con más de 2 millones de hectáreas de bosque certificado con el sello FSC, se sitúa en una posición de liderazgo a nivel mundial, lo que ha sido posible gracias a alianzas entre empresas forestales comunitarias, industrias y el Estado. Pero hoy, más que nunca, es necesario velar por que este modelo de crecimiento no se destruya”, dijo Juan Pablo Valdivieso, Presidente del CFV.

Por su parte, Adolfo Moreno, Director a.i. de WWF Bolivia, indicó que “con nuestro apoyo, el primer grupo boliviano de líderes concesionarios se capacitó en prácticas forestales sostenibles en los años 90. Estos líderes, actuales empresarios comunitarios y privados, juegan un rol clave en el manejo forestal responsable en el país”.

“Existe una tendencia al consumo responsable de los recursos forestales en el mundo. Por ejemplo, la Unión Europea y EE.UU., mercados a los que llega el 70% de las exportaciones forestales bolivianas, están ajustando las exigencias de acceso a sus mercados para eliminar la comercialización de madera ilegalmente explotada. Esta es la más clara señal de que no nos equivocamos en liderar desde Bolivia el uso sostenible de los boques”, acotó Pablo Antelo, Presidente del Ibce.

Beneficios y desafíos
Los beneficios y desafíos del negocio forestal a nivel internacional serán materia de análisis en el Foro, el mismo que cuenta con el apoyo de la Cámara Forestal de Bolivia, WWF Bolivia, el Centro de Investigación y Manejo de Recursos Naturales Renovables (Cimar-Uagrm), el Consejo de Manejo Forestal (FSC) y el Colegio de Ingenieros Forestales de Santa Cruz (CIF SC).

El evento se realizará en la ciudad de La Paz, de 09:00 a 12:00 horas en el Salón “Roble” del Hotel Plaza, el jueves 8 de octubre.

Para mayor información:
Gualberto Vargas, Ibce, Tel. (03) 3362230, comunicaciones@ibce.org.bo, www.ibce.org.bo
Viviana Molina, CFV, Tel. (03) 3494670, cfv-vmolina@scbbs-bo.com, www.consejoforestal.org.bo
Nardin Pizarro, WWF Bolivia, Tel. (03) 3430609, npizarro@wwfbolivia.org, www.panda.org/bolivia

Ronda de Negocios Forestal Mundial

2009-10-02

© WWF Bolivia / Andrés UNTERLADSTAETTER" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />El 9 de octubre vencen las inscripciones

Este viernes 9 de octubre es la fecha límite para que las empresas interesadas se inscriban a la Ronda de Negocios Forestal Mundial, evento que se realizará el 21 de octubre de 2009 en el marco del XIII Congreso Forestal Mundial (CFM) en Buenos Aires, Argentina, gracias a la Cámara Forestal de Bolivia (CFB), con el auspicio de Usaid/Bolivia y FAO.

Esta Ronda de Negocios es el escenario ideal para comercializar productos forestales, encontrar inversionistas, proveedores de servicios, soluciones de negocios y otras necesidades para la industria maderera. La inscripción puede realizarse en www.cfm2009.org.

La CFB es el organismo operativo designado por la FAO para la organización de este evento comercial de importancia mundial, debido a su amplia experiencia en la organización de ruedas de negocios exitosas y por su larga trayectoria –más de 40 años de servicio continuo al sector forestal.

El Congreso Forestal Mundial se realiza cada 6 años en diferentes países del mundo. En 2003 se llevó a cabo en Canadá con cerca de 4.000 participantes. Para el Congreso en Argentina, hasta el momento se tienen más de 2.000 inscritos, y, por primera vez, se han abierto escenarios ágiles y eficientes para el sector forestal privado, como son la Ronda de Negocios y el Foro de Inversiones. De esta manera, la Ronda de Negocios contará con la participación de al menos 200 empresarios y representantes de organizaciones del sector forestal de más de 30 países, entre estos al menos 20 empresas bolivianas.

El objetivo del evento es fomentar las relaciones comerciales en el marco del desarrollo sostenible, a fin de otorgar mayor valor al bosque y a los productos manufacturados. Se trata de ofrecer un espacio de acercamiento y generación de contactos comerciales entre actores forestales de todo el mundo con el fin de hacer negocios a largo plazo y aprovechar las oportunidades que brinda el contexto mundial actual de transformación de mercados con la demanda de productos responsables que no pongan en riesgo la productividad de los bosques a futuro.

