A Tropical Forest Trust (TFT) project in Indonesia has become the Forest Stewardship Council‘s (FSC) first certified teak forest in South-east Asia.
The project, supported by European retailers, will result in FSC-certified teak being made into garden furniture for sale in TFT member stores by the summer of 2006.
The certificate covers 152 acres of smallholder teak lots across 12 villages in Sulawesi Tenggara province.
TFT members financially supporting the project include B&Q, Castorama, Habitat, Wyevale Gardens Centres and Vicaima.
TFT executive director Scott Poynton said: “This is not an aid project. This is business. TFT members saw an opportunity to invest in a programme to secure sustainable raw material supplies.”
Franck Moreno, Castorama’s director of sourcing and sustainability, said: “It’s a win/win situation – the communities get access to the global market and we secure raw material supplies. We’ve started small but the project has significant growth potential. The message for us is simple – if you want FSC tropical hardwood, invest in securing it.”
