The Global Forest Risk Registry - launched last year under the name Global Risk Assessment Website - is now about to enter its second phase of development.
The website was developed in response to a clear need for streamlined and transparent tools for Controlled Wood risk assessments.
However, the website is useful for all buyers of non-certified wood who wish to avoid controversial sources.
NEPCon is collaborating with the Rainforest Alliance and FSC to develop the tool further, and the next version is already planned. The project is now calling for external support that will enable realization of these plans.
A needed tool
As public and private buyers focus more and more on avoidance of illegal and controversial wood, good tools for assessing the sources are increasingly needed.
For example, the US Lacey Act as well as proposed EU regulations involve serious penalties for illegal timber trade.
So far, the pilot version of the Global Forest Risk Registry has attracted more than 6,000 visits from 74 countries around the world, and numerous stakeholders have presented interesting ideas for its further development.
The next phase
The project team has now developed a project outlining the steps necessary to take the Global Forest Risk Registry to its next level and make it a truly powerful tool in wood produrement.
The vision is to develop a user-friendly and visually attractive, Google Earth Map like solution where users can zoom in and get information at a more detailed geographic scale even below country‐level. Where reliable GIS data are available on e.g. High Conservation Value Forest, GMO plantations or indigenous peoples’ land, the new system will enable users to view different GIS layers of data relevant for the risk categories.
Sponsors invited
Sponsors are invited to support this initiative. By supporting it you can contribute to halt illegal logging and other types of controversial forestry around the world. If you are interested in exploring your options for supporting the website, please contact CEO of NEPCon Peter Feilberg, mobile + 372 56 640 246, e-mail pf@nepcon.org.
Related stories
Stiff penalties for illegal timber trade under way in EU (25 February 2009)
New EU initiatives to curb deforestation and import of illegal timber (27 October 2008)
First stakeholder feedback on the global risk assessment (24 October 2008)
New tool to avoid purchase of controversial wood (18 September 2008)