While the agenda has moved on and there is not quite such a strong feeling of antagonism between certain groups, debate and questioning can become lively, especially over issues surrounding certification bodies and countries that are considered deficient on the core issues.
Keynote speaker was James Griffiths, representing the World Business Council for Sustainable Development that speaks on behalf of 200 leading global companies, including many of the larger timber groups and end users, such as Kimberly Clark tissues.
Mr Griffiths made clear that illegal logging is a vital issue to his members, because of the depression it can cause to pricing, as well as their need to act in line with their individual corporate social responsibility agreements.
The need to respond to customer concerns, while also trying to ensure that companies do not become overburdened, thereby hampering their competitiveness, was made clear and shows how seriously large companies take this issue.
Forest Law Enforcement, Governance & Trade (FLEGT) continues to develop and its progress is always updated at these meetings. The EU, through certain member states, has taken an active position on FLEGT, sponsoring certain countries to develop a plan that commits them to achieving legal/sustainable status.
John Bazill and Julia Falconer from the EC gave an update on progress that will ensure legal licensing for timber exports to the EU, using some €60m of funding to assist certain countries. Future plans include EU bans on illegally harvested timber by use of these licences.
EU policy
EU government procurement policy was detailed by representatives of the Danish, Dutch and UK organisations, who revealed that, while the UK policy may still have some shortcomings, the Central Point of Expertise for Timber (CPET) is still considered to be the best example of how to control government timber purchasing. Neil Judd of CPET explained how the three countries are converging their policies on legality and sustainability.
Mr Judd also confirmed the position on the five certification schemes that are approved, with the next review in 2008. It was also made clear that some government buyers are still unsure of their position on timber products, despite ongoing training and an advice line.
Meanwhile Category B proof of assurance is being developed and guidelines are now available. This is still at an early stage of development and will form the basis of trying to verify the most difficult timber items – those that have no certification scheme cover.
Different continents were covered by a variety of presentations throughout the two days, while the ‘real world’ of providing certified timber products in the UK was explained, highlighting the fact that demand remains poor and understanding at construction site level is also of a low standard. The importance of training at this level was emphasised and is seen as being essential to counter high profile NGO campaigning and other activities that risk alienating the people who need to arrange purchase and supply of certified timber.
Russia, China, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia were all covered by a wide range of speakers. An enlightening presentation was made by WWF Russia which identified some of the difficulties in gaining public involvement from a governmental system that still appears to run its own agenda.
Chinese market
Kerstin Candy of US-based Forest Trends gave an overview of the Chinese market. The vast scale and huge growth in timber product consumption and production was brought home with some startling numbers, including the fact that there is reckoned to be a 150 million m3 gap between timber supply and demand, inevitably sucking in massive imports of raw material.
Russia, at around 49%, is the largest supplier to China, but many other countries, including in Africa, have a large dependence on China as a customer.
Others highlighted the changes in tariffs and other factors that are shaping demand and production. Chain of custody is also increasing in China, but awareness of illegal logging as an issue is still low there.
Andy Roby, TTF head of environment and corporate social responsibility, spoke of the increasing supply of certified wood into the UK with latest figures showing 28% PEFC and 21% FSC material, but said “very little plywood and hardwood is certified”. He explained about the tightening of the TTF’s Code of Conduct and the China Timber Trade Action Plan, confirming that “there is increased environmental activism in China”.
An update was also given on Malaysia’s efforts to confirm a Voluntary Partnership Agreement that will prove Malaysian timber is sustainable (legality is already recognised by CPET through the MTCC certification scheme). The cost of compliance (around M$35,000 per company) is a major issue.
For more information, visit the Chatham House Updates website www.illegal-logging.info.
