Current Measures to Aid SustainabilityEuropean Union: Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) plan.

National:Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET)Government Legislation

TTF Schemes:TTF code of conduct for members.TTF code of practice for hardwood, softwood, and environmental.

Worldwide: Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes

WWF Forest Trade Network:Category 1Unknown or unwanted material or source.Category 2Known source.Category 3Licensed Source.Category 4Progressing towards credible certification.Category RiRecycled pre-consumer waste.Category RiiRecycled post-consumer waste.

SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh Group 17: Sustainable TimberGroup 17: Sustainable Timber

By: Jun Huang (0569937); Shaun Devaney (s0788619); Christopher Mckeand (s0562731); Adam Stephenson (s0679579)By: Jun Huang (0569937); Shaun Devaney (s0788619); Christopher Mckeand (s0562731); Adam Stephenson (s0679579)IMS3 Sustainability Module, March 2008IMS3 Sustainability Module, March 2008

Introduction•Forests are a vital part of the worlds’ ecosystems.•Forests are also an international economic resource.•Forests covered 48% of land on the planet. •Reduced to 29% (2004-05)•Forest products worth about $270 billion worldwide.•£2.9 billion in the UK.

Problems…•Main problem is Illegal logging•Logging - The process in which trees are cut down for forest management and/or wood harvested for construction, paper and many other products.•Illegal timber worth about $15 billion per year.•Lack of adequate data on illegal logging.

The Future of Sustainable TimberThe Future of Sustainable Timber

•One of the major challenges facing the timber One of the major challenges facing the timber industry is sourcing 100% of the timber that it uses industry is sourcing 100% of the timber that it uses from sustainable forestsfrom sustainable forests

•To achieve this there are the current measures to To achieve this there are the current measures to aid sustainabilityaid sustainability

•The industry needs to raise public awareness of The industry needs to raise public awareness of sustainable timber and proper certificationsustainable timber and proper certification

•As builders strive to construct more environmentally As builders strive to construct more environmentally friendly buildings sustainable timber looks set to play friendly buildings sustainable timber looks set to play an important role in the processan important role in the process

•UK plans to aid developing countries in the UK plans to aid developing countries in the management of sustainable timbermanagement of sustainable timber

•Legislation will gradually grow to make the trade of Legislation will gradually grow to make the trade of illegal timber progressively harderillegal timber progressively harder

•The problems with illegal timber will take decades to The problems with illegal timber will take decades to solvesolve

References• House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2004-05, Sustainable Timber, The Stationary Office•Henderson Howat, D. 2003. Scotland’s Forest Industries. Scottish Forest Industries Cluster.•Scottish Executive. 2006. Scottish Forestry Strategy. Forestry Commission Scotland, Scotland.•Timber Trade Federation Website. www.ttf.co.uk (As accessed on 31st January 2008)

What is Sustainability?What is Sustainability?A characteristic of a process of state that can be A characteristic of a process of state that can be maintained at a certain level indefinitely.maintained at a certain level indefinitely.

What is Sustainable Forest Management?What is Sustainable Forest Management?The use of forests in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their The use of forests in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity and their potential to fulfil biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity and their potential to fulfil relevant ecological, economic and social functions.relevant ecological, economic and social functions.

The Industry•The timber industry in the United Kingdom is huge

•The volume of timber and panels traded in the United Kingdom in 2005 was approximately 17.1 million cubic metres

The UK imports a wide selection of different timber and panel products

UK exports have grown over the last few years and are approaching the one million cubic metres level

•However the industry is still affected However the industry is still affected by illegal loggingby illegal logging

•In a recent WWF report the UK was In a recent WWF report the UK was the third largest importer of illegal the third largest importer of illegal timber in the world, spending around timber in the world, spending around £712 million a year on illegal wood£712 million a year on illegal wood