Growing worldwide timber demand, combating deforestation and the need to move to a bio-based, de-carbonised global economy will be topics at he International Tropical Timber Technical Association (ATIBT) International Forum to be held in Shanghai in October. Source: Timberbiz
The event is titled Together Towards Global Green Supply Chains and takes place from October 22 to 23. It is being held in association with the China Timber and Wood Products Distribution Association (CTWPDA) and the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) as an outcome of its Legal and Sustainable Supply Chains (LSSC) initiative.
There will be field visits on 24 and 26 October and delegates also have the opportunity to attend the CTWPDA’s Global Hardwood and Wood Flooring Conference, which takes place in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province on October 25.
The organisers cite the latest Special Report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which stated that global climate goals cannot be reached without rapid transition to a bio-based, de-carbonised economy founded on legal and sustainable production and consumption.
At the same time, they say, the gap between global demand and supply of timber is expected to widen to 2050, as wood fibre consumption increases, driven by growing population, notably in tropical countries, and deforestation and forest degradation impacts wood availability.
In response to these market and environmental challenges, many forest-based companies have implemented responsible production and sourcing strategies. However, many producers, notably in tropical countries, face difficulties in responding due to ‘lack of incentives and enabling frameworks’ and limited technical and financial capacity to meet and document compliance with legality and sustainability [requirements]’.
This, say the Forum organisers, calls for market collaboration and communication.
Key goals of the event are to raise the profile of productive forests and their contribution to climate change mitigation and sustainable development. To review the private sector’s role in climate change and development initiatives and to identify legality and sustainability issues in wood supply chains and capacity requirements for sustainable forest management and deforestation-free practice.
It will also address challenges and opportunities in global wood supply chain demand and supply, and encourage development of sustainable timber and wood products supply chains To promote partnership in global green wood supply chains.
The aim of the event will also be to establish an LSSC-GGSC Platform to facilitate business information exchange and collaboration between timber producers, buyers, processors and wood market representatives.
Proceedings will be in English, French, Spanish and Mandarin, with simultaneous translation.
