Global Forest and Trade Network
Australia imports illegally harvested timber every year, mostly in the form of outdoor tables and chairs, shelves and other household items. Some of it is also hidden in the common paper products we use every day.
According to a 2005 Australian Government report, around $400 million worth of illegally harvested timber is imported into Australia annually, which represents around 9% of our total timber imports.
Asia-Pacific countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma and Papua New Guinea are believed to be the major sources of illegally harvested timber entering Australia. World-wide, illegal logging is on the rise, and in some African countries it is estimated that up to 80% of all harvested trees are taken illegally.
Illegal logging contributes to major environmental and social problems, including the destruction of the habitat of the Sumatran tiger, orang-utan, rhino and elephant.
Because illegal logging operators don’t pay royalties to governments and communities, local people are deprived of the economic benefits a legal timber industry can bring and are often kept locked in a cycle of poverty and exploitation.
WWF Global Forest and Trade Network
The Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) is an alliance working to promote the responsible purchasing of timber products, and to create market incentives for forest managers to improve forestry practices where it matters most.
The GFTN was founded in 1991. Its original vision was to ensure that timber and paper supplies came from well managed forests, and did not contribute to forest destruction and illegal logging practices.
Since its launch, the GFTN has become widely recognised as a successful partnership between WWF and business – a partnership that promotes and progresses responsible management of the world’s forests.
Members of the GFTN commit themselves to tracing their timber and paper products back to the forest source. The aim is to provide a framework for members to identify materials coming from unknown or unacceptable sources and to move towards products from credibly certified forests.
Members represent a broad range of organisations that recognise the power they have to make a difference to illegal logging. This power is exercised through the volume of material traded or purchased by their business (whether paper or wood products) or the way the timber species they require impacts on the viability of high conservation value forests.
Members also help to bring about consumer awareness of the problems of illegal logging, and how responsibly managed forest products can help tackle this issue. They lobby key stakeholders to bring about changes to tackle deforestation and illegal logging, encourage the more responsible use of forest products and improve the management of valuable and threatened forests.
According to a 2005 Australian Government report, around $400 million worth of illegally harvested timber is imported into Australia annually, which represents around 9% of our total timber imports.
Asia-Pacific countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma and Papua New Guinea are believed to be the major sources of illegally harvested timber entering Australia. World-wide, illegal logging is on the rise, and in some African countries it is estimated that up to 80% of all harvested trees are taken illegally.
Illegal logging contributes to major environmental and social problems, including the destruction of the habitat of the Sumatran tiger, orang-utan, rhino and elephant.
Because illegal logging operators don’t pay royalties to governments and communities, local people are deprived of the economic benefits a legal timber industry can bring and are often kept locked in a cycle of poverty and exploitation.
WWF Global Forest and Trade Network
The Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) is an alliance working to promote the responsible purchasing of timber products, and to create market incentives for forest managers to improve forestry practices where it matters most.
The GFTN was founded in 1991. Its original vision was to ensure that timber and paper supplies came from well managed forests, and did not contribute to forest destruction and illegal logging practices.
Since its launch, the GFTN has become widely recognised as a successful partnership between WWF and business – a partnership that promotes and progresses responsible management of the world’s forests.
Members of the GFTN commit themselves to tracing their timber and paper products back to the forest source. The aim is to provide a framework for members to identify materials coming from unknown or unacceptable sources and to move towards products from credibly certified forests.
Members represent a broad range of organisations that recognise the power they have to make a difference to illegal logging. This power is exercised through the volume of material traded or purchased by their business (whether paper or wood products) or the way the timber species they require impacts on the viability of high conservation value forests.
Members also help to bring about consumer awareness of the problems of illegal logging, and how responsibly managed forest products can help tackle this issue. They lobby key stakeholders to bring about changes to tackle deforestation and illegal logging, encourage the more responsible use of forest products and improve the management of valuable and threatened forests.
PT Ratah Timber, a timber company which is a member of WWF's GFTN programme, East Kalimantan, Borneo, December 2010.
Love Your Forests
The Love Your Forests campaign aims to raise awareness amongst consumers of Forests Stewrdship Council (FSC) certified products and the importance of responsible forest management.
How to Love Your Forests
How to Love Your Forests
