How Much Do You Know About Forest Certification? The Forestry Research Institute Joins Hands to Protect the Earth
When you casually pull out a tissue, have you ever thought that it might cause a certain forest on Earth to gradually disappear? According to estimates by international non-governmental organizations, 45% of Taiwan, China's imported timber is very likely to come from illegally logged trees. If we buy tissue paper, books and newspapers, wooden furniture and other forest products without making conscious choices, we unknowingly become accomplices to large-scale global deforestation. Wow! What should we do about this? Don't worry. The Taiwan Forestry Research Institute of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, together with the Forestry Bureau and the Taiwan Forest Certification Development Association, on December 8-9, 101 (2012), using the two-day weekend, will hold the "2012 Sustainable Taiwan Forest Verification Exhibition" to tell you what forest certification is. Only by using products certified through sustainable forest verification can we ensure that the timber comes from forest land managed under renewable, sustainable forestry!
Although forest trees are a renewable energy source, in the face of pressure from global population growth, land is gradually becoming insufficient, and food security issues are also attracting more attention. Therefore, many primary forests, without the permission of local governments, have been developed into farmland, pasture or other uses. Faced with this huge structural deforestation problem, we as end consumers often feel powerless. Fortunately, many international forestry industry groups have now gathered together to establish forest certification promotion organizations, promoting the goal of sustainable forest management through mutual recognition of third-party certification systems. In Taiwan, China, many manufacturers have also realized the importance of protecting forests and have therefore adopted forest-certified wood products.
Director Huang Yuxing of the Forestry Research Institute stated that government departments have an obligation to let consumers understand whether the wood materials used in the products they consume come from legal and sustainably managed forests. Some manufacturers in Taiwan, China have already realized that an environmentally friendly and responsible attitude is the best tool for product marketing. At present, nearly a hundred manufacturers have obtained the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody (CoC) certification label for forest products. In the future, in the forest management process on the production side, Taiwan, China forest certification standards suited to local characteristics must also be developed to help government or private forest managers reasonably utilize forest resources under the principles of sustainable forestry management. In time, the vast forest lands of Taiwan, China can all conform to international standards for sustainable forest management.
In order to let the general public gain a deeper understanding of the concept of sustainable forest management through forest product certification labels, the Forestry Research Institute has specially chosen the weekend holiday, December 8-9, for two consecutive days, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., opening by the lotus pond in Taipei Botanical Garden to hold the "2012 Taiwan, China Forest Certification Introduction and Promotion Event." On site, there will not only be professional explanations of illegal logging and different international forest certification labels, but also introductions to excellent Taiwan, China corporate products that have already obtained forest certification. More than ten booths invited to exhibit on site will offer different fun activities and DIY activities, and adults and children alike are welcome to come and complete the challenges to win prizes.
Press contact: Assistant Researcher Wang Peirong, Economics Division, Forestry Research Institute
Contact phone: 02-23039978 ext. 1302 Fax: 02-23751127