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Newsletter April 2009
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WWF Global Forest & Trade Network Newsletter April 2009
New
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April 2009
Contents
Cover Photo: Tropical rain forest, Indonesia – © Tom Moss / WWF-Canon
This publication is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as well as with support from the European Commission. The contents are the responsibility of WWF and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, or the United States government or the European Commission.
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Global Forest & Trade Network News pg 1
GFTN on the Ground pg 2
New GFTN Participants pg 3
GFTN Market Links – Local Forests, Global Market pg 4
GFTN Cutting Edge Insights pg 5
GFTN and Credible Certification pg 6
GFTN Notes from the Field pg 7
The Faces of GFTN pg 8
GFTN Across the Globe pg 8
GFTN at a Glance pg 9
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WWF Global Forest & Trade Network Newsletter April 2009
1Combining Ecology with EconomyWhile the past three months have proven to be extremely challenging for the forestry sector, with the global economic crisis impacting just about every business in every part of the supply chain, the Global Forest & Trade Network has seen that these trials can also present businesses with opportunities. Over the last quarter, we have seen the GFTN continue to grow, as new companies seize the opportunity to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive marketplace by committing to socially and environmentally responsible business practices.
On a recent visit to Sabah, I attended a workshop to review the progress of the USAID-funded Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade (RAFT) project. There, I had the opportunity to showcase the GFTN’s groundbreaking work in responsible forest finance and to participate in a brief study tour of some of the Heart of Borneo’s rich biodiversity. I witnessed firsthand the impacts of responsible forestry on both preserving the habitats of endangered species such as pygmy elephants and orangutans, and contributing to the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
Looking across the Network, I have seen this influence spread to emerging markets with the recent launch of GFTN-India and the substantial momentum being generated by GFTN-China. Through this
progress, the markets of Southeast Asia are being transformed into a force for conserving the valuable and threatened forests in priority ecoregions such as the Heart of Borneo and the Amur-Heilong River Basin.
Whether through the transformative influence of large retailers implementing responsible purchasing policies, or the critical leverage potential of the financial sector in assisting sustainable forestry, or the commitment of forest operators to credible certification and responsible management, the GFTN’s work is having positive impacts on supply chains, communities, wildlife and businesses throughout the world.
Through collaborative partnerships that link committed companies, financial institutions and like-minded agencies, I am confident that the GFTN is well-placed to assist global forest and trade enterprises in meeting the coming challenges in innovative ways.
Richard McLellanHead, Global Forest & Trade Network
Expanding the Reach of Responsible ForestryThe GFTN recently expanded its global reach to include the world’s fourth-largest economy through the launch of GFTN-India. At the launch, 10 major Indian companies – suppliers of timber, wood products and paper to major retailers in Europe and the U.S. – announced plans to become the first GFTN-India Participants.
GFTN Head Richard McLellan and WWF-India Programme Director Dr. Sejal Worah at the launch of GFTN-India.
This is a crucial expansion of the GFTN programme, as India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, growing at more than 7 per cent per year since 2003. By encouraging trade links among Indian companies that are committed to achieving credible certification and responsible forest trade, GFTN-India will expand the reach of responsible forestry far beyond this South-Asian peninsula.
The impact of Network presence in India will be widespread, not only due to India’s vast economy, but also because of the trade implications that an estimated shortage of domestic forest products will have for global markets. With an increasing rise in demand and a dwindling domestic supply, responsible trade of forest products is more important than ever in protecting both India’s natural forests and the forest regions where India fulfills its excess timber demand, such as Malaysia, Myanmar, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Colombia and Tanzania.
The GFTN will play a supporting role in helping India to meet increasing demands for credibly certified forest products locally and to import timber from certified sources throughout the world. By gaining market access to these credibly certified forest products, India will be able to work towards chain-of-custody certifications. This would ensure the nation’s ability to export its manufactured wood products to the U.S. and Europe, where recent legislation prevents trade in illegal wood and wood products from entering key markets.
Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO of WWF-India, conveyed the importance of the GFTN’s presence in India, saying, “It is vital that India takes the lead in setting a course of development. The launch of GFTN-India represents a clear move in this direction and, with the support of industry both nationally and across the globe, we can make a real difference in protecting the world’s forests and the people and species that depend upon them.”
