Archive news for 2009

Members of ANY European Timber Trade Federation can now benefit from TTAP support to get ready for the future!
10th December 2009

With immediate effect, members of any European Timber Trade Federation (TTF) can benefit from TTAP subsidised technical support.TFT within the TTAP project offers technical support to companies who aim at achieving legality verification of their s... (full story)

The End of Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon
9th December 2009

December 09: This week has seen the publication of a fascinating and very hope inspiring article in the prestigious journal Science (Nepstad et al, pp1350-1351, Science, Vol. 326, 4 December 2009) that lends great weight to the power of TFT's founding concept. The Forest Trust has alwa... (full story)

Event coming up! Workshop on proposed EU legislation
1st December 2009

In January 2010, The Forest Trust is organising a workshop on proposed EU legislation and on Due Diligence Tools. This workshop in the UK follows the event organised in October in France providing information and advice on how to best prepare for this legislation. ... (full story)

Illegal timber from Madagascar: New Report is released by Global Witness and The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
30th November 2009

 A new... (full story)

TFT and GFTN launch Lao Forest and Trade Platform: Strengthening responsible forestry management and trade
24th November 2009

TFT has been working in forests and factories in Laos since 2003, in collaboration with the Lao government and GFTN-WWF. On 19th November, this working partnership was formalised with the launch of the Lao Forest and Trade Platform in Vientiane.... (full story)

Impressions from Randublatung
20th November 2009

TFT is working with KPH Randublatung part of Perhutani plantations on the island of Java since 2005.  Here are some comments and impressions from two villagers and two staff members involved with the FMU.... (full story)

A visit to Indonesia
20th November 2009

This October, TFT Indonesia staff and senior TFT management from Switzerland, where the TFT support team is based, reviewed their work in the natural forests of Kalimantan, Indonesia. The aim of the exercise was to explore and identify opportunities to further enhance the assistance TFT provides ... (full story)

Palm oil plantations devastate the forests in Papua - New report out
18th November 2009

Indonesian NGO Telapak and the Environmental Investigation Agency have released a damning report exposing the devastation result... (full story)

TFT on the road in Brazil – visits to forests and factories
6th November 2009

From 26th to 29th October, TFT organised a Roadshow in Brazil. The Brazil team (Flavio Guiera, Xavier Andrillon, Cristian Stoltenberg and Camila Nardon) and Scott Poynton (TFT Executive Director) hosted the UK TTF representative Rachel Butler and some timber companies such as Latham Company,... (full story)

Three Chinese Timber Trade Federations sign MoU with TFT
2nd November 2009

October 2009:  Three Chinese Trade Federations representing thousands of businesses and companies signed Memoranda of Understanding to increase collaboration in promoting Legality in the Timber Trade on October 9th in Geneva.These three federations are the China Nat... (full story)

Update on the Timber Trade Action Plan: progress towards legality verification around the world
2nd November 2009

November 2009:  Since 2005, TFT has been managing the Timber Trade Action Plan (TTAP) on behalf of the participating European Timber Trade Federations and their members.  With co-funding from the European Commission, we work in the tropical timber producing countries of Cameroon,... (full story)

TFT France runs a workshop on the forthcoming EU Legislation
23rd October 2009

October 2009: TFT held a workshop in Vincennes (Paris) on the 22nd of October regarding the proposed European Regulation ‘laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market'. This workshop was open to members and non members and the ai... (full story)

KHJL member tells how she benefits from her participation in the Cooperative
21st October 2009

October 2009: KHJL member Herlina tells here how she has been able to benefit from her participation in the Cooperative.   My name is Herlina, I'm 24 years old. I start to work in KHJL as computer operation staff since August 2005 year until now, and join as KHJL members on 3... (full story)

An Indonesian Community Conserves Its Forests While Turning a Healthy Profit
19th October 2009

October 2009: The community cooperative KOSTAJASA working with TFT's assistance towards sustainable management of their Mahogany plantations have achieved FSC certification in June 2009 after an assessment by the Rainforest Alliance.The article below appears on the ... (full story)

Great success for 2nd International Timber Trade Federation Day in Geneva
19th October 2009

