Responsible forestry and trade

Forests are an amazingly rich natural resource, but they must be properly managed.

Every year, millions of hectares of virgin forest are destroyed to meet the growing global demand for wood and agricultural products. That’s unlikely to be sustainable in the long-term and those forests could disappear altogether.

As much of the world’s forests are outside of protected areas, it is vitally important that they are managed for their biodiversity, and not only for their commercial value.

Forestry, if conducted inappropriately, can be very environmentally damaging and, in the worst cases, absolutely destructive.

Large-scale clear-felling of forests, the logging of high conservation value forests, converting natural forest to plantations, and the intensive use of chemicals and fertilisers, can all have major impacts on the long-term health and viability of forest ecosystems.

An important part of our work is to improve forest management, to ensure ongoing forest resources, and to help develop a more responsible trade in forest-sourced goods. Our aim is to help end widespread unsustainable deforestation and to protect forests for people and wildlife.


Global Forest and Trade Network
WWF’s Global Forest and Trade Network-Australia is a partnership between WWF and business to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests through trade and influence.

Forest certification
Find out why WWF recommends the FSC certification scheme, which gives you confidence that you’re buying responsible wood and paper products.

Illegal logging
Find out why the illegal timber trade is a huge global problem, and how we’re helping to combat it.

Forest conversion
Find our why forest conversion is a huge problem and how we can work towards global solutions.