For more information contactDr. T. R. Manoharan ([email protected])
Global Forest & Trade Network News
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WWF Global Forest & Trade Network Newsletter April 2009
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GFTN-UK Participant Awarded Largest UK Chain-of-Custody CertificationAfter a considerable commitment of time and energy, GFTN-UK Participant B&Q, the UK’s largest home improvement retailer, has gained chain-of-custody certification. The certification was granted following a strict audit of B&Q’s procurement and handling of certified wood products by the SmartWood programme of the Rainforest Alliance.
Chain-of-custody records the path that wood products take from the forest to the final consumer. It is achieved by each link in the supply chain having a management system that can demonstrate how certified wood products are identified and controlled throughout the time that the product is in ownership. Therefore, B&Q can now ensure that all its certified wood and paper products come from proven virgin or recycled sources according to the certification requirements.
The chain-of-custody certification was the next step in a long history of sustainability at B&Q, which began in the early nineties when the retailer
became a founding member of FSC and continues today. For example, B&Q recently announced that all of its kitchen cabinets are FSC-certified. B&Q is proud to assure its customers that every purchase that bears FSC chain-of-custody certification has been produced in such a way as to avoid wood from areas where the management practices damage ancient forests, harm wildlife or jeopardize the future of people whose lives depend on the forest.
Diarmuid Walsh, Director of Building and Decorative for B&Q, said, “Sustainability has always been hugely important to us and we are delighted to see that our efforts to gain the certification have paid off. We are passionate about using responsibly sourced materials wherever possible and I am pleased we can now make the promise that the wood our customers purchase at B&Q has been sourced from well-managed forests.”
For more information contactJulia Young ([email protected])
Certified Chinese Forest Surpasses 1 Million Ha MilestoneGFTN-China recently reached a significant milestone in promoting responsible forest management, when over 1 million hectares (ha) of forests managed by GFTN-China Forest Participants achieved credible certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This is a landmark achievement, not only for GFTN-China, but also for GFTN globally, as China will have a formative influence on the global marketplace through its commitment to achieving forestry development goals within the ecological limits of one planet.
“Sustainable management is a long-term goal for China’s forestry development, and forest certification is one of the most effective methods to ensure this goal,” stated Su Ming, Deputy Director of International Cooperation, State Forestry Administration of China. “We’re delighted by the cooperation between domestic forestry companies and international conservation organizations to introduce such advanced management concepts and approaches to China.”
The 230,405 ha of forest managed by Heilongjiang Muling Forestry Bureau and the 116, 217 ha managed by Fujian Yong’an Forestry Group, together with previously certified forests, signify a tangible realization of GFTN-China’s goal to advance credible certification. These forests represent 94 per cent of FSC-certified forests in the country.
Significantly, the majority of these certified forests are located in GFTN-China’s priority Amur-Heilong River Basin ecoregion, representing 92 per cent of FSC-certified forests in the country. By promoting responsible management of these vital forest areas, GFTN-China is ensuring the accessibility of credibly certified forest products to an increasingly demanding global marketplace, in which China is a central player.
WWF-China presents a GFTN-China certificate to Yong’an Forestry (Group) Co., Ltd. Left to right are Zhu Chunquan, Head of Conservation Operations, WWF-China; Dermot O’Gorman, Country Representative, WWF-China; and Lin Qing, Deputy General Manager of Yong’an.
“WWF introduced the concept of forest certification to China in 2000, and established the GFTN-China programme in 2005, using market approaches to enhance sustainable forest management and responsible timber trade. The achievement of this 1 million ha certification milestone marks a significant step for GFTN-China in its extensive promotion of FSC certification in China. WWF has paid great attention to the Amur-Heilong and Yangtze ecoregions in Northeast China, Sichuan and Yunnan. Encouraging FSC certification in these two ecoregions will benefit the protection of biodiversity and the long-term, sustainable development of the regions’ resources, environment and communities,” said Jin Zhonghao, GFTN-China Manager.