October 2009: World Leaders of the timber trade industry gathered in Geneva on the 8 and 9 October for the second International Timber Trade Federation Day (ITTFD). The event hosted by the UK based charity "The Forest Trust" (TFT) aimed to discuss solutions for legal an... (full story)

The future of the rainforest is our future too
30th September 2009

Send your Rainforest SOS to the world and help create a climate for change!   TFT supports the The Prince's Rainforests Project Rainforest SOS Campaign working to save rainforests and help protect our climate. ... (full story)

CSE students half way through training - progress review
15th September 2009

September 2009: The first six students at the Centre of Social Excellence have now completed their three-month theoretical training and have just started the practical field work. The training took place from 4 May to 30 July 2009, and was divided into several sessions led by 17 different Congo B... (full story)

Power Monkeys and Solar Gorillas helping Biso na Biso broadcast!
14th September 2009

September 2009:     The Biso Na Biso Community radio team have been using Power Monkies and SolarGorilla to increase their recording an... (full story)

WASH YOUR HANDS OF PALM OIL / L‘HUILE DE PALME ON S’EN LAVE LES MAINS!
11th September 2009

Le 11 et 12 septembre , le magasin Lush de Lausanne, en Suisse, en association avec TFT organise une campagne d'information et de sensibilisation : huile de palme on s'en lave les mains ! Nous invitons le public a laisser une empreinte écologique saine et... (full story)

Event coming up! 2nd International Timber Trade Federation Day
11th September 2009

"Solving Buyers' Needs in a Tough Global Market"The 2nd International Timber Trade Federation Day (ITTFD) is to be held on 8 and 9 October 2009 at the Kempinski Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland titled - "New R... (full story)

Urgency to save Temperate forests
11th September 2009

September 2009: The need to intensify conservation efforts in temperate forests is critical as new research highlights unsuspected carbon stores and loss in temperate forests.Addressing the drivers of deforestation in temperate forests is urgent in order to tackle climate change and biodiv... (full story)

New members join TFT!
8th September 2009

September 2009:  We are pleased to introduce seven new member companies who joined TFT in 2009, taking the total number of Members to 59 companies. This is a fantastic achievement especially in the tough economic climate currently prevailing around the world, and it's great to see that o... (full story)

TFT and Brazilian forestry company MAFLOPS sign MOU to assist smallholders sustainably manage their land in the Amazon forest!
20th August 2009

In August 2009, TFT signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the forest company Maflops based in the state of Pará, Brazil. This MOU seals an innovative collaboration aimed at maintaining forest cover and functioning ecosystems in this part of the Amazon forest while alleviating poverty o... (full story)

LUSH supports TFT’s efforts in AMT!
12th August 2009

August 2009: UK cosmetics company LUSH, known for its ethical and environmental principles, is working to exclude palm oil fully from its cosmetics. LUSH has been developing palm oil-free soap base for three years and has launched a campaign to make consumers aware of the impacts of palm cultivat... (full story)

Public consultation on identification and management of HCVF in Perhutani forest management unit
7th August 2009

August 09: HCVF or High Conservation Value Forest is a concept developed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). One of the criteria required to achieve FSC Certification is the identification and maintenance of such areas. In Perhutani's Randublatung Forest Management Unit (KPH),... (full story)

En octobre 2009, Le Forest Trust organise une séance de formation sur la future législation européenne sur les importations de bois
6th August 2009

La législation européenne sur les importations de bois rentrera en vigueur en Janvier 2011 et  aura un impact conséquent sur le marché et les entreprises.TFT propose aux distributeurs donc de faire un point à date sur l'état de cette loi a... (full story)

Latest TTAP Newsletter is available!
6th August 2009

August 2009: The Timber Trade Action Plan's (TTAP) latest newsletter highlights some important developments from around the world with respect to promoting the trade of legal wood and responsible purchasing policies.  The newsletter also provides updates on TTAP's work... (full story)

As TFT is officially registered in the Congo, the CSE students get ready to start practical training with forest companies
4th August 2009