Para mayor información:
Karina Tellería, CFB, Tel. +591-3-3332699, karinatelleria@cfb.org.bo, www.cfb.org.bo

Domtar Reaches Significant FSC Milestone

2009-09-24

Domtar Corporation, the largest integrated manufacturer and marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and a GFTN-North America Participant, recently marked a significant milestone with the sale of its millionth ton of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. Since 2002, when Domtar manufactured its first ton of FSC-certified paper product, the company has diversified its product offering of environmentally and socially responsible papers under the Domtar EarthChoice® brand, building off the commitment Domtar made nearly a decade ago to pursue FSC certification for all of its facilities and company owned forests in the United States and Canada.

“Domtar EarthChoice papers are one of Domtar’s strongest statements about our commitment to responsible environmental practices, and I am proud to say that some of the most recognized companies and brands in the world have chosen EarthChoice to put their own commitment to sustainability on paper,” said John D. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer.

In recognition of Domtar’s achievement, the company has launched its “Thanks a Million” campaign, which conveys Domtar’s gratitude to everyone across the supply chain who supported and continues to support Domtar FSC-certified papers, from the forest floor to the customer’s doorstep. With over 40 FSC-certified sites, including 11 paper mills, three market pulp mills, 14 offsite converting operations and regional replenishment centers throughout North America, Domtar continues to expand its EarthChoice® line and meet increasing consumer demand for more responsible paper products in the marketplace.

“Domtar’s important FSC milestone is an extension of their commitment to responsible forest management and trade,” says Linda Kramme, Manager of GFTN-North America. “As a company that participates in WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network, Domtar continues to demonstrate its leadership in the realm of responsible forestry and credible certification.”

“Domtar has long been committed to supporting a more sustainable global forest products industry,” says Lewis Fix, Domtar’s Vice President of Sustainable Product Development. “With the continual support and assistance from key partners like WWF, Domtar looks forward to making continued, significant progress towards achieving FSC certification for Domtar’s mills, warehouses, converting operations and forested land in the United States and Canada, thereby increasing the amount of FSC-certified forests worldwide and the availability of FSC-certified products in the marketplace.”

For more information contact Linda Kramme (linda.kramme@wwfus.org)

B&Q Secures Biggest Volume of Tropical FSC-Certified Plywood in the World

2009-09-21

As a UK Government Department - DEFRA launches a consultation on licensed timber imports, B&Q, a GFTN-UK Participant, has announced that it will now buy only FSC-certified tropical hardwood plywood. Certification for B&Q’s entire supply of tropical plywood is a global first as historically it has been difficult to secure FSC certification for this volume.

All B&Q’s tropical hardwood plywood, which is sourced from community-owned and private forests in Brazil, is now FSC-certified and the FSC logo is clearly displayed in-store.

Julia Griffin, Timber Adviser for B&Q said, “We’re delighted to be the first retailer to gain FSC certification for all our tropical plywood. Now those looking for fully certified tropical plywood will have an easy way to get hold of what they need.”

B&Q's tropical plywood is sourced from Acre, Brazil’s westernmost state. This area of the Amazon has been a major focus for environmental organisations such as WWF to help create responsible markets for sustainable activities and help local communities gain FSC certification. There are 370 families involved in the community forestry projects surrounding the production of B&Q’s tropical plywood supply, and with the retailer requiring hundreds of thousands of sheets of tropical hardwood plywood a year, it’s hoped that the projects will expand to include a further 300 families.

In the areas of St George and Anti Marie, new projects are being developed and more families offered new housing. It has taken up to six years to get these projects working and helping families to understand the rewards. Now, the state government has just agreed a plan to build 500 homes for families living within the region’s forests. To qualify for a house, the parents (who are given work at a local factory) must agree to send their children to school.

The mill where the tropical plywood is created opened in 2006 and is self-sufficient in energy, as waste wood product is burnt to create energy.

For more information contact Julia Young (jyoung@wwf.org.uk)

Study Reveals Importance of Certification in Survival of Great Apes

2009-09-17

All species of great apes are endangered, and their continued existence depends on the conservation of the tropical rainforests. Recognizing that the majority of great apes live outside of formal protected areas, where logging is the most common land use, a new WWF report ‘Great Apes and Logging’ compares the consequences of different types of logging for a variety of species in general, and for great apes in particular. This comparison was based on scientific studies and information provided by large timber companies and conservation societies.

In the Congo Basin, only 10–15 per cent of the forests in the areas inhabited by the chimpanzee, bonobo and gorilla are legally protected, either as national park or nature reserve. In Indonesia and Malaysia, where the orang-utan dwell, only 20 per cent of the forests are legally protected. Many times that area of forest is leased as logging concession, in some countries this is up to 90 per cent of the area.

