A consortium of FSC Netherlands and Netherlands Timber Trade Association member importers Wijma, Dekkerhout, Houthandel van Dam and Precious Woods, plus international trader Lionex, has been looking into the market potential and availability of 15 FSC-certified species since last year. The varieties are mainly African and South American, but include Asian timber. They were selected from a long-list of 100 put forward by partner companies affiliated to the Dutch government-backed Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH).
The material has been put through exhaustive tests for interior and exterior application and is now set to be used in pilot projects. Project leader Andries van Eckeveld said that the aim was to give the trade more tropical timber choice, reduce demand pressure on more popular species and at the same time promote certification. “The more FSC LKTS are sold, the wider certification cost can be spread,” he said. “This way, buyers and consumers will contribute to FSC certification and sustainable forest management.”
Following the pilots, the project partners will promote the selected species and, said Mr van Eckeveld, the “flow of timber can start." The ultimate aim, he added, is to offer the LKTS across the EU as well as on the Dutch market.