On 8 July 2009, the Ministry of Territory, Administration and Decentralisation in Congo Brazzaville officially recognised TFT as an organisation aiming to develop social activities relating to sustainable forest management. This recognition formalises the activities of TFT in Congo. (... (full story)

TFT is now THE FOREST TRUST!
15th July 2009

June 2009: The Tropical Forest Trust is pleased to announce its new name: The Forest Trust. This new name reflects our position as a global leader in forest conservation and an expansion of our work in the current context of rapid deforestation and climat... (full story)

ALPI achieves OLB (Origin and Legality of Timber) certification
15th July 2009

July 09: The ALPI group obtained the certificate OLB (Origine et Légalité du Bois) in June 2009, with TFT's assistance, for its forest management and transformation operations in Cameroon. The certification OLB means ALPI are now able to guarantee the geographic origin of their ... (full story)

Fondation Chirac and TFT take stock of their first year of collaboration and plan future actions to help curb deforestation
15th July 2009

On 6 July 2009, Fondation Chirac and TFT presented the outcomes of their first year of collaboration at an event at the Quai Branly Museum, in Paris. ... (full story)

TFT’s innovative solutions highlighted in latest Report from The Forests Dialogue
14th July 2009

July 2009: The Forests Dialogue (TFD), a collective of individuals from business, environmental, academic and human rights groups, all committed to the conservation and sustainable use of forests have published an important research paper on 8th July titled "Company-Led Approaches... (full story)

Going Temperate: US Family Forest Programme Launched!
2nd July 2009

June 2009: TFT is progressively expanding its activities out of the tropics and into temperate forests.TFT is now working with FSC US to support family forest owners in the United States to help them achieve FSC certification as part of the FSC Family Forests Programme.... (full story)

Australian newspaper “The Sunday Age” interviews TFT CEO
1st July 2009

July 2009: The article from 28th June is a great read, detailing the history leading to TFT being established, the TFT process, TFT members and what consumers themselves can do to help forests.In the article Scott Poynton says,  "Campaigns targeting consumers with... (full story)

TFT Executive Director Visits PT Tanjung TimberIndo Industries (TTI)
29th June 2009

June 2009: TTI have been TFT members since 2003 when TTI's inspirational founder Joseph Lee committed the company to sourcing FSC certified products. Joseph was very committed to the cause of sustainable forest management but sadly passed away after a long battle with cancer in 2007 befo... (full story)

Community Cooperative granted licence to manage state teak forest area in Konawe Selatan District, Indonesia
23rd June 2009

June 2009: In a special decree issued by the Head of Konawe Selatan District, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, the Cooperative for Sustainable Successful Forests (or ‘KHJL') was awarded the right to manage 4,639.95 ha of state teak plantation area under Community Plantation (or ‘HTR... (full story)

Smallholder farmer cooperative in Indonesia gets FSC certified!
19th June 2009

June 2009: KSU Taman Wijaya Rasa (KOSTAJASA), a community wood cooperative based in the Kebumen Regency, in the Central Java Province, Indonesia, has successfully passed the sustainable forest management certification audit under the Forest Stewardship... (full story)

TFT trains African Forest Officials in Beijing
18th June 2009

... (full story)

Solar Gorilla and Power Monkey - supporting TFT field teams in the Congo and S.E. Asia.
16th June 2009

June 2009:  For TFT, laptops and mobile phones are essential kit in today's world of forest conservation: whether it is recording the latest community mapping data in the forests of the Congo on your laptop, keeping students and lecturers powered up at the CSE or ke... (full story)

CSE inaugurated! Le CES enfin inauguré!
15th June 2009

June 2009: The Centre of Social Excellence was formally inaugurated in Brazzaville on Tuesday 9th June. (See main text in French below.)In a friendly and merry atmosphere, the public, 40 people from  the public sector, the Public Administration, NGOs, research ... (full story)

TFT convened meeting in the home of Chinese Parquet Flooring Industry
15th June 2009

June 2009: TFT, in collaboration with CTDA Flooring Committee, held a workshop in late May for twenty leading Chinese wooden flooring manufacturers. The workshop was held in Jiashan, which has one of the largest concentrations of parquet flooring manufacturers in China. The meeting offered a grea... (full story)

