FLEGT stakeholders want continued market monitoring

Photo: Mark van Benthem

Wood sector stakeholders want independent market monitoring of FLEGT partner country trade to continue beyond the date when the FLEGT Independent Market Monitor itself (IMM) is set to wind down.


Stakeholders see IMM as important for helping shape government policy and business strategy and for ongoing development of FLEGT and legal and sustainable timber trade. In fact, they believe the role of an independent market monitor should expand into more areas. These were views expressed in IMM consultations with representatives of private and public sectors and civil society held in Jakarta, Nantes and online with stakeholders in Ghana, as reported on the IMM website (www.flegtimm.eu).

The IMM was established in 2015, funded by the EU and managed under contract by the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO). It forms part of the EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) project ¬and independent market monitoring is mandated in the EU FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with Indonesia. Its role is to track wood trade flows from VPA countries in the context of the global tropical timber market. It also canvasses the timber trade in the leading tropical timber importing countries in the EU, plus Indonesia, Ghana and VietNam on view and market impacts of FLEGT. It generates and analyses trade data and reports on its survey findings, relays news via its website and newsletters and undertakes special sectoral and other studies on market views and influence of FLEGT. FLEGT is widely viewed as an important stepping stone towards sustainability. The IMM contract ends on December 31 this year.

The recent trade consultations were held to get feedback on the quality and scope of its work. But the importance of the continuation of independent market monitoring was raised by participants at all three. They also voiced ongoing support for FLEGT and FLEGT licensing in the light of the proposed EU Deforestation Regulation, under which a FLEGT licence is accepted as proof of legality, but no longer provides a due diligence-free pass into the EU.

Stakeholders in Indonesia felt the IMM “has an important role in measuring the achievements and impacts of VPAs” and should continue into 2023 and beyond. Government stakeholders highlighted the importance of ‘information and data on the EU market and EU policy’ provided by the IMM, and found its data dashboard and market dynamics information particularly useful. The private sector appreciated that IMM was independent and considered its data as high quality and valuable.

At the Nantes consultation, delegate comments included that IMM had delivered ‘good and useful market data, feedback and inputs’ of relevance to businesses and trade bodies and valued as a reference in their work. Its surveys provided ‘a unique opportunity for the trade to get its voice heardby EU policy makers’.

On future development of the role of an independent market monitor, the view at all consultations was that it should get involved in effective market communication on FLEGT, which it was felt had been lacking. This is currently not in the IMM’s mandate. IMM should expand into more areas, also enter the field of verified sustainable as discussed during the Carrefour in Nantes.

Full reports on the IMM consultations can be found at www.flegtimm.eu.

 

Fair&Precious partners in the spotlight: Henry Timber

Photo: Henry Timber

In the latest of our series of interviews with Fair&Precious (F&P) partners about their companies, their business ethos and ambitions for the sustainable tropical timber campaign, we talk to Henry Timber President Patrick Faure.

 

STTC/F&P: How would you describe Henry Timber?
Patrick Faure: A family business since 1895, Henry Timber is today one the leading companies in the European timber trade. We import timber from South-East Asia, Africa, North and South America, Russia and Europe, supplying a total of around 100 different species. Our range includes raw, construction and planed timber and timber for interior and exterior fittings. We distribute 150,000 m3 of wood annually to Samse Group, of which Henry Timber is a part, outlets throughout Europe supplying around 70 species to service construction, joinery and decking markets.

STTC/F&P: Why did Henry Timber become a Fair&Precious partner?
PF: Being an official partner of Fair&Precious is in line with our sustainable development approach. It is a complementary to our policy and goals for using certified wood and operating to support the preservation of forest diversity. We have been PEFC and FSC certified for many years and are committed to use of sustainably managed resources. We believe that it is essential that certification of tropical forests continues to develop in order to offer the market wood from sustainably managed forests, while finding a balance between environmental, social and economic considerations.

STTC/F&P: The European tropical timber sector has battled to maintain market share in recent years. What would you say are its major challenges?
PF: It is well known that tropical timber has a challenging image because of deforestation issues and bad practices in the past. Today it is crucial for this sector to show that things have changed and that the exploitation of forest resources is done in accordance with strict legal and sustainable development principles and third party certification.

