Fair trade
A cut above: building the market for fair trade timber
What support is needed to build a market for fair trade timber?
Authors:
D. Macqueen
Publisher:
Sustainable Markets Group, IIED, 2008
Unlike coffee and cotton, timber has yet to become a fair trade commodity. This two-page briefing argues that the time has now come to change this. It argues that a partnership with the fair trade movement could help Community Forest Enterprises (CFEs) earn a fair price, secure community forest resource rights and invest in sustainable forest management, and explores what steps could be taken to build a market for fair trade timber.
Key points include the following:
- there are now many small-scale community forest enterprises that reduce poverty and sustain forests
- their success usually involves investment to secure rights to resources and create a tradable forest asset, establish responsible business structures, build market access and links to service providers, and channel consumer purchasing power toward CFE products
- Forest Stewardship Council certification neither distinguishes CFE products from alternatives, nor guarantees a fair price for CFE producers
- a new partnership with the fair trade movement could do both, and would help to lever more secure community forest resource rights
The briefing concludes that, to mainstream the social and environmental benefits of fair trade timber, substantial support is needed to back this new partnership, while also investing in consumer education and action.
.
