Environmental non-governmental organisations like Greenpeace and the timber trade share the same objective: to secure legal and sustainable timber supplies for the future. So why are we seen so often to be in conflict?
I believe that where we can improve the environment through purchasing power we should. With regard to Indonesia, Finnforest chose to postpone contracts in June, as did other traders. Some responded differently yet the message to the Indonesians was clear – the UK market wants verified, legal and sustainable timber.
But dialogue with the mills is the only realistic way to secure sustainable timber. Pulling out of the market will merely mean these products are sold elsewhere, with no improvement in forestry practices. This dialogue is also having an impact on decision makers within Indonesia. Several companies within the Timber Trade Federation have helped fund the Tropical Forests Trust scoping study. This is a major step forward and one I would encourage others to become involved with.
The Indonesian government is changing; but change takes time and under their Memorandum of Understanding with the UK, we should actively support their efforts to improve forest standards.
The issue is very clear – if there is no economic reason to conserve these forests, the land will be put to other uses and the forests will disappear, as the development of soya bean farming in Brazil demonstrates.
Many environmental organisations applaud our policy of engagement and my experiences as part of the TTF delegation to Indonesia confirmed that the Indonesian people want substantial reasons to keep their forests sustainable and well-managed.
I am heartened that Greenpeace has backed Finnforest’s plans to address the issue of overcapacity through education. We will develop this further, hopefully with Greenpeace’s support. However, hardwood plywood is an important product in the UK and we will continue to work with appropriate supplier countries to source sustainable products.
Greenpeace’s endorsement of trade initiatives is heartening; headlines may have short-term effectiveness, but in the longer-term co-operation, discussion and realistic and workable solutions are the only way to meet all of our objectives.