STTC/F&P: Do you believe the tropical timber sector can rebuild its presence in Europe?
PF: Following on from the previous point, if we can restore a ‘clean’ image to tropical timber and develop certified supplies, then tropical timber will have every chance of regaining its place in European construction.

STTC/F&P: In which markets do you see greatest possibilities for growing sustainable tropical timber sales?
PF: Thanks to the gradually growing number of tropical species available, the range of possible uses is very wide, opening up many opportunities. However, it is important to use the right species in the right place, taking into account their properties. It is therefore important to rely on a network of knowledgeable and competent professionals.

STTC/F&P: Do you see new applications opening for sustainable tropical timber in the future?
PF: The environmental crisis presents opportunities for the wood industry. In this context there is a strong argument for using timber. In fact tropical woods have a particularly strong card to play because it is scientifically proven that the denser the wood, the higher the volume of carbon stored. There are certainly many applications to be developed, but the construction sector remains today the one with the most opportunities due to the technical and environmental challenges it faces.

STTC/F&P: What is Henry Timber’s view on increasing use of lesser known sustainable tropical timber species?
PF: There are a large number of well-known and recognised tropical species throughout South America, Africa and Asia, for which there is high demand. But in the context of sustainable management, the resource is not inexhaustible. From these same provenances there are other species that are much less well-known, but with equally interesting properties. In order to guarantee a regular and satisfactory volume, it is imperative today to highlight these lesser known species.

STTC/F&P: What would be your sales pitch for sustainable tropical timber?
PF: The main arguments for using tropical timber are :
– The multitude of wood species available
– The durability and resilience of a large number of species
– The implementation of eco-certification schemes that guarantee the legality of the wood and the sustainable management of the forest resource
– That it’s a globally important resource in terms of volume.

STTC/F&P Are you optimistic for the future of the sustainable tropical timber sector?
PF: Nothing is certain, because tropical woods still have a bad image among politicians and the general public and there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of bringing certified wood into the market mainstream. However, we now have the arguments to show that tropical woods are no longer to be equated with deforestation and that their use can be beneficial in terms of sustainable development.

 

STTC should continue says founder

Photo: Sietze van Dijk

The European Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition was founded by IDH-The Sustainable Trade Initiative, which for the last decade has also been its principal funder. In a strategic move, IDH has now shifted its focus and resources to supporting sustainable supply chains through a verified landscape approach in sourcing jurisdictions. However, it sees the ongoing value of the STTC and would like to see it attract new backing and continue.

IDH’s aim in creating the STTC, a grouping of European timber trade, retail, construction, central and local government, was to grow the market for sustainably certified tropical timber and so build on its interventions in sourcing regions by strengthening the business case for SFM certification. “The intention was to help newly certified companies develop a market for sustainable timber,” said Hans Stout, Director of IDH’s tropical timber programmes at the time of the STTC’s launch. “The STTC was less an organisation, more a coalition of partners. We contacted cities, countries, major consumers, and timber trade federations; countries to support our objective through legislation, other supporters for a commitment. More than 80 entities signed up.”

“The aim was to reverse declining demand for tropical timber by raising awareness and training European public and private timber buyers and changing their procurement practices,” said Willem Klaassens, IDH Director Markets and SourceUp. “The view was that a critical mass of timber buyers could influence the European market and raise market share of sustainable tropical timber considerably, with a strong message to producers in the tropics, incentivising them to produce sustainably. In IDH’s vision, the improved business case for SFM and the adoption of SFM practices within anti-deforestation strategies could result in reduced deforestation and adoption of SFM for more areas. Certified SFM practices would prevent degradation of forests, ensuring their long-term biodiversity benefits and maintaining or enhancing high conservation values.”

To support tropical timber market development, said Mr Stout, the STTC backed life-cycle assessment studies of the material and investigations into the performance and application of lesser known timber species (LTKS); both key to establishing tropical timber’s circular economy credentials. “We also funded the European Timber Trade Federation to support national timber federations in setting sustainable procurement goals in their countries,” he said.

