Information, Background
Read also
Consequences of Raubbau
Be alerted
Recognizing Illegal Timber
The tree species already indicates if a wooden product is likely to come from destructive logging or unsustainable sources
Tropische Timber
Abachi, Afrormosia, Afzelia, Anigré, Balau / Yellow Balau, Bilinga, Bongossi, Bubinga, Eukalyptus, Framiré, Gabun (Okoumé), Hevea, Iroko, Kambala, Khaya, Koto, Lauan, Limba, Mahagoni, Makoré, Meranti, Merbau, Niangon, Nyatoh, Padouk, Palisander, Ramin, Sapelli, Sipo, Teak, Wawa, Wenge
Timber from nordic forests (Canada, Russia):
Hemlock, Red Cedar, Redwood,Nordic spruce and pine species .
Beware of terms like 'Hardwood', 'Redwood', 'Exotic wood' which are frequently used to conceal timber from destructive logging.
Certification and Labelling
For example FSC
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is the best known certificate and the one that is most frequently accepted by environmental organizations. Ecological, social and economic organisations are involved in this wordwide initiative. FSC controls timber companies which may use the FSC label to promote their products if positively assessed. FSC criteria are still being developed and therefore there are also controversial matters e.g. the certification of plantations. Also, the insufficient involvement or co-determination of population groups (particularly of indigenous peoples) which are affected by forestry or plantation activities and lack of transparency are criticised. Hence we cannot thoroughly recommend the FSC label, although, amongst international certificates, it comes closest to our criteria.
The FSC label is not an Eco-label! It does not generally prohibit pesticides and also plantations that are harmful to the environment can be certified. However, the FSC label marks products which originate from 'relatively sustainable' forestry. Timber products with the FSC label are definitely better than conventional timber from destructive logging practices.
Products with the German Naturland label we can recommend because they are from semi-natural silviculture. So far, Naturland only certifies in Germany, which excludes some well-known problems typical for less developed countries (e.g. corruption, lack of involvement of civil society).
Certified Wood
Wooden products which are sourced and produced respecting agreed social and ecological standards qualify for certification and labelling.
Beware of these certificates!
The mere certification of a timber product is not sufficient! It depends on the character of the certificate. There are many certificates which we disapprove of because their criteria do not include issues like co-determination of the local, often indigenous population or of environmental organisations or are simply ignored in practice or simply because existing standards are not met.
Bluff packages
Frequently one can find garden furniture labelled ‘from licensed forestry’ or with the claim that the local forestry authority guaranteed ‘ecologically reasonable use and reforestation’. These certificates are not at all accepted internationally or by environmental organisations, nor based on responsible awarding criteria, institutions or control mechnisms. These labels are just to reassure the customer and to promote sales!
Labels, we have problems with
The following certification systems either have weak or no criteria concerning social and ecological sustainability or the certified companies have demonstrably not met them:
CSA (Canadian Standard Association)
MTCC (Malaysian Timber Certification Council)
PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes)
SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative)
Important remark:
Plantations are no Forests!
The label ‘plantation timber’ serves to make the customer believe that no (tropical) forest was cut for the timber. While this sounds good at the first moment, it turns out to be bluff: where now plantations grow, there often used to be (virgin) forests with great biodiversity. Plantations, however, usually consist of one tree species only, frequently a foreign one, and are the habitat for only a few animal and plant species, let alone humans. Fertilisers and pesticides are applied for maximum growth. Due to the high level of mechanisation, plantations provide jobs and thus are source of income for only a few people. These plantations are managed like agricultural areas and products are mainly exported. Only a few, usually big foreign timber companies and investors, benefit from the plantations.
The most common plantation timber species are teak, hevea (Pará rubber tree) and eucalyptus.
Plantations only make sense and are only ecologically justifiable when they are small-sized, consist of preferably native tree species, are not treated with pesticides and fertilisers and reasonably support the local population.
The Bavarian citizen however usually accepts spruce plantations as forest.
