Demonstrating the legality and sustainability of tropical hardwood is a must

18 October 2018 News

“We are entering a new age for timber, a new industrial revolution for timber,” said Peter Latham, Chairman of PEFC International, speaking today at the first Malaysian Timber Conference.

Peter speaking at the Malaysian Timber Conference

“This isn’t just a climate-positive story of using a renewable crop, a crop that can still lock in the carbon when at the end of its use; but also one in which certification can demonstrate how we look after our forests, how we cooperate with indigenous people, how we protect worker’s rights, and so much more.”

Peter addressed the global supply and demand for forest certification and certified timber, its associated challenges and trends, and the outlook and opportunities for forest certification, during his speech on ‘Certification: opening or closing doors to global markets for tropical hardwood’.

“In terms of global fibre consumption, tropical hardwood is a small part, but it is at the top of the pyramid, it is the prestige product,” Peter explained.

“Demonstrating that it is legal and sustainable is a necessity, a necessity that ensures that the product that we value and love is given a true value in the market place.”

The first Malaysian Timber Conference, organized by the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC), was held on 18 October 2018 at the Le Meridien Hotel in KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Themed “Towards a Better Tomorrow” the conference was opened by the Minister of Primary Industries in Malaysia, YB Teresa Kok, who emphasized the importance of sustainability in enabling the Malaysian timber industry to be well established in the global market place, adding that “sustainability and certification will determine long term success” for the timber sector.

In his welcoming remarks, the Chairman of MTC, Dato’ Low Kian Chuan, drew attention to Malaysia’s good forestry practices, with sustainable forest management practices incorporated in the national system. He highlighted that Malaysia is committed to maintaining over 50% of forest cover and preserving forests as natural heritage.

The need for certification to prove that products are from sustainable sources was a key point of the panel discussion on forest protection; with Peter adding that the “best way to protect our forest is to use our forest in a sustainable manner”.

Photo credits: MTC