February 2003
Timber Trade Federation to participate in African FLEG
The TTF is to attend the African Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) in Cameroon (Yaounde, April 1-4 2003) aimed at galvanizing international and multi-stakeholder commitment to strengthen forest law enforcement capacity in Africa. An Action Plan will be developed to tackle the illegal exploitation of forest products and their associated trade.
Andy Roby, TTF's Corporate Social Responsibility Adviser added, "It is important that the UK timber trade views are also heard in the African FLEG, and that we promote our commitment and efforts to sourcing legal timber from Africa with our partners in the region."
The primary goals of the meeting are to explore best current thinking on forest governance, deliberate on illegal forest exploitation in the African continent and associated trade, identify potential stakeholder partnerships and develop and endorse (at Ministerial level) a Declaration and Action Plan for African Forest Governance at the national, regional and international levels.
This follows the recent TTF success in attending the Asian FLEG Advisory Group meeting in Indonesia (Jakarta, January 28-29 2003)
For further information contact contact Ita Rugge on irugge@ttf.co.uk
UK Timber Trade leads in Asia Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Process in Indonesia
The Timber Trade Federation represented the UK timber trade’s views at the recent Asian Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Task force meeting (28-29 January 2003) in Jakarta to promote greater consultation and participation from the forest products sector.
Ita Rugge and Andy Roby from the TTF, Rachel Butler from Finnforest UK, Henrik Hoejgaard from DLH Indonesia and Rupert Ridgeway from Wickes attended the meeting to explore the feasibility of setting up systems to verify timber sources and to develop a set of actions with the partners concerned that would increase the supply of independently audited legal timber to the UK.
TTF representatives and Finnforest UK also visited mills and concessions in East Kalimantan where they promoted the TTF Code of Conduct and Purchasing Policy at meetings with the mill owners and concession holders. Industry, government and civil society showed a lot of interest in these TTF initiatives and recognised the UK Timber trade as the leading trade organisation tackling illegal logging.
The need to promote similar initiatives in other consuming markets such as China and Japan was acknowledged and the UK Government Procurement Policy was seen as a major driver that other consuming countries could also adopt.
Andy Roby, TTF’s Corporate Social Responsibility Adviser, said, “Whilst the problems in Indonesia and the region are immense there is much political will, a range of competent service providers and some interested suppliers.”
The next steps are to find out where UK market leverage is highest in Indonesia and explore ways of getting third party verification of legality
in that region that complies with emerging UK Government Procurement Policy.
Contact Ita Rugge at irugge@ttf.co.uk for a copy of the detailed report or further information.
Wood Awards 2003 Launched
The new look Wood Awards, formerly The Carpenters’ Award, has been launched by a consortium of sponsors*. The aim of The Wood Awards is to continue to recognise and encourage outstanding design, craftsmanship and installation in joinery and structures in timber. Wood is enjoying a great revival in popularity and fashion in buildings and construction, and The Wood Awards provide an exceptional opportunity to achieve recognition and publicity for outstanding achievement in wood design and installation.
The categories for The Wood Awards 2003 have been simplified:
COMMERCIAL – for public and commercial buildings funded by public or private clients.
PRIVATE – for privately funded projects owned by non-commercial clients.
STRUCTURAL – for timber frame buildings, bridges, interior and exterior structures and decking, funded by public or private clients.
CONSERVATION – RESTORATION – for any project in the private or public sector in which conservation and/or restoration is the primary objective, and may be structural or non-structural.
A “GOLD AWARD” will also be presented by the judges to the outstanding winner from the four categories. The judges may also, at their discretion, make an award for “INNOVATION”.
Entries are invited from 1 March and close 20 May for buildings completed between 31 March 2001 and 31 May 2003. Entries may be made by any architect, designer, joinery or installation company, or project owner associated with the design, wood supply or construction. The awards ceremony will be hosted at Carpenters’ Hall on 15 October 2003.
Full details, including entry conditions, categories and entry forms can be obtained from www.woodawards.com
Timber Trade Federation welcomes European Timber Cooperation
In a radical new development to strengthen the voice of the European timber industry three of the leading European timber trade bodies are to collaborate more closely with one another in promoting the forest product sector within the European Union.
FEBO1, UCBD2and UCIP3 have agreed to increase cooperation in representing the trade’s interests in the European Union. The TTF as the leading UK timber association supports this development, which could eventually lead to complete integration with one organisation representing all sectors in the timber trade.
TTF Director General Paul Martin said, “With the European Commission currently working on Directives of great importance to the trade, it is vital that we have one clear voice in Europe.”
It was agreed that, as a first step, the Presidents of FEBO, UCBD, UCIP and the European Softwood Conference meet to discuss improved co-operation particularly in the sphere of public relations.
1. European Timber Trade Association
2. European Hardwoods Association
3. European Panel Products Association
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