Effectively protected national parks and nature reserves are preferable habitats for great apes. However, since many great apes dwell in logging concessions, their continued existence depend, therefore, to a great extent on how well they can survive in these managed forests.

Credible Certification Preserves Great Ape Habitats

The authors of the report found that in contrast to other types of logging, responsible logging in accordance with internationally recognized Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) principles is a good guarantee for the preservation of adequate living conditions for great apes. In tropical forests, FSC certification requires independent audits and calls for selective logging while requiring maintenance or enhancements of high conservation value forest areas.

The study examined the differences between unlogged and logged areas as well as the effects of roads, hunting pressure, the human presence, and the time elapsed since logging. The study found that the large mammal diversity in responsibly logged areas did not markedly differ from that of protected areas. The population densities correspond fairly well, too. Certain species do decline in numbers in responsibly logged areas that are far removed from protected areas. The report concludes that though vast protected areas such as national parks and nature reserves offer ideal habitats for great apes, FSC-certified forests can be useful supplements to such protected areas and can also form ‘corridors’ between individual, isolated great ape habitats.

GFTN-Central Africa is working with participants to ensure that forest management plans for their concessions include the preservation of habitat conditions for rare and threatened species.
Great apes live in countries with great challenges related to forest governance and law enforcement. The fundamental threats to the great apes are illegal hunting, conversion of natural forests, and illegal or destructive logging practices that reduce and degrade their habitats.

For instance, the concession of Danzer’s Industrie Forestière d’Ouesso (IFO), a GFTN-Central Africa Participant, contains high population densities of gorillas, which is situated alongside the Odzala-Kokua National Park IFO is cooperating with the Wilderness Conservation Society (WCS) and the government to prevent poaching and unsustainable hunting through posting ‘eco-guards’, which seek to eliminate the illegal poaching of rare and endangered mammals such as gorilla, elephant, chimpanzee, bongo and forest buffalo in the forest concession. Additionally, they reduce demand for bushmeat from their workforce by importing cattle and fish from a nearby village weekly.

However, the company realizes that more support is needed from governments and other stakeholders if a long term and intensive control of hunting in both concessions and national parks in northern Congo is to become a reality In a presentation to the Gorilla Symposium (9–10 June 2009, Frankfurt), Danzer’s Olof von Gagern, Danzer Group’s CEO for Africa and Veneer Europe, entered a plea for a network to be set up linking protected areas and logging concessions. Logging companies provide employment, income and local development, and ensure long-term finance for the protective activities of eco-guards. Furthermore, they also pay taxes, part of which should flow back into the region. Von Gagern states that responsible management of the logging concessions must form part of the protection of vulnerable species. Furthermore, governments and donors must ensure the long-term funding of protected areas, to avoid severe hunting pressure.

GFTN-Central Africa is working together with companies and governments to ensure that the Congo Basin’s valuable and threatened forests and the rich biodiversity that lives there are conserved.

For more information contact
Elie Hakizumwami (Ehakizumwami@wwfcarpo.org)

WWF-WAFPO Programme Coordinator Appointed as Board Member in Ghana

2009-09-14

© Mustapha SEIDU/WWF WAFPO" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />Accra - WWF-West Africa Forest Programme Office (WAFPO) Programme Coordinator, Dr. Kwame Asamoah Adam, has been appointed as member of the board for the Forestry Commission of Ghana. This position was conferred on him in his capacity as the President of the Ghana Institute of Foresters.

His presence on the board will provide WWF an opportunity to push forward conservation concerns in Ghana as well as West Africa as a whole. Dr. Kwame Asamoah Adam has been the Programme Coordinator for WWF-WAFPO since September 2008. Prior to joining WWF, he held a Senior Research Scientist position within the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana and since August 2007 has been the President of the Ghana Institute of Foresters.

WWF-WAFPO is presently implementing the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) programme, a WWF's initiative to eliminate illegal logging from supply chains and transform the global market place into a force for saving the world's valuable and threatened forests. Learn more about GFTN.

Related news:
* Ghana - Forestry Commission Gets New Board (Ghana News Agency, 3 September 2009)

Related link:
Forestry Commission of Ghana

Nace el Paseo del Bosque Certificado

2009-09-14

© Manzana 1" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />Una ventana al bosque desde nuestra ciudad

La deforestación causa el 20% de las emisiones anuales de gases de efecto invernadero –más emisiones que las causadas por todo el sector del transporte global, y es la principal vía por la cual Bolivia contribuye al cambio climático global. Los bosques son importantísimos para luchar contra, y adaptarse a, el cambio climático. Nuestras estrategias para tratar el cambio climático deben incluir a los bosques. Si no lo hacen, nos veremos en una situación en la cual las emisiones creadas por la deforestación y la degradación forestal aumentan el calentamiento global, lo que a su vez acelera la pérdida de bosques. Es en este sentido que iniciativas de información y sensibilización como el Paseo del Bosque Certificado apuntan también a contribuir a mitigar el cambio climático.

