Research into Chinese timber legality verification scheme under way

Detailed research aimed at establishing a practical timber legality verification scheme in China is under way.

The project, due to be completed in the summer of 2011, involves the Research Institute of Forestry Policy and Information of the Chinese Academy of Forestry in collaboration with the UK consultancy ProForest.

Financial support is being provided by Defra and the State Forestry Administration of China.

Work involves analysing the current and expected market requirements and potential for legal timber and wood products, a comparative study on world timber legality verification schemes, pilot testing using a verification scheme, workshops to discuss results and development of policy recommendations.

The project aims to integrate experience of both China and the UK/EU in developing a scheme suited to China’s timber trade.