Dutch boost FSC tropical imports
5 April 2013The share of FSC-certified tropical timber on the Dutch market more than doubled in three years, new research showed.
FSC timber increased from 15.5% of all Dutch tropical timber in 2008 to 39% in 2011, according to forestry market information organisation Probos Foundation.
The Netherlands is one of the largest consumers of tropical sawn timber in the EU, according to the International Tropical Timber Organisation.
It imported 262,000m3 in 2010, less than Italy, but ahead of France. There are 20 million ha of tropical forest that is FSC certified, which represents 6% of the total area of production, Probos said.
“Liesbeth Gort, director-general of FSC Netherlands, said: “The doubling of market share is great news, but it is no reason to sit back as illegal logging is still a very pressing issue.”