Mr Klaassens said IDH moved to a sustainable landscape approach, which includes SFM, to further its impacts on the ground in supplier countries and regions. “It’s an integrated approach, encompassing production, protection and inclusion (PPI) to mitigate deforestation, while improving smallholder and community livelihoods and ensuring supply security for businesses,” he said.

Mr Klaassens said IDH would ‘love to see STTC continue with its work in Europe’. “The convening and sharing of learning and knowledge among European tropical timber stakeholders remains important,” he said. “A new funder would be able to give new impetus to the work of the STTC and create a new, evolved purpose for the Coalition.” Mr Stout agrees. “We still have a way to go to develop the market for sustainable timber in Europe and some countries are far behind,” he said. “The STTC can also help influence policy making; encouraging and supporting national governments and the EU to set goals for sustainable timber sourcing.”

 

Cities back STTC membership with action

Photo: Eddie Visser

Among key members of the European Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition and supporters of its objectives to drive up public and private sector procurement of verified sustainable tropical have been urban authorities across Europe. Cities joining have included Rotterdam, Berlin, Amsterdam, Madrid and Barcelona. ICLEI, the international organisation for promoting sustainability in local government, also urged cities to back the STTC.

The objective of the STTC in bringing cities into membership was to support their adoption or further strengthening of sustainable procurement policies. It was also to encourage greater use of tropical timber in public projects and thus incentivize the timber sector to supply certified sustainable wood.

At the time of joining , a spokesperson for Berlin’s city development and environment administration said it hoped the move would create a stimuli for its use of certified sustainable timber. “Where we see a potential application, we will advocate its use,” they said. “In fact, we aim to increase use of timber overall in construction as it is such a sustainable raw material.” They added that the Life Cycle Assessment performance of tropical timber, a key focus for the STTC, added to its attraction for the Berlin administration. The city was also attracted by the STTC’s focus on driving demand for verified sustainable lesser known tropical species, to help strengthen the environmental and economic case for sustainable forest management. “It’s important planners and architects procure the types of timber that are available from sustainably managed forests and know which new species can be introduced,” said the spokesperson.

Rotterdam joined the STTC in 2016, after hosting the Coalition’s annual conference. The city authority already had an established strategy for sourcing timber in compliance with the Dutch government’s Timber Procurement Assessment System, which it provided to its contractors. By becoming an STTC member, Rotterdam’s goals were to subject its procurement systems to still closer scrutiny and help develop and drive application of sustainable tropical timber, including lesser-known species (LKTS). The wider motivations, said city council sustainable procurement specialist Léon Dijk, were to take forward its climate policy and support spread of sustainable forest management in supplier countries.

Speaking to the STTC newsletter in 2022, Mr Dijk said Rotterdam’s membership was in line with its ‘ambitious sustainable targets and focus on sustainable timber procurement’. “While many public authorities outsource supply of wood via subcontractors, Rotterdam has its own framework agreements with suppliers,” he said. “This enables us to have maximum control over our supplies.” Rotterdam took valuable lessons from being part of the STTC. “We learned that sustainable forest management benefits from growing demand for certified tropical timber,” said Mr Dijk. “At first sight, we felt this was very controversial, but in the end it makes sense as it leads to a higher economic value for the forest.”

The momentum and focus Rotterdam built up in this area continues today. “We want to join the Cities4Forests initiative this year and will actively research how to introduce more tropical species in our public works and adapt our procurement policy accordingly.” Reflecting on the city’s support for the STTC Mr Dijk said: “Rotterdam strongly believes coalitions with private industry are more effective in boosting sustainability compared to unilateral agreements reached by public bodies alone.”

 

STTC and Fair&Precious make valuable alliance

Photo: Sietze van Dijk

In recent years the European Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition has worked increasingly closely with the Fair&Precious sustainable tropical timber promotional campaign, run by the International Tropical Timber Technical Association (ATIBT). The two have issued joint newsletters, collaborated on events and shared information and data. Benoît Jobbé-Duval, Managing Director of ATIBT, and Romain Lorent, Coordinator of Fair&Precious supporting Programme for the Promotion of Certified Forest Operations (PPECF), see relations with the STTC as a valuable alliance, with potential for further development.

