‘Responsible timber buying’ is the subject of a conference organised by the UK Forest Partnership for Action on December 9.
The event, focused on environmentally sustainable timber sourcing, will take place at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. It is being billed by the UKFPA as relevant to central and local government procurement officials, architects, structural engineers, timber traders, housebuilders, property developers, wood and wood product manufacturers and users, timber certification bodies, environmental NGOs and representatives of timber exporters to the UK.
The conference will be chaired by Martin Gale, managing director of UPM-Kymmene (UK) Ltd and will be attended by Bill Rammell, the parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Foreign Office.
Responsible timber buying best practice will be illustrated with case studies featuring timber traders, architects, governments and foreign suppliers and there will be an update on UK government procurement policy.
Speakers will include Ruth Nussbaum of Proforest, Nick Davenport of Finnforest, Ian Goldsmith of Travis Perkins and Chris Morgan of Gaia Architects.
In a move thought to be the first of its kind in the world, the UK’s forest and timber industries, environmental groups and government have agreed to work in partnership to promote sustainable development in the sector at home and abroad.
The UK Forest Partnership for Action, was originally a short-term initiative to advise the prime minister on forestry issues in the run-up to the Johannesburg World Summit. It has now become a permanent body with members including the Timber Trade Federation, Forest Industries Development Council, Worldwide Fund for Nature and the devolved administrations.
