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Local authorities: you can help protect forests

Do you or your contractors buy any wood or paper products? That’s things like paper, furniture, fencing, pallets, timber for construction, plywood or doors.

Did you know that more than 1.5 million cubic metres of timber imported into the UK is from illegal sources? And the public sector is responsible for around 20% of all timber purchased in the UK?

Our recent research showed that local authorities often don’t keep records of the timber products they buy. If you don’t know where your timber comes from, you could be supporting the illegal and unsustainable timber trade, which threatens forests and the many people who depend on them, in countries like Indonesia and in the Congo Basin.

Local authorities have a great opportunity to influence the way timber is harvested and processed, by making sure they're buying responsibly sourced wood and paper. That's why we asked all local authorities in 2011 to make a pledge to improve their timber purchasing.

We were delighted that 61 local authorities have made a pledge, and we're now suporting them in achieving their goals. Although we're not accepting any more pledges at the moment, we're still here to offer advice and support to local authorities on sustainable timber purchasing.

We're working with the UK government's Central Point of Expertise on Timber Procurement (CPET) who offer workshops for local authorities. And we offer a free helpline. Every Friday 9.00 - 12.30 you can contact James Horne at WWF with any questions on sustainable timber purchasing: 01483 412 578 or email jhorne@wwf.org.uk.

More great reasons to choose responsibly sourced wood and paper

• The UK government strongly encourages local authorities to make sure they’re buying timber products from legal and sustainable sources.
• From March 2013 a new EU regulation will mean that anyone introducing a forest product into the UK market will have to show where it’s come from and that it isn’t illegal. This is likely to apply to many of your suppliers.
• Your community wants you to do it! Our recent survey showed that 84% of UK citizens think their local authority should commit to buying sustainable wood and paper products.

Read our 2012 report: Barking up the right tree? A scorecard of UK local authorities’ responsible wood and paper procurement

Barking up the right tree?

Stories from around the UK

• See how other councils have been using sustainable timber
• See who's made a pledge

Useful links

• Advice on sustainable timber procurement from CPET

This project is funded by the European Union

The contents of this webpage are the sole responsibility of WWF-UK and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union