Our solutions: responsible forestry

Saving forests, securing livelihoods

We aim to improve the management of forests outside protected areas by…

• Increasing credible certification of forests and curbing illegal logging…

• Influencing companies to source their forest products from well-managed forests…

• Helping communities have more control over their forests.

Forests feeling the squeeze
Forests are important resources, supplying timber, paper, furniture and building materials, to name a few. But too many forests are being asked to supply more than they can sustain over the long term. They need to be managed in a way that can meet our needs today while preserving their ecological integrity and production capacity for future generations.

We seek a balance

WWF's Forests for Life Programme believes it is possible to conserve and improve forest management by balancing commercial and non-commercial interests. It means building cooperation with businesses, governments, international organizations, local communities and consumers to achieve realistic market-based solutions.

Certification, cornerstone of our work
The cornerstone of the plan is to have forest-logging operations credibly certified. We are well on-track to our goal of 200 million hectares of certified forests, and continue our work to have more forest operations managed to socially and environmentally responsible criteria, and regularly inspected and certified by credible organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
» More on certification

Illegal logging in the cross hairs
We also have to stop illegal logging and forest crimes that are taking a terrible toll. The numbers are staggering. In the Congo Basin, as much as 50 per cent of the timber felled is believed to be illegal. In Indonesia, it is estimated at almost 80 per cent, while in the Russian Far East, a major timber producer and exporter, illegal logging rates have reached 50 per cent.

Illegal logging not only adds to forest loss but also to economic losses; forest country governments are losing at least US$10-15 billion a year - an amount greater than total World Bank lending to client countries.
» More on illegal logging

Engaging governments...
WWF is working with governments in these countries and elsewhere to develop and implement viable legislation and enforcement. Through the forest law enforcement and governance (FLEG) process launched by the G8 countries, and the EU Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), we are also working to convince governments to take actions in curbing illegal logging and trade.

...businesses...
By sourcing wood products from well-managed forests, major retailers can exert real market pressure on forest producers and forest crime. Corporate responsibility the entire length of the product chain is our goal through the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN). We already have around 400 companies worldwide in the Network.
» More on the GFTN

... and communities
WWF is working closely with indigenous and local communities, like the Miskitos in Nicaragua, rubber tappers of Acre in Brazil, and Village Forestry Associations in Laos, to help them have more control over their forest resources as well as improving their forest management skills. We also help provide market access through credible forest certification. All this helps the community with economic and social development while improving protection and management of their forests.
» More on our community work

The challenge for all stakeholders is to ensure the protection of forests, as well as the supply of timber and forest products, through responsible management practices based on sound environmental, social and economic principles.