October 2002

Timber Trade Meet Development Minister

The Timber Trade Federation met with International Development Minister, Sally Keeble MP to discuss issues that impact on the timber trade in particular the role that the trade can play in promoting sustainable forest management. (Wednesday 30 October 2002). Twenty Federation Members were introduced to the Minister and a short discussion followed lunch.
Mark O'Brien, the TTF's Head of Public Affairs said, " This was an important opportunity for the trade to talk directly to the Minister at her first meeting with the Federation since being appointed in June. The Minister reiterated the importance that the Government places on sustainable forest management and its role in creating wealth in developing countries.
The Federation was given the chance to put its message over that the market in tropical hardwoods was relatively small, that it was playing its part in trying to make this part of the sector more sustainable and that it was only through trade that this goal could be achieved."
The continued strengthening of the Federation's relationship with the Government was given a further boost, after the Rt. Hon Michael Meacher MP, the Minister for the Environment agreed to meet the Federation for a second time on 21 January 2003.

For further information contact Mark O'Brien on 020 7839 1891 or email mobrien@ttf.co.uk