LINKING SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT TO TIMBER SOURCING DECISIONS AND POLICIES Presented by David Bills CBE Director General, Forestry Commission the United Kingdom

BENEFITS Technical - engineering solutions, thermal efficiency, aesthetic design Economic - speed of erection, flexibility Environmental - embedded energy, carbon sequestration Social - aesthetically pleasing, design flexibility, healthy living

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Has the timber come from a forest that is being managed sustainably? Is the logging consistent with the law of the land? Is the site being managed in such a way as to conserve the long-term productivity? cont...

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Are important ecosystems and/or rare and endangered species being threatened? Have local communities been displaced or otherwise had their life disrupted? Has the labour employed been treated with dignity and given appropriate support in terms of occupational health and safety?

A CERTIFICATION SYSTEM MUST HAVE 3 ELEMENTS 1. A forest management standard based on the fundamental principles of sustainable forest management 2. An auditable chain of custody 3. A credible independent authority

CERTIFICATION IS NOT THE ONLY ANSWER Uncertified wood can be from well managed forests Sustainable forest management can be certified but not the chain of custody Two dilemmas: - If not sure of wood should we use non- wood substitutes? - Could forest management get worse if there is no market?

WHO WANTS THIS ASSURANCE? Distributors and retailers Specifiers (local authorities, architects and engineers) Government

THE UK GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PROACTIVE It is committed to seeking to source timber products from legally and sustainably managed sources It has taken the lead internationally with its public procurement policy for wood products The European Union and other major importing countries are likely to follow a similar path

SUMMARY Wood: A Traditional Material The Right Material for the 21st Century Wood: From Well-Managed Forests The Environmentally Compatible Raw Material