Wherever we may live, forests impact our lives daily, from the air we breathe to the food we eat. However, they are being destroyed to meet the world’s growing demand for wood, paper and agricultural products.
Responsible forestry is essential to not only reduce the adverse environmental, social and economic impacts associated with forest loss, but also to ensure the continuity of the values that forests bring.
India’s pivotal position in the global forest products market makes it a critical player in influencing better forest management domestically and internationally.
- It ranked 13th in total import values for wood and articles of wood trade in 2015.
- It is the second largest importer of tropical timber and is also the third largest consumer, after Indonesia and Brazil.
- About 17% of log imports to India are estimated to be of illegal origin and the country’s consumption of such logs is rising more rapidly than any other.
WWF-India works towards building sustainable, ‘deforestation-free’ markets for forest-based products like timber, pulp and paper, and natural rubber through engagements at multiple levels.
At the manufacturer level, we engage with companies to promote sustainable production and sourcing along their supply chains, through the progressive uptake of global best practices like credible certifications (
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)), as well as through the promotion of the use of sustainable alternatives like agri-residue and recycled fibres. The
Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) is one of the key programmes that WWF uses globally to engage with forest-based companies in this way.
At the consumer level, we work to raise awareness and demand for FSC products through campaigns and communications in industry channels. At the wider sector level, we work to influence the development of forest certification in the Indian context, in line with global best practice.
