Industry leaders representing 13 companies from the hardwood timber industry in China signed an Initiative Against Illegal Wildlife Trade co-launched by TRAFFIC and China Timber and Wood Products Distribution Association (CTWPDA) during the 10th Global Wood Trade Conference and 2020 China Global Sustainable Hardwood Conference held in Deqing, Huzhou, China.
Timber enterprise representatives from 17 countries and regions participated both online and offline during the conferences this year, to discuss the future development of the industry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These key meetings are the largest international wood industry exchange platforms in China, and TRAFFIC took the opportunity to draw delegates’ attention to issues around sustainable timber procurement, overseas procurement regulations, corporate social responsibility guidelines, and approaches to counter illegal trade.
TRAFFIC also highlighted tools available to help companies achieve these aims over the next five years, including the new “Initiative against Illegal Wildlife Trade” and the “Corporate Social Responsibility Guidelines.”
“China’s timber industry plays a vital role in related industries in Europe. Accordingly, the supply chain legality, sustainability, and traceability should also be reinforced by Chinese companies, especially those investing in Africa,” said Ms Margaux Verhaeghe, Foreign Policy Instrument, EU Delegation to China, during a video speech.
“TRAFFIC has made many efforts to promote responsible timber procurement and consumption. The EU expects that Chinese companies can co-operate with government departments, industry associations, and NGOs to strengthen supply chain management, improve product traceability, reject illegal wildlife trade, thereby promoting the green development of the Chinese timber industry and making positive contributions to international timber trade.”
During the meetings, the recent amendments to China’s Forest Law were discussed, together with the legal risks and implications for business operations. An in-depth analysis focused on measures to promote legal and high-quality investment and timber trade between China and Africa under the BRI.
Ms Xu Ling, TRAFFIC’s Director in China, spoke of the importance and need to take actions to reduce illegal wildlife trade and improve corporate social responsibility.
“Avoiding illegal trade of wild fauna and flora both protects biodiversity and the long-term development of the enterprise itself," said Ms Xu.
TRAFFIC is a leading non-governmental organisation working on wildlife trade in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
