John Boddy Timber has secured a long-term agreement to buy a variety of FSC-certified tropical hardwoods from Guatemala, after helping pioneer a groundbreaking initiative in tropical timber supply.
The company, based in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, is now buying directly from a number of communities in the Central American country, which have been granted custody of tropical forest concessions, and are being helped in the skills of forestry management, sustainable harvesting, selection, grading and sawmilling.
John Boddy was an early supporter of NGO Just World Partner’s sustainable forestry initiative in Guatemala. Managing director Frank Boddy’s support also helped implement a UK Department for International Development funded project in the country.
It is a subject close to his heart. “A particular cause of concern for us has been the poor, irresponsible and sometimes criminal activities in the supply of tropical hardwoods that have resulted in the devastation of tropical rainforests,” he said.
John Boddy is a staunch supporter of FSC and similar certification schemes. The company has received a number of consignments of FSC Central American mahogany, some of which was supplied to customer Brown & Carroll for use in the Old Bailey refurbishment.
As well as FSC mahogany, Mr Boddy is also interested in other lesser-known species like black cabbage bark and Santa Maria, a lower cost FSC-alternative to African sapele for furniture and joinery applications.
Commenting on the initiative Mr Boddy said: “What we have all achieved with this project should be a beacon for forestry and timber operations in tropical and other sensitive regions across the world.”