Biso na Biso Official Launch! La radio « Biso na Biso » de Pokola a été inaugurée!
9th June 2009

7 June 2009: After years of planning, radio Biso na Biso is now broadcasting live from Pokola. This achievement was celebrated with an inaugural party and official launch. Government officials, representatives from Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB), TFT, listeners and Biso na Biso staff gath... (full story)

“Logging Concessions Can Extend the Conservation Estate for Central African Tropical Forests”
5th June 2009

June 2009: This article, published in the scientific journal "Conservation Biology" in May, highlights the importance of sustainable forest management and the possibility for wildlife to thrive in well-managed forest. The authors compared the abundance of mammals in logged and intact fo... (full story)

TFT Completes a Sustainable Forest Management Training Programme for Forest Department staff and other Stakeholders in Papua, Indonesia.
4th June 2009

June 2009: The Papua provinces of Indonesia still have over 40 million hectares of tropical rainforest, containing some of the richest biodiversity in the world; however it is at risk from increasing threats of clearance for palm oil plantations and illegal logging. Papua's forests ... (full story)

Crate and Barrel gets top marks again in NWF garden furniture scorecard
2nd June 2009

May 2009: The National Wildlife Federation, the United States' largest private, non-profit conservation education and advocacy organisation, released last month its 3rd annual Garden Furniture Scorecard. This store card rates major retailers in the US in terms of FSC certified garden furnitur... (full story)

The President of the Congolese Superior Council of Free Communication visits Biso na Biso
14th May 2009

Le Président du Conseil supérieur de la liberté de communication congolais en visite à Biso na Biso. (Voir le texte en français ci-dessous.)Pokola, 13th May 2009: The President of the Superior Council of Free Communication, a constitutional insti... (full story)

TFT receives award at ceremony in Dubai for work in Congo Brazzaville involving Indigenous People in Forest Management Decision Making
13th May 2009

On 12th May 2009 in Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Municipality, presented the 12 winners of the Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment (DIABP). ... (full story)

The UNFF supports Sustainable Forest Management as a way of addressing forest degradation and reduce impacts on climate
13th May 2009

4th May 2009: Climate change takes centre stage at the eighth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests. The UN Forum on Forests is an intergovernmental policy forum aiming to promote management, conservation, sustainable development of all types of forests and strengthen long-term political co... (full story)

Walkham Teak and Dipantara: Supporting Community Forestry
11th May 2009

11th May 2009: The Chelsea Flower show is a very important horticultural fair that takes place at the end of May in London.   A great number of gardening businesses will be attending, including TFT member Walkham Teak Ltd. Walkham Teak Ltd is a small family-owned garden furniture... (full story)

The Biodiversity values of PT Andalas Merapi Timber (AMT): a well managed forest providing critical habitat!
8th May 2009

May 2009: The results of an HCVF assessment led by Forest Carbon and TFT and research led by the conservation NGO Flora and Fauna International in AMT vicinity have highlighted the importance of wildlife and values found in the AMT concession. (Read about the HCVF assessment ... (full story)

Monday 4th May 2009 : Classes start at the CSE - Les cours démarrent au CES.
7th May 2009

Monday 4th May marks the official start of the first course at TFT's Centre for Social Excellence (CSE).  (See English version below). Lundi 4 mai 2009 marque le début officiel du premier cours au Centre d'Excellence Sociale (CES) de TFT. ... (full story)

TFT welcomes new member ALPI
5th May 2009

April 30th 2009: TFT is pleased to welcome new member ALPI.  Since March 2007, the ALPI Group and TFT have established an important cooperation aimed at pursuing excellence in the sustainable management of ALPI's forest concessions. This has involved an intense programme of technica... (full story)

New Report released: TFT"s Indonesia Natural Forest Program Annual Report 2008
22nd April 2009

... (full story)

Three Verified Legal Origin Certificates issued in Indonesia in a TFT Member Supply Chain!
8th April 2009

JAKARTA (8 April 2009):  Two Tropical Forest Trust (TFT) supported forest projects and one factory have been issued certificates of Verified Legal Origin (VLO) by the Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood program.  Linked together in a supply chain, the achievement means that wooden furni... (full story)

