GOOD GUIDE Use this guide to help you specify timber from environmentally and socially responsible forestry and to avoid timber that is the product of illegal or destructive logging practices in ancient areas.

FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (FSC) EXAMPLES OF COMMONLY CERTIFICATION FSC-CERTIFIED , COMMON USES

Insist on timber products from well-managed sources. Specifying FSC minimises the risk of the timber Choose timber bearing the FSC label to ensure that it FSC Pine originating from old-growth , poorly managed These are comes from forests or plantations that have been Pinus spp. plantations or illegal logging operations. just a few responsibly managed according to strong environmental examples of and social criteria. Marine construction, heavy construction, FSC-certified light construction, interior construction, species, and FSC principles are strict and closely monitored: they ensure panel products, furniture more are that natural forests are conserved, that listed below. and their habitats are protected, and that forest workers Can be used as an alternative to and pine, The choice and forest-dependent communities are respected. The FSC and, in some cases, offers an alternative to tropical of suitable FSC also has a rigorous chain of custody, tracking timber Larix spp. . from the forest to the end user. Other schemes, such as (European Larch, Larix decidua) alternatives PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest will depend Certification schemes), have been created and funded Marine construction, heavy construction, on intended by the forestry industry. Standards are weak and vary interior construction, panel products, furniture use and significantly. Avoid these schemes wherever you can. availability. Very strong and durable tropical , with high Always check In contrast, the FSC enjoys broad support from FSC Jatoba shock resistance. Suitable for a range of exterior uses with Trada or Hymenaea courbaril conservation groups, indigenous communities and forest and flooring. progressive product buyers. The FSC gives equal decision-making rights to economic, social and environmental interests Marine construction, heavy construction, timber traders in its governing structure and standard-setting process. light construction, interior construction, furniture before selecting an In the past, it was difficult to find FSC-certified material. alternative This situation is changing rapidly. There are now over 2,000 FSC , along with FSC OSB and MDF, FSC timber FSC-certified companies worldwide. Over 45 million FSC panel products should be considered as an alternative to tropical to fit your hectares of forest have been certified, in 69 countries Blockboard, chipboard, , MDF, hardwood . The majority of tropical intended use. across five continents. To find out more about the FSC, OSB, plywood hardwood plywood imported into the UK originates in what products and species are available in FSC-certified the last ancient forests of , or the form and where you can buy them, please refer to Light construction, interior construction, Brazilian Amazon. www.fsc-uk.info panel products, furniture REGIONAL INFORMATION SPECIES SPECIFIC CONCERNS EXAMPLES OF FSC COMMON USES ALTERNATIVES

European timbers More controversial areas for sourcing ash include Most of Europe’s ancient forests have already been Ash Romania and Bulgaria where there are high rates of FSC Ash destroyed, and the timber industry relies heavily on Fraxinus spp. illegal logging. plantations and secondary forests. This means there is a (European Ash, ) lower risk of timber coming from ancient forest destruction than with the species listed in the section of this Interior construction, furniture guide. However, what ancient forest remains is under threat from logging operations and caution is needed if timber is not FSC-certified. Boreal forests are particularly imports to the UK from Romania and Poland at risk, in countries such as Finland, Norway and Russia, Beech could be linked to ancient forest destruction. Imports FSC Beech where the survival of numerous species (including the Fagus spp. are also common from France where PEFC, the flying squirrel and the eagle owl) is in the balance. (European Beech, ) industry certification standard, is particularly weak.

Indigenous communities also continue to be affected by Marine construction, heavy construction, forestry operations. For example, the Sámi communities in interior construction, panel products, furniture parts of northern Finland rely on reindeer herding, a livelihood threatened by logging in ancient forests. In from Russia, the north of Finland and parts of addition, illegal logging is a serious problem in Russia and Birch Norway could be linked to ancient forest destruction, FSC Birch some Central and Eastern European countries, including Betula spp. though timber from Finland and Norway will still carry a Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia and Estonia. PEFC certificate. Illegal logging is widespread in Russia, Interior construction, panel products, furniture Estonia and Latvia, which commonly supply the UK. Plantation timbers Whilst buying timber from European non-FSC plantations does not directly contribute to the destruction of ancient forests, plantations can have negative environmental Douglas comes from managed plantations across impacts, including damage to soil fertility and water Europe or from destructive logging in North America’s FSC Douglas quality, and may offer habitat to a relatively small number Pseudotsuga menziesii coastal temperate . Avoid sourcing from Fir of species. Non-European plantation timber carries all the Canada if you cannot get FSC supplies and if the supplier same environmental risks; in addition, there is serious risk Marine construction, heavy construction, is not working with environmental groups to improve that the timber will be linked to negative social issues interior construction, panel products, furniture practices (see www.savethegreatbear.org/ such as land conflict with indigenous peoples. In contrast, 4pages/aboutus/aboutus.htm for suppliers list). FSC plantation design supports biodiversity conservation, and the scale and layout attempt to mimic natural European larch has been planted throughout Europe, forest patterns. Larch but larch from Siberia (usually Siberian larch, Larix FSC Larch Larix spp. sibirica) or Canada (American larch, Larix laricina) is (European Larch, Larix decidua) often the product of ancient forest destruction.

