A report by the European Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition found that while France, Belgium and Spain have a low (12 per cent) share of verified sustainable tropical timber, the UK and Netherlands have a higher share at 48 per cent and 63 per cent, respectively. However, they are still far from 100 per cent verified sustainable timber import.
The report says that if just seven of Europe’s leading tropical timber-importing countries (UK, Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and Spain) assured 100 per cent sustainable sourcing of timber, over 5 million hectares of tropical forest can be protected.
The report identifies trends in tropical timber trade in the EU market, and explores how an EU commitment to 100% verified sustainable tropical timber can contribute to deforestation-free supply chains and help meet climate change mitigation targets.
One of the ways EU can achieve the same is through public-private action. Six out of the seven main markets have signed the Amsterdam Declaration, committing to sustainable sourcing of the ‘deforestation commodities’ palm oil, soy and cocoa – but not timber.
Export-oriented commercial agriculture is the single largest driver of tropical deforestation, with demand for soybean, palm oil and wood products constantly soaring in the international market.