The Centre for Social Excellence prepares for the first class of students to arrive!
3rd April 2009

March 2009: The Centre of Social Excellence (CSE) is preparing for the arrival of its first class of students in May 2009! In response to our call for applicants, TFT received 101 applications from candidates in Congo-Brazzaville, Central Africa Republi... (full story)

Update on the Timber Trade Action Plan and progress towards legality verification around the world
3rd April 2009

March 2009:  Since 2005, TFT has been managing the Timber Trade Action Plan (TTAP) on behalf of participating European Timber Trade Federations and their members.  With co-funding from the European Commission, we work in the tropical timber producing countries of Cameroon, Congo-Brazzav... (full story)

Latest TTAP newsletter
27th March 2009

March 2009: The Timber Trade Action Plan's (TTAP) latest newsletter highlights some important developments from around the world with respect to promoting the trade of legal wood and responsible purchasing policies.   The newsletter also provides a great update on TTAP'... (full story)

Community radio Biso na Biso is broadcasting live!
25th March 2009

March 31 2009: TFT is proud to announce that Radio Biso na Biso is finally broadcasting through the airwaves from Pokola, Congo Brazzaville!  With the station built, state of the art broadcasting equipment in, a 70 meter pylon erected, solar panels installed, wind up radios distributed to pe... (full story)

TFT staff from Indonesia chosen to attend Project Management and Leadership Training on Climate Change in Japan
19th March 2009

TTAP staff member Thesis Budiarto spent five days in Japan where he attended an international training course in management and leadership skills on climate change for emerging young leaders in the Asia Pacific region. The training was organised by the British Council and run in cooperation with ... (full story)

Good progress at the Community Teak Program in Luang Prabang, Northern Laos
17th March 2009

March 2009: Luang Prabang Community Teak is a collaborative program between TFT and partner organisations towards the development of a viable, economically sustainable, planted teak industry and livelihood improvement of teak smallholders. The key to achieving these aims will be the establishment... (full story)

TFT convenes meeting in Paris
16th March 2009

February 2009: TFT recently held a workshop in Paris for TFT Members based in France and select NGO representatives from Friends of the Earth (FOE) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).  TFT currently has 21 members in France, and the meeting offered an opportunity to give an  ... (full story)

Le Centre d'Excellence Sociale cherche des étudiants ! - Applications invited to the Centre of Social Excellence
7th February 2009

Février 2009: Nous invitons actuellement les postulations d'étudiants pour rejoindre Le Centre d'Excellence Sociale (CES). See below for English version.   Le but principal du CES est d'aborder les questions relatives à la dé... (full story)

Vale Alf Leslie - a much respected and admired international forester, teacher, scholar, mentor, and skeptic.
6th February 2009

February 2009:  Alf Leslie passed away on January 24th following complications from a stroke in 2008. It is difficult to adequately capture the great contribution that Alf made to the forestry world over more than 60 years; he truly was a giant in the profession and a very humble ... (full story)

Top Scores for TFT Members in the Greenpeace Outdoor Furniture Retailers Survey
30th January 2009

January 2009:  Greenpeace New Zealand has recently released a publication called: "Your Guide to Forest Friendly Outdoor Furniture Retailers". This guide ranks leading outdoor furniture retailers in New Zealand on their efforts towards eliminating the sale of timber products from i... (full story)

Report unveils an increasing gorilla population in a sustainably managed concession in Gabon
14th January 2009

January 2009: An article published in the French magazine Sciences et Avenir describes the adventure of the Spanish primatologist Alex Barroso Pujol and team in the forest concession, CEB - Precious Woods Gabon. During an expedition undertaken in April 2008, the team discovered an i... (full story)

TFT membership showed continued growth in the fourth quarter of 2008
14th January 2009

January 2009:  Despite the downturn in global economy, it is positive to see that companies are still keen to commit to responsible wood sourcing strategies. We are pleased to introduce five of our newest members that joined in the fourth quarter of 2008. They consisted of three retailers, a... (full story)