“Fair&Precious aims to support sustainable management via FSC and PEFC certification in tropical forests, so there is an important complementarity with the STTC,” said Mr Jobbé-Duval. “Our approaches are in line. Our joint aim is to strengthen support for sustainable tropical forest management through promotion of certification.” STTC market and trade flow analysis also helps underpin the ATIBT’s market-facing activity, he added. “STTC has a good knowledge of data on certified wood consumption in European markets, and has a particular understanding of Anglo-Saxon countries and their timber trade actors. ATIBT and Fair&Precious are more concentrated on communication and marketing issues and the output from STTC helps us better focus our work and generates market data we can use to measure the impact of our activities.”

“As primarily a communications programme, it’s valuable for Fair&Precious to be able to draw on the expertise and data of other bodies,” said Mr Lorent. “These include the STTC, the Thémis European sustainable timber procurement data gathering tool and portal, which it supports, along with other bodies, such as TU Delft University of Technology, with its work on using lesser known tropical timber species (LKTS).”

The ATIBT strongly backs the continuation of the STTC. “We need allies in this mission to develop the market for sustainable tropical timber and incentivise sustainable forest management,” said Mr Jobbé-Duval. “It’s also not just that our activities that are complementary, it’s also our geographic coverage and the last few years have shown that our joint work and joint reach can achieve results.” Among the fruits of their collaboration, he pointed to links between STTC and Fair&Precious websites, their joint organisation of the STTC Annual Conference and the joint STTC/ Fair&Precious newsletter.

Going forward, the ATIBT sees potential for strengthening and extending this cooperation in a number of areas. This includes in trade and market data gathering and analysis and backing further technical evaluation of LKTS, with an overarching goal of supporting the Fair&Precious community of tropical timber suppliers and traders. “There is also still work to be done to improve the image of certified tropical timber, and counter a lack of understanding of the sector,” said Mr Jobbé-Duval. “We need to remove blockages to tropical timber across the international market, particularly in public procurement, and we must animate the community of timber trade operators and STTC and Fair&Precious partners to better develop this brand. We could also jointly look to the brand’s future and help it to develop in other tropical regions, such as Amazonia and Asia.”

Mr Lorent sees possibilities for STTC and Fair&Precious backing development of the EU tropical trade as a ‘reserved access profession’, with a qualification needed to operate. “They could also back development of the carbon and eco-system services economy,” said Mr Lorent. “It has very attractive prospects, but requires strong lobbying and support to realise its potential.”

Harnessing markets to support sustainable forestry

Photo: Mark van Benthem

Demand can drive positive change in the tropical timber sector. This is the view of international sustainable timber and forest analysts and advisors Probos and the European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF). It’s also the belief that prompted their engagement in the European Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition (STTC), alongside fellow founding partner and lead funder IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative.

The backdrop to the STTC’s formation and mission to encourage sustainable tropical timber procurement in Europe, explained Probos director Mark van Benthem, was IDH’s tropical producer programme in the 2000s. “This supported certification in the Congo basin and via the Amazon Alternative project and Borneo Initiative,” said Mr van Benthem. “It was important work, but we felt that, to enable tropical producers to sustain a high level of certified sustainable forest management, you needed an associated programme to increase demand for their products.” Probos’s discussions with IDH ultimately led to the creation of the STTC, with its broad, more than 80-strong membership including timber businesses and federations, central government agencies, city authorities, certification schemes and NGOs. A core goal was to increase the proportion of total European tropical timber consumption taken by verified sustainable timber to 50%.

“This hasn’t been reached, but we have seen an increase in market share,” said Mr van Benthem. “Importantly, we feel, the work of the STTC, alongside others, including the International Tropical Timber Technical Association ATIBT, has also helped improve the market image of tropical timber. There’s greater recognition that buying sustainable tropical timber supports sustainable forest management and weakens the economic case for forest conversion to other uses  – the use it or lose it argument.” This image building, he added, continues via the STTC website and its newsletter, produced with the ATIBT Fair&Precious tropical timber campaign (F&P). “The high profile STTC conferences, recently run with F&P, have also strengthened sector exchange,” said Mr van Benthem. “They have brought together NGOs, trade, public sector, certification bodies and other stakeholders in a friendly environment for constructive discussion.”

