The vice-chairman of Forests Forever‘s executive board David Mason is considering his position following the passing of a controversial resolution requiring members to join the Timber Trade Federation (TTF).
The resolution, carried 36-29 at Forests Forever’s AGM, requires members who are not already in the federation, but are eligible to join, to sign up by January 2003.
Mr Mason, managing director of FW Mason & Sons Ltd, said, as he was originally elected to represent independent non-TTF members on Forests Forever, his position could be ‘untenable’ if he was to become a TTF member.
‘I am disappointed that Forests Forever will now not represent the voice of the independent timber trade, only the members of the TTF.’
He added: ‘What concerns me is that we might lose credibility with environmental NGOs. I just hope this new development will not create a situation where there will be increased aggression between the two sides.’
Mr Mason also said his company could not justify the ‘high cost’ of joining the TTF.
Mark O’Brien, the TTF’s head of public affairs, said the change is aimed at helping the two organisations work more closely together, as identified in the TTF’s review document. He pointed out TTF members were recently required to join Forests Forever.
‘Certainly, the feeling at the meeting expressed by non-federation members was that they will be willing to talk to the federation,’ he added.
John Bagshaw, managing director of International Timber, supported the move and called on smaller companies to join the TTF ‘in order to have a united trade’.