Este martes 15 de septiembre a las 19.30 h se inaugura en la Av. La Salle entre 3º y 4º anillo en Santa Cruz de la Sierra el Paseo del Bosque Certificado. Se trata de una iniciativa del Gobierno Municipal Autónomo, WWF (la organización mundial de conservación) y la Cámara Forestal de Bolivia. Esta área está destinada a celebrar el compromiso de este municipio con la conservación de los bosques, y servir de espacio de recreación y sensibilización en torno al importante rol que las ciudades jugamos como beneficiarios y usuarios de los bosques de la región y el país.

En 2006 y 2008, Manzana 1 Espacio de Arte organizó Encuentros Internacionales de Escultores en Madera Certificada, de donde resultaron 16 imponentes esculturas que ahora son el elemento central que embellece y distingue a este Paseo.

Dando continuidad a una Ordenanza Municipal de 2006, el municipio ha asumido un activo compromiso con la conservación de nuestros bosques, a través de una serie de acciones:

La adopción de una Política de Compra Responsable de productos forestales, mediante la cual este Gobierno Municipal gradualmente comprará productos forestales certificados con apoyo de WWF
El auto-nombramiento de Santa Cruz de la Sierra como Capital Mundial de la Certificación de Bosques Tropicales Nativos
La creación del Paseo del Bosque Certificado.

El Paseo del Bosque Certificado es un área verde urbana que hará las veces de centro de interpretación, ofreciendo paneles informativos sobre la temática ciudad-bosques, manejo forestal, certificación FSC, comercio responsable y antecedentes de los dos Encuentros Internacionales de Escultores en Madera Certificada FSC, tornándose en una oportunidad excelente para actividades educativas y promocionales relacionadas al tema bosques.

En junio de 2008 inició la construcción del Paseo, que incluye dos pabellones de exposición de esculturas unidas por un puente, plazoletas, vías peatonales, y a futuro incluirá también un parque infantil, baños y ‘snacks’.

ANTECEDENTES

Acerca de WWF
WWF Bolivia, la organización de conservación, tiene el objetivo de contribuir a la conservación de la Amazonia y el Pantanal, promover y generar oportunidades económicas sostenibles para sus habitantes y el país. Visite www.panda.org/bolivia

WWF trabaja por un planeta vivo, y su misión es detener la degradación ambiental de la Tierra y construir un futuro en el que el ser humano viva en armonía con la naturaleza:

conservando la diversidad biológica mundial,
asegurando que el uso de los recursos naturales renovables sea sostenible y
promoviendo la reducción de la contaminación y del consumo desmedido.

Acerca del Gobierno Municipal Autónomo de Santa Cruz de la Sierra
El Gobierno Municipal tiene como misión contribuir a la mejora de la calidad de vida de sus habitantes y prestar servicios de calidad a la comunidad, promoviendo la participación activa de cada ciudadano en la planificación y consecución del desarrollo integral del Municipio y proyectando a Santa Cruz como una ciudad solidaria, vanguardista y progresista. Visite www.gmsantacruz.gov.bo

Acerca de la Cámara Forestal de Bolivia
La Cámara Forestal de Bolivia es una institución privada sin fines de lucro y con alcance nacional. Es el órgano matriz de las empresas forestales de Bolivia y su sede se encuentra ubicada en la ciudad de Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Cuenta con aproximadamente 100 socios, que se agrupan en 4 rubros: 1. Producción forestal en áreas bajo derecho de concesión, en tierras privadas declaradas de uso forestal y plantaciones; 2. Producción de láminas, chapas, contrachapas, prensadas, muebles en general, puertas, ventanas; 3. Productos forestales no maderables; 4. Servicios: de comercialización, secado, consultoras, transporte, etc. Las empresas asociadas a la CFB que donaron la madera para las esculturas y para parte de la construcción del Paseo son San Luis, Industria Forestal, San Martín, SFS y La Chonta. Visite www.cfb.org.bo

Acerca de la certificación forestal FSC
La certificación forestal ofrece una garantía de que los productos maderables que utilizamos provienen de un bosque manejado responsablemente. Por esto es importante reconocer el sello FSC en los productos forestales adquiridos, ya que los productos provenientes de bosques certificados por el FSC y cubiertos por un certificado de cadena de custodia, pueden ser etiquetados con el logotipo de marca registrada del FSC. La adquisición de un producto certificado por FSC garantiza al consumidor la contribución a la conservación de los bosques, además de permitirle manifestar su apoyo al manejo forestal responsable con su compra.