For more information contactJin Zhonghao ([email protected])
GFTN on the Ground
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WWF Global Forest & Trade Network Newsletter April 2009
3 New GFTN Participants
Sima Furniture Commits to Responsible TradePT Sinarindo Megantara (Sinarindo), together with its sister company PT Palunesia Makmur (PLM), known as Sima Furniture (Sima) among buyers, recently made a formal commitment to responsible forest management and trade practices by joining GFTN-Indonesia. This is an important step for both companies as they seek to expand their product offerings and increase their exports to other countries.
Currently, Sima exports their custom bedroom, dining and home office furniture to leading U.S. retailers such as Ashley Furniture, Rooms To Go, Broyhill Furniture and Lexington Home Brands. Through their commitment to responsible forest management and sourcing credibly certified timber, they are ensuring the quality of their supply chain throughout the rest of the world.
This commitment is a tangible next step in Sinarindo’s long-standing history of environmentally and socially responsible forest practices. Sinarindo sources 90 per cent of its raw materials from local community forests. “This is in line with WWF’s Meta Goal objective of reducing our ecological footprint, as sourcing from community forests will decrease the amount of harvesting in natural forest,” said Irwan Gunawan, GFTN-Indonesia Coordinator.
By engaging industry leaders committed to responsible forestry and trade practices, GFTN-Indonesia is helping to set a new standard for the nation’s forest industry and eliminate the practice of illegal logging. With the shifting legal landscape – in light of the Lacey Act in the U.S. and the FLEGT process in Europe – it is imperative that Indonesian companies commit to this new global standard in order to compete in the world’s major markets.
For more information contactDita Ramadhani ([email protected])
GFTN-Indonesia Welcomes Integra GFTN-Indonesia recently welcomed PT Integra Indocabinet (Integra), a privately owned company located in East Java, to the Network as its thirtieth Trade Participant. Integra produces a variety of indoor furniture products. Because Integra is a key exporter to the U.S. and Europe, the impact of their public commitment to sourcing certified timber from key sources in Borneo, Java and Sulawesi will extend far beyond the Indonesian archipelago and into the world’s major markets.
Through Integra, GFTN will directly impact the consumption of forest products worldwide as the company has maintained a successful business partnership with Swedish furniture giant IKEA for the last decade. Similarly, Integra’s commitment to responsible forest and trade management is a significant step forward for responsible forestry in Borneo, one of WWF’s priority places for conservation efforts.
In Borneo, Integra owns two forest management units, amounting to approximately 160,000 ha, which are currently in progress towards achieving FSC certification. Responsible management of these valuable and threatened forests will play an essential role in preserving the rich biodiversity found in the world’s third-largest island.
While Indonesia is one of the largest producers of industrial timber, pulp and paper in the world, illegal logging and trade is still common. Local companies and forest concessions committed to achieving responsible forest management, like Integra and Sima, are key stakeholders in GFTN’s fight against illegal logging and unsustainable forest management practices.
For more information contactDita Ramadhani ([email protected])
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WWF Global Forest & Trade Network Newsletter April 2009
4 GFTN Market Links – Local Forests, Global Market
Wal-Mart Committed to Responsible Forestry in the Heart of BorneoIn the highlands of Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia, the forests of the Heart of Borneo are one of only two places in the world where rhinos, orangutans and elephants coexist. WWF is actively engaged in ensuring that this region’s unique forests are conserved and managed responsibly. Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer and a GFTN-North America (GFTN-NA) Participant, recognizes the important role it can play in this effort.
GFTN-NA recently accompanied Wal-Mart sourcing staff to Malaysia to visit several GFTN-Malaysia participating companies, including furniture manufacturing facilities in both the Malaysian state of Sabah and peninsular Malaysia. This visit enabled Wal-Mart staff to learn more about priority forest areas in the Heart of Borneo, risks associated with certain tree species, logging practices in the region and the GFTN’s efforts to increase the supply of credibly certified wood from the Heart of Borneo. The staff also met with Wal-Mart’s existing Malaysian suppliers to enquire about their current forest procurement policies and commitments to move towards credible certification.
