Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade

FLEGT & Certification

The TTF’s Responsible Purchasing Policy, requires members to undergo a risk management framework ensuring due diligence on their timber products. Buying from certification sources or a country that is FLEGT-licensed is one way that companies can reduce the risk and demand of buying illegally sourced timber.

FLEGT raises standards across the entire implementing country, whereas voluntary certification schemes raise the standards in the concessional area where the certificate is valid.

However it does not have to be one or the other.

Purchasing and specifying timber that is FLEGT and certification certified is the best way to ensure that timber is legally sourced, benefits local communities and eradicating illegal logging practices.

Combined, FLEGT and certification have a more substantial impact on sustainability for the country, raising the standard for all. Both FLEGT and certification schemes ultimately work towards sustainable forest management, increasingly the supply of responsibly sourced legal timber and working to eradicate illegal logging.  FLEGT and the VPA process met around 60-75% of the requirements for FSC.

Uptake of certification in tropical forests is currently around 6.5% coverage compared to the temperate forests at 16.3% and boreal at 22% coverage. Illegal practices, weak governance and land rights disputes are a few of the issues plaguing tropical forest areas. Recognising the importance of a holistic, country-wide law to change forestry practices led to the formation of FLEGT, requiring transformation to all of the principles behind illegal logging.

The TTF FLEGT

Acknowledging the stigma around importing tropical timber, deforestation and overall negative perceptions, the Timber Trade Federation are working to promote FLEGT as a legal, verified way to import tropical timber.

Funded by the UK Department for International Development, the TTF are working to grow and promote the use of FLEGT licensed timber among designers, architects, specifiers, traders and other target audiences. The TTF FLEGT project team often attend trade conferences and discussions to promote, encourage discussion around FLEGT and tropical timber while raising awareness.

The project team consists of TTF’s CEO David Hopkins, FLEGT Project Manager Lucy Kamall and FLEGT Communications Executive Lucy Bedry.

The TTF’s FLEGT work plan focus on Europe, FLEGT-licensed Indonesia, VPA implementing Ghana and China.

EUROPE

Our role as the TTF encourages a certain stance to communicate and encourage members and other relevant stakeholders towards the FLEGT message. Consequently, the majority of our work plan is in Europe to increase demand, promotion and awareness of the FLEGT license and VPA process.

Our current projects include:

• A design initiative with architecture students to design a series of seating using wood from FLEGT and VPA countries. These will be placed at various points of interest in the UK, extending to Europe in the future. Called ‘Conversations about Climate Change’ we hope these benches will encourage discussion around tropical timber, sustainability, climate change and the role of wood for the future.
• E-Learning modules are currently in creation to communicate the FLEGT message, tackle general perceptions about tropical timber and inform designers, architects, specifiers, merchants and wider audience on how to make best use of timber from FLEGT VPA countries.
• Press releases and social media awareness of FLEGT and the VPA process to designers, architects, specifiers, merchants, our members and wider audience to encourage use and demand.

GHANA AND INDONESIA

Indonesia is currently the only FLEGT licensed country. Ghana are currently in the final stages of their VPA implementation, the next expected FLEGT licensed country!

Recognising the potential of these two countries, we work alongside the Global Timber Forum to build capacity with trade associations to effectively participate in their FLEGT VPA process. Being the UK’s Timber Trade Federation with members making up 85% of the UK’s Timber Industry, we are able to communicate European requirements for timber products, strengthen capabilities for trade and inform on how to promote products best for market.

Our work in collaboration with the Global Timber Forum involves:

• Research to understand the market decline for exports to EU, advise on best practice for promoting Ghana’s timber product exports and opportunities
• Developing messaging and materials, of FLEGT and their VPA process
• Developing member services, linking to legality training

CHINA

Recognising the influence of China and other Asian countries in the tropical belt, we are working with Chinese associations  to communicate European requirements for timber products under the EUTR and CPR. We are promoting FLEGT licenses and buying from FLEGT to meet broader European customer requirements.

Our current projects include:

• Supporting the creation of new legislation in China on promotion of legally-sourced timber and timber products
• Development of guidance documents for Chinese importers, manufacturers and exporters; and guidance/ training guide for EU/ UK importers 
• Training workshops with manufacturers and relevant associations to disseminate the guidance and run seminar with UK/ EU stakeholders