Bolivia es líder en certificación forestal voluntaria bajo el sello del Consejo de Manejo Forestal (FSC por su sigla en inglés) con 2.042.856 millones de hectáreas de bosque manejado de manera sostenible. Sin embargo, Bolivia pierde anualmente 300,000 hectáreas de bosque debido a la tala ilegal y la deforestación. 75% de esta deforestación en sus diferentes formas ocurre en el Departamento de Santa Cruz. Visite www.fsc.org

Santa Cruz de la Sierra es la capital del Departamento que alberga la mayor extensión de bosque certificado bajo el sello FSC en Bolivia, siendo nuestro país líder mundial en bosque tropical certificado con 2.042.856 hectáreas.

Harmonizing Policy and Practice in China

2009-09-12

The International Forestry Cooperation Center of Chinese State Forestry Administration (IFCC-SFA) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), together with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade Program (RAFT), Rainforest Alliance (RA), the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF) and WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network, held a conference entitled “Legal & Certified Forests & Forest Products in Asia Pacific: Harmonizing Policy and Practice” in Shanghai at the beginning of September.

This two day conference brought together 400 participants, including representatives from international NGOs, governments and business sectors, to discuss trends in legal and certified forests and markets, both globally and within China, and to find ways to harmonize policy and practice by enhancing the capacity for positive change. Speakers included industry leaders, government administrators, executives of international finance institutions and scholars, who each shared their perspective on the current state of government policy and sustainable forestry practices throughout the forest products supply chain.

The conference aimed to bridge the gap between emerging policy and corporate practice. Through a successful dialogue, a broad consensus that wood manufacturers should endeavor to incorporate sustainability into their whole industrial chain from sourcing through production and finally to distribution was reached, which is not only good for the environment, but also for business.

Advancing Responsible Forestry in China

Following this conference, GFTN-China held its Annual Members Meeting, gathering national and international experts to deliver presentations on topics like legality and sustainable demand for wood products in national and international markets, Russian forest legislation and sustainable forest management, and verification of legal original and legal compliance. Presentations were given by GFTN staff from Latin America and Russian on the availability of legal and certified material and topics such as forest carbon and reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) were introduced to attendees by Bruce Cabarle.

The US Lacey Act continues to be a strong area of interest for all participants and the demand for further guidance, training and support with customers remains strong and is unlikely to diminish in the short term.

Large influential, retailers, such as Kingfisher, Lowe's, Saint Goban, Wal-Mart and Williams-Sonoma attended the annual meeting and training, along with representatives from the Environment Certification Center, and the Environment Protection Ministry of China. This is the first time a GFTN-China meeting has been attended by representatives of ministries outside of State Forest Administration and may indicate a wider interest among government circles.

Mr. Hu Yuanhui, Division Director of International Forestry Cooperation Center of China’s State Forestry Administration (SFA), said that during the past 10 years, WWF has made great efforts to promote forest protection in China. WWF has cooperated with SFA and has provided technical and financial support to SFA on promoting the standards of forest certification.

The Annual Members Meeting was also used to launch the "China Green Wood Initiative", initiated and held by WWF, China Timber Value Promotion and Substitution Administration Center and China Wood International. This initiative now gives the Chinese wood industry a more open platform to commit to sustainable development and undertake social responsibility—calling for wood enterprises to incorporate sustainability into their sourcing policies, attend related green wood training programs and protect forest resources worldwide.

Dr. Li Lin, Head of Conservation Strategies of WWF China, said that this initiative will help more and more enterprises of Chinese wood industry to get in a better way on providing legal and certified products worldwide.

Mr. Liu Nengwen, Director of Timber Value Promotion and Sustainable Development Center, said, “We will fully use the capacity of the center as the government agency to promote the improvement of the related policies on sustainable development.”

The initiative is an extension of EC funded Asia SWITCH project, which focuses on increasing awareness of responsible sourcing, specifically targeting small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across a range of wood processing sectors. It combines lessons learned from GFTN-China Participants and transfers these to the larger number of SMEs, at least 250 by the end of 2011, increasing the capacity of these SMEs to provide legal and certified products and extending the reach of GFTN–China.

For more information contact Jin Zhonghao (zhhjin@wwfchina.org)