“Wal-Mart recognizes the importance of seeing firsthand the forest sources of its wood products, and learning from companies across the supply chain that are participating in the GFTN’s stepwise approach to responsible forestry,” said Linda Kramme, GFTN-NA Acting Manager. “We are working closely with Wal-Mart as the company gains a better understanding of its wood supply chain, and takes the initiative to phase out unknown and unwanted wood sources while increasing its volume of credibly certified sources.”
Tom Flynn, Wal-Mart’s Senior Manager of Strategic Sourcing, affirmed the company’s commitment to responsible forest management, asserting, “Wal-Mart takes its sustainability commitments very seriously. We are asking all our suppliers to implement responsible wood procurement policies that demonstrate a commitment towards credible certification in support of a more sustainable global forest products industry.”
“GFTN-Malaysia was pleased to introduce Wal-Mart to some of our committed companies,” said Ivy Wong, GFTN-Malaysia Manager. “Some of our Participants have achieved FSC certification, and others are in progress towards that goal. We are keen to support Wal-Mart’s interest in gaining a better understanding of threats and sustainable sourcing issues in Malaysia and provide them with options for sourcing responsibly harvested and credibly certified forest products.”
This visit demonstrates the power and value of the GFTN in assisting companies like Wal-Mart as they engage with their current suppliers to achieve credible certification, and to connect them to potential suppliers committed to responsible forestry and trade. Such strong links between committed companies all across the supply chain improve the management of valuable and threatened forests around the world, while delivering benefits to local communities, wildlife and businesses.
For more information contact Linda Kramme ([email protected])
Promoting Responsible Forestry and Trade in Asia The GFTN showcased their responsible forest finance work at a recent workshop assessing the progress of the Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade (RAFT) project, which is being implemented across Southeast Asia. This project brings together a catalytic group of NGOs, governments and the private sector to transform the tropical timber trade through better conservation and sustainable management of Asia’s unique forest biodiversity. The GFTN is currently assisting the RAFT project by working with financial institutions and investors to develop responsible lending policies and investment screening tools and techniques. In addition, the GFTN is assisting GFTN Participants in Indonesia and Malaysia with the implementation of responsible purchasing policies and forest management practices.
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WWF Global Forest & Trade Network Newsletter April 2009
5Influencing the Future of the Malaysian Timber IndustryWWF-Malaysia, working alongside timber trade agencies from the government, NGOs and HSBC, recently organized the third annual Malaysian Forestry Dialogue in Kuala Lumpur. This event is one of most prominent platforms in Malaysia for the exchange of ideas on concerns facing the timber industry, and it includes industry leaders, government representatives, policymakers, financial institutions and NGOs.
This two-day dialogue, which focused on the theme ‘Strategizing Future Directions for the Timber Industry’, brought together more than 100 participants to discuss the future of the country’s timber industry in the face of new challenges, including environmental and social concerns.
Ivy Wong, Manager for GFTN-Malaysia, said that compounding these challenges is the fact that the industry is also confronted with ambitious production targets. According to a recent National Timber Industry Policy report, Malaysia’s timber exports have been forecast to grow at an annual rate of 6.4 per cent, reaching US$14.4 billion by 2020. Over the next decade, it is imperative that the industry examines its development goals in the context of advancing timber trade while minimizing Malaysia’s footprint.
“This was an opportunity for all of the stakeholders in the Malaysian timber industry to engage in an honest discourse about pressing concerns, such as our impact on climate change, social responsibility, certification and reducing our environmental impact through sustainable business practices,” said Wong. “The dialogue also provided a platform to share how the GFTN framework of promoting responsible forest management and credible certification is a proven model that the industry can follow to address these concerns.”
While the meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders – including private companies and guests from importing countries such as China, the U.S. and the U.K. – to engage in constructive debate on the issues, it remains to be seen how the lessons learned will translate into policy for the Malaysian timber industry.
“Although the outcomes of this important dialogue are yet to be fully realized, it is only through an opportunity like this, which engages major stakeholders in Malaysia’s forestry development, that synergy can be reached in determining how to advance the industry while still conserving and protecting our natural resources,” said Wong.
