Promoting legal timber trade through green supply chains
The International Forum “Together Towards Global Green Supply Chains” was held by the China Timber and Wood Products Distribution Association (CTWPDA), the Center for International Forest Products Trade of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China (CINFT-NFGA), the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux – International Tropical Timber Technical Association (ATIBT) from 22 to 23 October in Shanghai, China. The forum aimed to promote the advancement of legal and sustainable supply chains which will incentivize good production practices, contribute to responsible purchasing practices while also leading to additional benefits of poverty alleviation, creation of employment, economic growth, income generation and so forth whilst complementing climate change impact mitigation.
APFNet’s Assistant Executive Director, Dr Zhang Zhongtian, joined the panel for the session “Contribution of the Wood Industry Sector to Climate Impact and Sustainable Development”. “The forest industry is a key player in deforestation and degradation in tropical forests. Therefore, it has a responsibility to combat climate change impacts and improve the livelihoods of the poor who are dependent on tropical forests,” said Dr Zhang. Dr Zhang emphasized that Chinese companies can play an important role in changing practices to make positive changes to the industry and protect the remaining tropical forests.
Dr Zhang also introduced the progress of APFNet activities in promoting reforestation and forest rehabilitation to combat climate change impacts, including the development of modelling tools for forest adaptation in the Asia-Pacific region and helping to measure carbon stocks in Thailand.
APFNet has also supported the promotion of legal timber trade through the project on supporting small community-based forest enterprises in the Greater Mekong Subregion. The project has sponsored the provision of advanced machinery and equipment to local enterprises to improve the efficiency of timber processing in order to improve livelihoods and reduce pressure on forests.
![](/uploads/201013/1-20101322203BX.png)
Dr Zhang Zhongtian (right) at the panel.
APFNet’s Assistant Executive Director, Dr Zhang Zhongtian, joined the panel for the session “Contribution of the Wood Industry Sector to Climate Impact and Sustainable Development”. “The forest industry is a key player in deforestation and degradation in tropical forests. Therefore, it has a responsibility to combat climate change impacts and improve the livelihoods of the poor who are dependent on tropical forests,” said Dr Zhang. Dr Zhang emphasized that Chinese companies can play an important role in changing practices to make positive changes to the industry and protect the remaining tropical forests.
Dr Zhang also introduced the progress of APFNet activities in promoting reforestation and forest rehabilitation to combat climate change impacts, including the development of modelling tools for forest adaptation in the Asia-Pacific region and helping to measure carbon stocks in Thailand.
APFNet has also supported the promotion of legal timber trade through the project on supporting small community-based forest enterprises in the Greater Mekong Subregion. The project has sponsored the provision of advanced machinery and equipment to local enterprises to improve the efficiency of timber processing in order to improve livelihoods and reduce pressure on forests.
![](/uploads/201013/1-20101322203BX.png)
Dr Zhang Zhongtian (right) at the panel.