VICTORY: UK Government Cuts Purchase of Illegal Timber
08/11/00
OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY
by Forests.org
The United Kingdom is the first G8 member to follow through on recent commitments to do more to halt illegal logging. Actions include introducing tough new government procurement rules that require central government departments and agencies to seek to buy timber and timber products from sustainable and legal sources, and working directly with affected countries to combat illegal logging. Such a course of action should be expected of all G8 members, as well as other nations.
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UK Government Cuts Purchase of Illegal Timber
(c) Environment News Service (ENS) 2000
August 9, 2000
LONDON, United Kingdom, August 9, 2000 (ENS) - The UK is putting tough government procurement rules in place to tackle the trade in illegally harvested timber. The move follows the commitment made by G8 leaders late last month to do more to halt illegal logging.
In their joint communique, the leaders of the world's seven most industrialized nations plus Russia pledged to "examine how best we can combat illegal logging, including export and procurement practices." The United Kingdom is first off the mark to meet that commitment.
Environment Minister Michael Meacher told parliament, "Illegal logging damages both the environment and society. It reduces government revenues, destroys the basis of poor people's livelihoods and in some cases even fuels armed conflict.
Meacher said the UK will continue working directly with affected countries to combat illegal logging.
"Among other initiatives we will sponsor later this year, along with the United States and World Bank, is a high level meeting in South- East Asia to examine what can be done to strengthen enforcement of forestry laws in the region, and how donors can assist in this."
Meacher said that the UK government will improve its current purchasing practice for timber and timber products. "It is counterproductive to help enforce laws abroad without striving to ensure that illegally produced timber is not consumed at home," the minister said.
The current voluntary guidance on environmental issues in timber procurement will become a binding commitment on all central government departments and agencies actively to seek to buy timber and timber products from sustainable and legal sources. Meacher pointed to products identified under independent certification schemes such as that operated by the Forestry Stewardship Council as correct sources of supply under the new rules.
Each central government department will report annually on its timber purchases. It will be required to explain what steps it is taking to pursue this objective; the quantity and types of its purchases; and what assurances it has received that the source of timber is sustainable and legal.
This process will be monitored by an inter-departmental group reporting to the committee of "Green Ministers." The group will assist departments and agencies in working with timber suppliers and producers; give guidance on best purchasing practice; set progressive overall targets for government timber purchases from assured sustainable and legal sources and agree appropriate targets for individual departments and agencies. Friends of the Earth UK welcomed Meacher's announcement that government departments would cut buying of illegal and unsustainable timber.
The conservation organization takes partial credit for the government's action. The group said the move to protect the world's rainforests follows a review of the government's timber purchasing policy begun when Friends of the Earth (FOE) exposed plans to buy illegally logged Brazilian mahogany by the Cabinet Office for Jack Cunningham's desk and by the Ministry of Defence for panelling warships. Since then FOE has been discussing the new policy with the Government and the MoD.
FOE forests campaigner Matt Phillips said, "Too many timber buyers accept dodgy certificates, half baked assurances from loggers and iffy industry assurance schemes. So this move is long overdue. But there is a huge task ahead. Ministers may know what to do, but government buyers are a long way behind. Mr. Meacher must ensure this is not just a paper commitment. We must stop illegally logged and unsustainable timbers from reaching Britain."
But the new programme stops short of banning the purchase of timber or timber products which cannot be shown to be sustainably and legally produced.
"That would be both unfair and impractical," Meacher said. "There is currently not enough timber that can be independently guaranteed to have come from sustainable and legal sources to meet all needs; albeit that different assurance schemes are growing quickly." Another certifying association established by the European timber industry is now operating alongside the Forest Stewardship Council, which was set up by the World Wide Fund for Nature and other non-profit groups.
Meacher said the government would not want to penalise poorer countries and producers which have not been able to put certification systems in place. "We will continue to work with such producers to ensure they have fair market access, and that any action is fully consistent with our international obligations."
"Our aim is to give confidence to those obeying their country's laws and managing their forests responsibly that they will find a welcome market in the UK, and will not be undercut by unscrupulous and illegal competitors," the minister said.
The new measures will complement the UK's other work in combating illegal logging, which includes working with other countries to: encourage good governance and remove corruption; tackle the burden of debt; improve awareness of the true value of forests; and develop alternative, rural livelihoods for the poor.