For more information contactIvy Wong ([email protected])
GFTN Cutting Edge Insights
Key Stakeholders Commit to Responsible Forest FinanceOver 50 key leaders in the financial services industry and the environmental community gathered in March to explore the role of responsible investing and financing in advancing global conservation and sustainable trade at “The Trade Finance Opportunity” conference. Co-hosted by the GFTN and the Finance Alliance for Sustainable Trade (FAST), with support from the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation and the Citi Foundation, the event fostered dialogue about the importance of working collaboratively to make sustainable financing available to commodities producers world-wide.
Bruce Schlein, Vice President of Citi’s Corporate Sustainability Unit, demonstrated this commitment, sharing, “Citi and the Citi Foundation are committed to the vision of FAST and GFTN’s joint partnership and welcome the collaboration with key stakeholders such as the World Bank and IFC in building a more sustainable vision for trade finance.”
Key outcomes of the event demonstrated that through a unique collaboration among these key stakeholders, sustainability, conservation and industry can promote sustainable investments that encourage responsible production, specifically in the coffee and forestry sectors.
Richard McLellan, Head of GFTN, affirmed this spirit of collaboration, saying, “GFTN will work alongside FAST to transform capital flows so that preferential lending and credit terms are directed to responsible forestry operations to ensure longer term investments in responsible forestry practices, particularly for small-and medium-sized and community-based enterprises that practice responsible operations in the world’s most valuable and threatened forests.”
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WWF Global Forest & Trade Network Newsletter April 2009
6 GFTN and Credible Certification
Tetra Pak Reaches 100 Million Certified Packs MilestoneEarlier this year, Tetra Pak, a Trade Participant in the GFTN programmes in Sweden and the U.K., was recognized by the FSC for selling 100 million FSC-certified packages only a year after the company launched the world’s first FSC-labeled food and liquid carton. This important milestone reflects Tetra Pak’s commitment to sourcing packaging material from responsibly managed forests and controlled sources.
The first FSC-labeled package debuted on the shelves of Sainsbury’s, the U.K.’s third-largest grocer. Tetra Pak later expanded the sales of these cartons to Brazil, Denmark, Italy and the U.S. The company expects to see continued growth this year.
Tetra Pak has committed to sourcing paperboard only from chain-of-custody-certified board mills by 2015 and to certifying the chain of custody of all its converting and printing plants worldwide by 2018.
Currently, several Tetra Pak paperboard suppliers have achieved FSC chain-of-custody certification. The global certification of Tetra Pak’s converting plants is currently in progress, with some markets completing certification for the entire supply chain, from the forest to the supermarket shelf.
“We believe that the sustainable use of renewable resources – like wood fibres – is of utmost importance. And we want to convey this message
to consumers in the clearest possible way,” said Mario Abreu, Tetra Pak’s Forestry and Recycling Director. “Today, FSC is the best proof of sustainable forestry. That’s why our ultimate goal is to have all the paper in our packaging certified to the highest standards – those currently set by FSC.”
For more information visit www.tetrapak.com
Responsibly Growing Tomorrow’s BAND-AID® BoxesWhen Renato Wakimoto reads to Natalia, his four-year-old daughter, they like to point to pictures of her favourite birds in the rain forest. “We shouldn’t destroy the forest,” he tells her. In his work as Packaging Director for Latin America at Johnson & Johnson Group of Consumer Companies, Wakimoto puts his beliefs into practice.
Starting in 2007, Johnson & Johnson, a GFTN-NA Trade Participant, transitioned their BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages box to paperboard certified by the FSC, ensuring that the trees used come from responsibly managed forests.
‘We use about 1,200 tons of paper a year. So we have a very huge opportunity to decrease the environmental impact’, said Wakimoto. ‘Some people think paper products in Brazil come from the Amazon. To produce our boxes, we use trees only from tree farms. It means we are not using old growth trees’, he says of the box, which began to carry the FSC logo in 2008.
This commitment to sourcing FSC-certified materials from community forests is a pivotal step in reducing Johnson & Johnson’s ecological footprint, as their Brazil-based facility produces 90 per cent of the world’s BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages boxes.
Johnson & Johnson is committed to reducing their environmental impact and has established goals to have 90 per cent of office paper and 75 per cent of paper-based packaging contain more than 30 per cent post-consumer recycled content or fibre from certified forests by 2010.
