About the Program
After good initial progress, sustainable forest management in tropical regions, where good forest management practices are most urgently needed, is lagging behind. There is now a unique momentum for mainstreaming sustainable tropical timber. Both in Europe and in North America legality measures are being introduced that will have large-scale impact on the tropical timber sector. The European Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition (European STTC) aims to increase demand for timber from sustainably managed forests to a mainstream level as key unlocking move for the tropical timber sector. Find out how you can join this coalition.
Press Release
Amsterdam – 11th November, 2013
European initiative to accelerate the responsibly sourced tropical timber market
Today over forty private and public organizations jointly launched the European Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition (European STTC ). The coalition aims to increase European demand for timber from sustainably managed tropical forests. Hans Stout, program director IDH: “We need to increase responsibly sourced tropical timber to protect the existing tropical forests and their inhabitants. The European STTC will boost demand at European level to create a business case for sustainable forest management.”
Market Demand
Jamie Lawrence, Senior Sustainability Advisor – Kingfisher Net Positive: “At Kingfisher, timber and wood-fibre is a fundamental resource. Timber makes up a considerable proportion of our cost of goods. Our aspiration is to ‘create more forests than we use’ by 2050 and we aim to achieve 100% responsibly sourced timber and paper in all our operations by 2020. The aim of the European STTC to reach a tipping point through a collaborative commitment across the industry is welcomed and will no doubt help the European market lead the way.”
Mainstream responsibly produced timber
Evaluations conducted by the World Bank and the UNEP conclude that sustainable forest management is an effective way to combat deforestation. Therefore, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative initiated this coalition. Stout: “We strive to bring responsibly produced tropical timber from niche to mainstream by increasing the demand for responsibly produced tropical timber. Thus we contribute to the survival of the forests and ensuring a viability supply of tropical timber.”
Minister Sharon Dijksma of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs: “I am very happy we succeeded in bringing together so many partners from the private and public sector to work on the same goal: sustainable tropical forest management. This coalition is a support for the EU action plan on combating illegal timber trade and contributes to the goals of the International Tropical Timber Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity.”
The European STTC is linked to initiatives that work closely with the local stakeholders, companies, governments and certification companies such as FSC to stimulate tropical forest management.
For more information:
Contact
Marijke Popma, Senior Communication Manager
popma@idhsustainabletrade.com
(+31)0641 767 811
Creating Sustainable Timber Markets
Launching the Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition
Wednesday 6th November, 2013 – Concern Congres Centrum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
This November will mark the international launch of the European Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition (European STTC). This event will bring together the companies, trade organizations, NGO’s, and national and local government representatives from across Europe that are participating in the coalition. The event will feature renowned speakers from the Timber world. Trade and general press are welcome.
Our confirmed speakers for the event are Heiko Leideker (European Forest Institute) and Carolien Gehrels (Deputy Mayor Amsterdam), with Peter Woodward as Moderator. Click here for more information about the speakers.
To receive registration instructions for this event, please send an email to events@eusttc.com. For questions about this event, contact Carolien de Boer.