The director-general of the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) Paul Martin featured on BBC Radio Four’s Today programme this week to present the trade’s stand on illegal logging.
Mr Martin was asked to give an industry response following a news item based on a WWF report on illegally logged hardwood being imported to the UK from central and eastern Europe in the form of garden furniture.
He said afterwards: “I pointed out that garden furniture represented a small part of the industry but we are concerned if there are any questions regarding legality and that we would advise our members on it.”
Mr Martin also described the good work being done, citing the WWF/IKEA partnership scheme for the development of sensible forest management in countries including China, the Baltic states, Romania and Bulgaria.
He also flagged up the TTF’s attendance at a conference in Romania earlier this year which focused on problems and opportunities for reaching sustainable forest management.