For more information contactLinda Kramme ([email protected])
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WWF Global Forest & Trade Network Newsletter April 2009
7 GFTN Notes from the Field
Empowering Communities Through Responsible Forestry
Although Sabah has an abundance of natural resources, the people
of Sabah – especially those such as the Orang Sungai, who live in
rural areas – have not historically benefited from this natural wealth.
An indigenous community of Sabah, the Orang Sungai have struggled
under extreme poverty. But responsible forestry leaders are charting a
different course for their future.
The Sabah Forestry Department (SFD), a GFTN-Malaysia Participant, has
developed a community forest programme with funding from GFTN-UK
Participant Homebase and the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP). This programme encourages the Orang Sungai to participate
in forest management and forest certification in Sabah’s Mangkuwagu
Forest Reserve. Working alongside them, SFD is strengthening this
community’s socioeconomic well-being by promoting social justice and
providing equitable access to the forests they inhabit.
SFD Director Datuk Sam Mannan commented on how this approach
alleviates encroachments on forest reserves occupied by indigenous
communities, saying, “We believe meaningful involvement of local
communities is the most effective long-term approach to addressing
the ongoing problems of deforestation and land degradation.”
The programme empowers the community to take ownership and
initiative in these shared forests through the development of a committee
of Orang Sungai representatives that works closely with SFD on local
forestry matters. Similarly, by conducting a social impact assessment
and leading workshops in local schools and communities, the youth,
men and women of these villages are learning the value of responsible
forest management.
This is of vital importance to the Orang Sungai, as their livelihoods
depend on the river and forests that surround their homes. A recent
study conducted by the UNDP found that incidences of poverty among
the Orang Sungai were some of the highest in Malaysia, with over 41
per cent of the community living below the poverty line.
Balancing human needs with environmental conservation in this isolated
forest community, this holistic approach has opened a new chapter in
sustainable forest management. With support from the Sabah Forestry
Department, alternative livelihoods – such as rubber tree cultivation –
can be developed through community forestry projects. The resulting
improvement in lifestyle promises better opportunities for local children,
increasing their awareness of the importance of conservation while
preserving their identity as Orang Sungai, a society that strives to live
in harmony with nature.
“The commitment of the Sabah Forestry Department to responsible
forestry management is seen not just through the conservation of
the valuable and threatened forests,” said Ivy Wong, GFTN-Malaysia
Manager, “but also through the direct impact on the livelihoods of the
families who depend on these forests. They are empowered through
this collaborative partnership to both preserve and responsibly reap the
benefits of the surrounding natural resources.”
SFD’s work does not end with the Orang Sungai in the Mangkuwagu
Forest Reserve; it extends into the rich biodiversity of this priority
ecoregion known as the Heart of Borneo. “The Sabah Forestry
Department has played an integral role in changing policy and
increasing awareness of the importance of conservation among the
people of Sabah,” said Audrey Lee Mei Fong, GFTN-Malaysia Program
Officer. “But their contributions also benefit the species that inhabit these
forests. Their support of forest certification for all long-term licensing
forest management units and the restoration of 2,400 ha of degraded
forest in the Ulu Segama Malua Forest Reserve has influenced other
groups to invest in the responsible management and restoration of this
crucial orangutan habitat.”
For more information contactIvy Wong ([email protected])
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WWF Global Forest & Trade Network Newsletter April 2009
9 GFTN Across the Globe
8Ivy WongIvy Wong first joined WWF-Malaysia in April 2006 as chief technical officer for the Peninsular Malaysia programme. In December 2007, she took on the role of forest conservation program manager, which includes the management and oversight of GFTN-Malaysia. Wong promotes responsible forest
management and trade practices with federal and state governments and private forest managers, and assists forestry companies in achieving their commitments to credible certification and responsible purchasing.
Prior to joining WWF, Wong held a variety of positions in the areas of conservation, biology and forestry, ranging from the private sector to NGOs such as the International Timber Trade Organization and UNESCO. She also served as chief technical officer for the Danish Environment Cooperation Development-funded programme in Endau Rompin National Park, Johor.
Prior to that, Wong represented Malaysia in the Advanced Training Program on Conservation Biology organized by the consortium of the Field Museum, Natural History Museum, Brookfield Zoo and University of Illinois at Chicago. She participated in this programme while serving as a fellow with the faculty of resource science and technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. Wong has a degree in fisheries science from Universiti Pertanian Malaysia.