Another STTC focus was development of European federation sustainable procurement policies. “We discussed how to convince federations – and individual companies – to implement policy plans and codes of conduct on sustainable procurement comparable to the successful programme of the Netherlands Timber Trade Association,” said then ETTF Secretary General and now ATIBT board member André de Boer. “I was asked to develop a plan, financed by IDH, to get the ETTF’s national federation-members to adopt such policies. The ambition was implementation of action plans by at least five federations, which was achieved. Their task was to set credible goals for members to increase share in trade of sustainably produced tropical timber.”

According to Mr van Benthem, this work paved the way for the Thémis data collection tool and portal, which is supported by the Programme for the Promotion of Certified Forest Operations (PPECF) the STTC and IDH. Also backed by ATIBT, Belgian trade federation Fedustria and French association Le Commerce du Bois, its role is to collate and analyse sustainable tropical timber purchasing data. This can then be used by associations and businesses’ to set sustainable procurement growth targets.

Going forward, Mr de Boer sees scope for further European trade exchange on sustainable tropical timber market development. “It would make sense for trade federations to recommence meetings, perhaps funded and organised by IDH or another donor, where members can discuss specific problems and opportunities of the tropical timber sector,” he said.

Probos believes the STTC’s role as a data gathering and information exchange platform can also grow in significance, as can its lobbying of policy makers. “We also see supporting market uptake of sustainable lesser known tropical timber species (LKTS) as vital work for the STTC,” said Mr van Benthem. “Increasing the market for LKTS can strengthen the economic case for uptake and maintenance of certified sustainable forest management.”

 

ATIBT at 70 focused on the future

To mark its 70th anniversary, the International Tropical Timber Technical Association (ATIBT) ran a discussion forum on its stand through the three days of the Carrefour International du Bois (CIB) in Nantes. General manager Benoît Jobbé-Duval said the aim of the Forum at the French timber trade show, which was the biggest to date with 14,000 visitors and over 600 exhibitors, was to celebrate ATIBT’s seven decades of achievement, supporting the technical, economic and environmental development of tropical timber industries. But the focus was also very much on current projects and plans to develop the organisation’s role.

Pan African Forest Certification initiative
A central focus was one of the most significant initiatives it’s been involved in to date – the development of the Pan African Forest Certification (PAFC) Congo Basin initiative. Endorsed in December by PEFC International, it is the first regional scheme to come under the latter’s global certification umbrella and is being seen as a model for development of others. It brings together the national PAFC schemes of Gabon, Republic of the Congo (RoC) and Cameroon. ATIBT, led by president François Van de Ven, has been development and standardizing body, with input from RoC Forest Economy minister Rosalie Matondo, International Tropical Timber Organisation Executive (ITTO) director, Sheam Satkuru and Thais Linhares of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). PEFC Development Officer Thomas Seyvet said the world-first project was developed with a range of aims; to drive certification efficiency, cut costs, share expertise and best practice, encourage certification uptake across the Congo Basin and facilitate marketing of its certified timber and wood products.

Thémis
The ATIBT Forum also looked at the Thémis initiative to drive European procurement of verified sustainable timber, in which it has been a development partner, together with French timber trade association Le Commerce du Bois (CDB) and Belgian timber, wood furniture and textile federation Fedustria. Devised by sustainable timber and forestry analyst and advisor Probos, with IT specialist Graphius, the key elements of Thémis are its data collection tool and online portal. Development of the project benefited from Probos’ experience in monitoring and reporting on verified responsible sourcing by members of the Netherlands Timber Trade Association (NTTA) for 11 years now. This highlighted the impact the process can have on trading patterns. The NTTA has used the data to set baselines for targets, until today 94% of members’ total imports are third party certified sustainable. The exercise can also have market benefits for federations. The environmental commitment and support for SFM it demonstrates helps differentiate member companies.

Dryades
Led by ATIBT and Le Commerce du Bois, with Netherlands timber market development body Centrum Hout as technical partner, it is supporting development of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and French FDES environmental and health certificates for tropical timber products. Mr Jobbé-Duval said the objective is to strengthen commercial prospects for tropical timber in an international market which attaches increasing importance to environmental performance and validation.

