In a move thought to be the first of its kind in the world, the UK’s forest and timber industries, environmental groups and government have agreed to work in partnership to promote sustainable development in the sector at home and abroad.
The UK Forest Partnership for Action, originally a short-term initiative to advise the prime minister on forestry issues in the run-up to the Johannesburg World Summit, has decided it wants a permanent role to effect change. Members include the Timber Trade Federation, Forest Industries Development Council (FIDC), Worldwide Fund for Nature and the devolved administrations.
It will focus on denying illegally harvested timber and wood products access to the UK and purchasing from legal and sustainably-managed forests with credible independent verification as proof.
The partnership also wants to increase the amount of certified forest from 40% to 60% and the amount of certified timber produced from 60% to 80% over the next five years, plus restore and protect woodlands in the UK and overseas.
In addition, the forest business sector led by the FIDC is formulating a strategy setting out its commitment to sustainable development.
George McRobbie, the FIDC’s sustainability task group chairman, said: “We expect the strategy to help us reinforce the message that the social, environmental and economic attributes of wood make it a highly sustainable choice and a key tool for delivering sustainable development.”