Marine construction, heavy construction, interior construction, panel products, furniture

Caution is advised regarding originating from Oak Poland, Russia and Ukraine, due to links with ancient FSC Oak Quercus spp. forest destruction and illegal logging. Oak imported into the UK can also be sourced from Estonia, where Marine construction, heavy construction, illegal logging is widespread, and France, where the light construction, interior construction, furniture industry-backed PEFC certification standard is particularly weak. North American timbers Pine from Russia, the north of Finland and parts of Very little North American timber comes from plantations. Pine Norway could be linked to ancient forest destruction, FSC Pine Non-FSC timber from North American forests can come Pinus spp. though timber from Finland and Norway will still from ancient forests, and is often certified by the weak carry a PEFC certificate. Imports to the UK can also SFI or CSA certification schemes. The remaining ancient Marine construction, heavy construction, come from Latvia and Estonia where illegal logging forests of North America include the boreal forest belt light construction, interior construction, is widespread. stretching between Newfoundland and Alaska, while some panel products, furniture of the only large, intact tracts of temperate in the world, known as the Great Bear Rainforest, are found Spruce from Russia, the north of Finland and parts of along the coast of British Columbia in western Canada. Spruce Norway could be linked to ancient forest destruction, FSC Spruce This is a region of rich biological diversity and home to a Picea spp. though timber from Finland and Norway will still FSC Siberian wide range of endangered species. For information on (Norway Spruce, Picea abies) carry a PEFC certificate. Imports to the UK can also Larch other North American species, see below. Light construction, interior construction, come from Latvia and Estonia where illegal logging panel products, furniture is widespread.

REGIONAL INFORMATION SPECIES SPECIFIC CONCERNS EXAMPLES OF FSC COMMON USES ALTERNATIVES

North American timbers Usually sourced from North America’s coastal North America has already lost much of its ancient forest. Western Red Cedar temperate rainforests. Some supplies are still FSC Western Industrial logging threatens large parts of what remains in Thuja plicata connected to ancient forest destruction. Avoid this Red Cedar both Canada and the USA. In Canada some of British species if you cannot get FSC and if the supplier is FSC European Columbia’s major logging companies are working with Light construction not working with environmental groups to improve Larch Greenpeace and other groups on a solutions process for practices. (See www.savethegreatbear.org/ FSC Red Louro the Great Bear Rainforest and new standards for logging 4pages/aboutus/aboutus.htm for list of suppliers.) operations in the region. However, the harvesting of western red cedar and western hemlock from North An abundant species in the threatened ecosystem of America’s coastal rainforests is still contributing to the Western Hemlock North America’s coastal temperate rainforests. Avoid FSC Western destruction of this unique ecosystem, threatening the Tsuga heterophylla this species if you cannot get FSC and if the supplier Hemlock habitats of grizzly and black bears, white spirit bears and is not working with environmental groups to improve FSC Pine a number of threatened bird species, along with Marine construction, heavy construction, practices. (See www.savethegreatbear.org/4pages/ thousands of wild salmon runs. interior construction, furniture aboutus/aboutus.htm for list of suppliers.)

South-East Asian timbers Over 200 individual species are classified under South-East Asia remains a very large producer of timber Meranti the . Meranti is a commercial name given FSC Meranti and wood products, though its forests are rapidly Shorea spp. to four groups, differing in colour and weight. More or FSC Red disappearing. Indonesia and Malaysia are now South-East than half of the Shorea species are listed by IUCN as Louro for Asia’s main suppliers to the international market. Interior construction, panel products, furniture critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. some uses

Each year in Indonesia, an area of forest larger than Wales is destroyed – the highest rate of forest loss in the world. Indonesia has more species threatened with From January 2005 Ramin will be listed on Appendix II than anywhere else on Earth. According to conservative Ramin FSC Beech of CITES. Ramin is still commonly logged illegally and estimates from the World Bank, if the current rates of spp. smuggled to other countries. The most commonly FSC Meranti logging continue, the ancient lowland forests of Sumatra traded species (Gonystylus bancanus ) is listed by IUCN or FSC Red and Kalimantan will be eradicated by 2010, together with Furniture, joinery as vulnerable. Louro hope for the remaining orang-utans and other rare species such as the sunbear, the world’s smallest bear. At least 50 million indigenous people depend on Indonesia’s Balau is the commercial name given to about 45 forests. The destruction of these forests goes hand in Balau/Selangan Batu/Bangkirai species described as the ‘heavyweights’ of the FSC Meranti hand with corruption and human rights abuses. In 2003 Shorea spp. Shorea genus. More than half of the Shorea species an estimated 88% of logging in Indonesia was illegal. are listed by IUCN as critically endangered, endangered Profits from the industrial timber trade in Indonesia flow Marine construction, heavy construction, or vulnerable. to the military, corrupt officials, illegal timber barons and interior construction, furniture, garden furniture international traders.