 

In this spotlight: Christophe Janssen, Interholco Vice President Production and Sales

Photo: Interholco

In this spotlight Christophe Janssen, Interholco Vice President Production and Sales describes its operations and objectives as a Fair&Precious partner.

STTC/Fair &Precious: How would you describe Interholco; what you do and what you stand for?
Christophe Janssen (CJ): More than 400 customers in 50 countries know Interholco as a leading providers of some of the finest hardwood from the Congo Basin. Our wood is made in Africa, where value is added. This benefits a community of 16,000 people living in one of the most landlocked areas of the Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville – RoC). Our teams also process wood to the most demanding environment, social and governance standards, those of FSC certification, helping drive development. Of Interholco’s 1,400 employees across Africa, the Middle East and Europe, more than 900 are in the Congo, where they’re paid a living – not just a minimum – wage. Company-run facilities in the RoC also provide vital services. In 2021 alone, our medical centre saw 13,962 patients – with indigenous peoples treated free. Our library, the largest in the Sangha department of north Congo, boasts over 9,000 books and Interholco IT and English courses are free to all.

STTC/F&P: Why did Interholco become a F&P partner?
CJ: We were involved with the F&P, from inception to launch. Its objectives are in line with our vision to provide ‘Sustainable Wood, Made in Africa’, not just a simple product derived from forests, but a forest of solutions. Our mission is to help combat climate change and substitute use of energy-intensive materials, to give value to natural forests, promote social equity and co-create change with renewable, recyclable, sustainable, traceable and carbon positive material.

STTC/F&P: Can tropical timber retain its share of the European market
CJ: Yes. After years of negative communication about tropical wood, timber from sustainably managed forests is becoming more desirable, thanks to its exceptional natural characteristics, environmental performance and socio-economic benefits. Third party organizations verify its environmental credentials on site and, among professionals, the image of tropical wood has improved significantly. But there is still a long way to go. We must now make consumers aware that using certified African wood is positive for people, climate and planet. Businesses lack the time and financial resources to promote this virtuous product, which is why development of F&P as a communications tool is vital. It is key to promote good species of wood for the right use and to replace non-virtuous materials whenever possible.

STTC/F&P: So can the tropical timber sector rebuild and grow its presence in Europe?
CJ: Yes, but to move forward we must join forces and gain support. Political back-up is crucial. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of misinformation about using wood generally. We must make the wealth of benefits it yields better known and understood. Best practice can help people understand what we do and why our wood is good.

STTC/F&P: Do you see new applications opening for sustainable tropical timber and timber products?
CJ: Of course the building sector will have a big role to play in this. The industry needs to reduce its carbon footprint and wood is the only building material that is renewable, sequesters CO2 in production and stores it to end of life. Exterior uses are particularly appropriate for tropical hardwoods. They boast higher natural durability, making them ideal for applications such as decking, window frames and fencing without preservative treatment.

STTC/F&P: Do you see potential for growing uptake of lesser known tropical timber species?
CJ: This is important to reduce market pressure on traditional species. It will also add diversity and choice to the market. The challenge is that technical performance testing takes time and research is expensive. Also to make them a viable proposition, forest areas should have sufficient density of LKTS. There must be long-term availability, and sufficient volume to justify industrial transformation and promotion. End-users need both technical assurance and the back-up of marketing for a species.

STTC/F&P: What would be your sales pitch for sustainable tropical timber and wood products?
CJ: “Buy tropical wood from certified sustainably managed forests. No other material yields such benefits for people, climate and planet.” You can substitute energy intensive materials with wood from sustainably managed forests; sustainably produced tropical wood from Africa and other parts of the world allows long-term protection of forests and their flora and fauna, while supporting jobs and social welfare; natural regeneration after harvesting results in higher CO2 sequestration, African wood is relatively cheap given its technical characteristics, repairability and recyclability, so it is safe to use, fire-resistant, future-proof and healthy.

STTC/F&P: Are you optimistic for the future of the sustainable tropical timber sector?
CJ: Of course! If we consider all mentioned arguments it can’t be else.