Betsy HickmanBetsy Hickman came to WWF in February 2009 as GFTN’s communications manager, overseeing the programme’s communications strategies and media relations efforts. Working closely with Network offices across the globe, she will seek to strengthen and unify communications initiatives
and raise the profile of responsible forestry management and trade.
Before joining WWF, Hickman was director of marketing at Relevant Media Group. In this role, she directed the development and implementation of the organization’s earned media and marketing communications strategies. Hickman previously served as director of media relations with Aurelius Consulting Group, where she spearheaded media and investor relations activities for the firm’s clients. Earlier in her career, she contributed to the strategies of advertising agencies as an art director.
Originally from Orlando, Fla., Hickman relocated to the Washington, D.C., area last fall with her husband. In her free time she enjoys photography, traveling, music and exploring D.C. She holds a BA in business communications from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.
The Faces of GFTN
A growing networkGFTN encompasses more than 341 participating forestry companies, manufacturers and retailers, which generate jobs for nearly 2.4 million people globally.
GFTN at a GlanceLocal forests, global markets
Supports indigenous communitiesGFTN Participants' enterprises support 670 local families through community forestry projects.
Facilitates credible certificationThrough GFTN's pioneering stepwise approach, Participants have achieved credible certification for 21.5 million ha of forest, with 12.2 million ha more in progress towards certification.
Opens marketsTrading by GFTN Participants represents 16 per cent of every forest product bought or sold internationally every year, with combined annual sales of US$62 billion.
Forges trade dealsGFTN has facilitated 187 trade links between its Participants, creating new business opportunities for both buyers and suppliers of responsibly produced forest products.
Champions responsible forestry16 per cent of the volume of internationally traded timber and fibre passes through GFTN participating companies.
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WWF Guide to Buying PaperWWF, November 2007 This guide makes it easy for an organisation to understand the environmental impacts of paper-making and to source responsibly produced paper products. View this report at: http://assets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_paper_guide_1.pdf
Keep It Legal – Best Practices for Keeping Illegally Harvested Timber Out of Your Supply ChainWWF, October 2006 Developed by GFTN for organisations wanting to implement a responsible purchasing programme, this manual adds detail to legality issues encountered by companies adopting such policies. Download Keep It Legal as a PDF: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/forests/publications/index.cfm?uNewsID=82060
Guide to Responsible Purchasing of Forest Products – Second EditionWWF, September 2006 GFTN developed this guide for organisations wishing to develop a programme for the responsible purchasing of forest products. The guide offers a generic approach to developing and implementing a responsible purchasing policy. Download the Guide to Responsible Purchasing as a PDF: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/forests/publications/index.cfm?uNewsID=80500
External tools:FSC Certificate Search Database: http://www.fsc.org/en/getting_involved/buy_sell
Forest Certification Resource Centre: http://www.certifiedwoodsearch.org/searchproducts.aspx
Transparency International: http://www.transparency.org/
Illegal Logging: http://www.illegal-logging.info
GFTN Toolbox
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GFTN Contacts
Richard McLellan Head [email protected] T: +41 22 364 9111
Hisayo Fujikawa Operations Manager [email protected] T: +1 202 861 8340
George White Responsible Purchasing Coordinator [email protected] T: +44 1394 420 518
Ian Gray Responsible Forestry Coordinator [email protected] T: +44 14 91 824 025
Natalie Giusti Website/Database Coordinator [email protected] T: + 62 81 338 428 438
Betsy Hickman Communications Manager [email protected] T: +1 202 495 4233
GFTN at a Glance
The GFTN is WWF’s initiative to eliminate illegal logging and transform the global marketplace into a force for saving the world’s valuable and threatened forests. By facilitating trade links between companies committed to achieving and supporting responsible forestry, the GFTN creates market conditions that help conserve forests while providing economic and social benefits for the businesses and people that depend on them.The GFTN considers independent, multi-stakeholder-based forest certification a vital tool in this progression and helps infuse the principles of responsible forest management and trade practices throughout the supply chain.