In Malaysia, production capacity in plywood and furniture Two Intsia species are listed by IUCN as vulnerable. mills exceeds the volume of timber actually available from Merbau/Kwila FSC Merbau the country’s forests. As a result, in , once Intsia spp. FSC Kwila the centre of the timber industry in Malaysia, has virtually run out of raw materials. Despite legislation in both FSC Jatoba Interior construction, panel products, furniture countries banning the transportation of round logs from Indonesia to Malaysia, estimates suggest that a significant proportion of the logs needed by 's processing industry is smuggled illegally from Indonesia. Malaysian Keruing is the name given to around 70 commercially timber is increasingly certified by the Malaysian Timber Keruing/Asian No direct FSC Certification Council. Among other failings, its certification harvested timber species from the genus spp. alternative scheme does not recognise the land rights of indigenous Dipterocarpus. More than half of these are listed by communities or offer sufficient protection for high- IUCN as critically endangered or endangered. Marine construction, heavy construction, conservation-value forests. light construction, interior construction

Burma is the only country that still exports from Burmese Teak/Genuine Teak natural forests. Between 1999 and 2000 over half the FSC Teak, grandis teak exported from Burma was logged illegally. The FSC Jatoba sale of teak is a key source of foreign currency for for some uses Marine construction, furniture, garden furniture Burma's brutal military dictatorship.

South American timbers Two species are listed as endangered and one The Amazon Basin supports almost half of all known land- Brazilian Cedar as vulnerable by IUCN. The Colombian and Peruvian FSC Brazilian Cedrela spp. based species. However, it also has one of the world's populations of Cedrela odorata are listed in Appendix III Cedar highest rates of forest destruction and the pace is of CITES. Light construction, interior construction, increasing. In 2002 alone, an area of Amazon rainforest panel products, furniture the size of Belgium was lost.

More than 20 million people live in and depend on the Amazon forest. The lives and cultural identity of Listed by IUCN as vulnerable. Listed on Appendix II indigenous communities are seriously threatened by Brazilian Mahogany of CITES. FSC Andiroba logging companies. Due to deforestation, more than 87 Big Leaf Mahogany FSC Brazilian indigenous cultures have been lost in Brazil alone. A lack Mahogany of governance and law enforcement means that murder, FSC Jatoba violence, slavery and illegal occupancy of public land Interior construction, furniture are widespread. Approximately 80% of timber from the Brazilian Amazon is logged illegally. Listed by IUCN as vulnerable. Greenheart FSC Andiroba (Ocotea) rodiei FSC Jatoba FSC Red Marine construction, bridge construction, Angelim exterior work, flooring African timbers Listed by IUCN as vulnerable. All the African timbers listed in this guide are from West African FSC Andiroba and Central African countries, including Cameroon, Ghana, for some uses Congo Brazzaville and Côte d’Ivoire. The rainforests of West and Central Africa are home to an astonishing number Panel products, furniture of animal and species. They are critical to the survival of three of our closest animal relatives, the gorilla, the chimpanzee and the bonobo, all of which are endangered. Listed by IUCN as vulnerable. Millions of hectares of African rainforest have been lost Ekki/Azobé FSC Cumaru in the last 30 years, and now logging operations are Lophira alata FSC Massar- expanding into the heart of the Congo Basin, whose anduba rainforests are the second largest in the world after those Marine construction, heavy construction, of the Amazon. The Congo Basin is home to around 12 interior construction, furniture million forest-dwelling people, including the semi- nomadic Baka pygmies, who depend almost entirely on the forests. Substantial parts of these forests have Milicia regia is listed by IUCN as vulnerable. already been allocated to international timber companies /African Teak FSC Favinha and commercial logging operations. and Milicia regia FSC Guariuba FSC Tatajuba Illegal logging is rampant in the region and corruption is Marine construction, heavy construction, widespread. Protection of forest areas by national and light construction, interior construction, international law is largely inadequate and poorly panel products, furniture implemented. Logging roads open up tropical rainforests to the hunting of and trade in bushmeat – including the Five species in the genus are listed by IUCN meat of gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants and other Khaya/African Mahogany as endangered or vulnerable. FSC Andiroba endangered species. Khaya spp., especially Khaya ivorensis FSC Jatoba

Many of these species are part of the trade in Marine construction, heavy construction, ‘conflict timber’ – timber traded by armed groups light construction, panel products, furniture or administrations to perpetuate conflict or take advantage of conflict situations. Groups notorious for human rights abuses have been funded by the timber Listed by IUCN as vulnerable. trade in Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo. /African Mahogany FSC Andiroba cylindricum FSC Jatoba FSC Santa Marine construction, light construction, Maria heavy construction, interior construction, furniture

Listed by IUCN as vulnerable. Utile/Sipo/African Mahogany FSC Jatoba Entandrophragma utile FSC Karri for some uses Marine construction, light construction, heavy construction, interior construction, furniture

Listed by IUCN as vulnerable. Wenge No direct FSC laurentii alternative

Interior construction, furniture

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