 

GHG and carbon tools developed for PAFC Congo Basin concessions

Photo: CIFOR

The Programme for Promotion of Certified Forest Operations (PPECF) has commissioned environmental and sustainable forest management consultancy TEREA to develop greenhouse gas (GHG) and forest carbon stock level measuring tools for concession managers operating to the PAFC Congo Basin certification standard.

The GHG tool is currently being field tested. Pilot projects are underway in concessions in Gabon, Congo and Cameroon. The outcomes and any consequent changes and developments will be made ready for evaluation and validation by the PPECF by June. The tool covers main emission sources related to forest operation activities, including fuel and energy use and above-ground biomass loss. It is designed for use to monitor emissions from activities in the forest and from industrial sites and work camps.

Terea says the tool will be made available to concession managers in the form of an Excel table, with separate tabs corresponding to distinct emission sources, and a tab that summarizes all GHG data. This creates the possibility to compare outputs from different forest management units and work sites. “Each reporting year, concession managers will fill in a new table. The tool also allowing comparison of GHG emissions year by year by using a specific table that gathers this annual information,” said Terea. “The reporting modalities to PAFC auditors are not yet defined.”

They added that the tool is designed for ease of use. “All emission factors are already included, the concession managers only have to insert data related to their activities,” they said. “Therefore their main focus is to ensure appropriate data is available for the current year of monitoring. We will provide them with instructions and guidelines and can also give training and support through the first year of use.” The company added that the tool is the first of its kind to be applicable to all forest concessions in the Congo Basin.

Terea’s tool for monitoring Congo Basin forest carbon stocks will use existing studies of stock levels. Then cross check this data with forest concession data, including forest inventory and forest management data. The objective is to cross-check carbon stock data from these existing studies with forest concession data, stratification, first using an Excel tool, then mapping. “The methodology will provide forest operators with a set of tools – configurable calculation sheets, procedures for map constructions, guidelines for interpretation of carbon stocks – along with a user guide,” said Terea.

Concession holders will be the main tool users as part of their compliance with PAFC requirements and, said the company, ease of use is again a priority. The tool, currently under construction, but will be ready for validation mid-2022.

Ghana wood tracking is officially go

The Ghana Electronic Wood Tracking System (GWTS), developed for the country’s Forestry Commission (FC) by Axxon Information Systems, has been officially launched and entered into full operation. The launch announcement was made by Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abdulai Jinapor at an event in Akyawkrom.

He said the system, which is described as a ‘sub-component of Ghana’s Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS), would contribute to the country meeting ‘global standards’ in timber legality assurance. It would also advance implementation of its FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU.

“We are aware that one factor that has affected the country’s performance in the international timber market is lack of technology,” said Mr Jinapor. “Completion of this technological infrastructure positions Ghana to remain relevant on the market and forms part of the basis of our VPA. Bringing us closer to concluding this aspect of our dialogue on providing assurance of trading only in legal timber with the EU.”

The GWTS, which has been running in development mode for a while, was created with funding from UKAid. It is designed for use by a range of stakeholders, including FC staff, forest managers, mill owners and wood product exporters, with up to 500 users able to access it simultaneously.

FC President John Allotey said it enabled full disclosure of forest management and timber trade information via online dashboards, facilitating establishment of chain of custody for the domestic market and exports. Using the system, he added, any inconsistency in data entry can be rapidly identified, checked and corrected.

Mobile apps allow data capture in remote locations and synchronize data transfer to the GWTS and there are specific software modules tailored to the activities of forest owners, contractors, transport companies, sawmills, wood processing firms and timber traders. FC staff can use the system for on-site capture of field inventory data, log transportation records, log and processed wood stock and timber export information. They can then verify information against a central database.

Mr Jinapor also announced the simultaneous launch of Ghana’s web-based E-Property Mark Registration and Renewal System. Contractors and loggers must renew their ‘property mark’ twice a year to operate and, to date the process has taken an average of two months. “With this new application it can be completed in a day,” said Mr Allotey.

Mr Jinapor said the launch of tracking and e-property mark systems was part of a government agenda to bring digitisation to all aspects of national life. He also stressed government commitment to sustainably manage and develop Ghana’s forests.