WEBINAR: Deforestation, Public Procurement & Forest Certification

Protecting the planet’s forests is considered essential for sustainable development. The webinars covers how procurers can make sure public spending does not lead to further deforestation.

The original information about the webinar

DATE: 10 May 2017

RECORDING: You can access the webinar here.

Protecting the planet’s forests is considered essential for sustainable development. Both governments and businesses are setting ambitious commitments and are accelerating their efforts to make sure that deforestation is slowed, sustainable forest management is put into place, and illegal logging is eliminated from global supply chains. One piece of the solution to this complex problem is public procurement, and how procurers can make sure public spending does not lead to further deforestation.

The impacts of illegal logging and deforestation

Annual net forest loss of 7 million ha in tropical countries (FAO, 2016), largely due to agricultural conversion
Deforestation represents around 15% of greenhouse gas emissions (WWF, 2016)
Directly affects biodiversity, water integrity, soil erosion, flood- risk, desertification, and human livelihoods
13 million people employed in the formal forestry sector (FAO, 2014)
Estimated 10 billion USD/ per year lost global revenue from illegal logging (World Bank)

Preventing deforestation

Procuring “deforestation free” products – is an important step:

For food there are several schemes available (RSPO...), and some companies have committed to deforestation free sourcing.
For timber related products, legality is not enough: legality does not guarantee non-deforestation, non-forest degradation: that depends on the laws of the land.
Best approach is to:

Reduce demand

Increase focus on recycled materials

Require forest certification – for tropics FSC is best/most present.

Agenda

Short Introduction to the SPP-SCP programme - Laura Skoet, Coordination Desk SPP-SCP
Short Introduction to the CI-SCP programme - Vrilly Rondonuwu, Coordination Desk CI-SCP
Key trends and definitions - David D’Hollander, ISEAL Alliance
Public Procurement and forest management – lessons from the UK - Annie Adams, EFECA
Private certification and public procurement, strengthening sustainable forest management - John Hontelez, Forest Stewardship Council

Downolad full presentation here.

Unsplash - Sergei Akulich

Published on May 10, 2017