INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Tackling illegal deforestation
Proposals for a major new initiative to tackle illegal deforestation and strengthen legal governance frameworks in tropical forest producer countries and within international timber supply chains were launched at COP26 in November 2021 .
Billed as a ‘ Call to Action ’ from the global private sector involved in forest management and timber production globally , the Tropical Timber Accord – ‘ Global Forests need Global Governance ’ – highlights that strong , inclusive legal frameworks are essential for the sustainable management of tropical forests and underpin all other climate policy ambitions relating to tropical forests .
The paper proposes a new governance approach for the global tropical forest sector based on national standards within an international framework . Crucially , it also proposes supporting an international secretariat to administer and oversee the development of this framework .
The Accord has been produced from a series of workshops with trade associations and businesses throughout the tropical production belt and facilitated and led by the UK Timber Trade Federation . It is also supported by associations in consumer nations including China , Europe and the UK . It is the first time that the global private sector of the forestry management and timber production industry has come together to speak with one
ROBERTO NICKSON | UNSPLASH
Tropical forests are in danger as never before . Global forest cover is falling worldwide while greenhouse gas emissions as a direct result of deforestation increase .
www . timberiq . co . za // DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022 5