Timber traceability: a management tool for governments, case studies from Latin America

Countries are developing national timber traceability systems to meet domestic and international demands, including due diligence and Voluntary Partnership Agreements. This report documents lessons and best practices in Latin America's planning of government-led timber traceability systems, highlighting successful approaches and leveraging technologies to respond to unique country needs. Traceability is a global trend becoming a new norm in international wood markets.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 98 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2022
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

The demand for countries to establish national timber traceability systems is on the rise, driven by a range of factors. These demands span from meeting a country's own needs to effectively track and collect associated revenue from timber, to fulfilling international requirements for due diligence regarding the legality of timber for imports, and in certain cases where a country has entered into a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union. In response, numerous countries have invested significant resources in developing comprehensive national systems that trace timber flow from producers to processing, to the point of sale. These systems employ various approaches and tools to achieve this tracking.

The primary objective of this report is to document lessons and best practices in the planning and implementation of government-led timber traceability systems in Latin America. By providing a comprehensive reference for government officials in other countries who are tasked with developing and implementing similar systems, the report aims to contribute to the global trend of traceability and its emerging role as a new norm in conducting business and trade in international wood markets.

The report specifically focuses on experiences in Latin America, where governments have proactively.

proactively implemented traceability systems and demonstrated a remarkable capacity to do so. These systems are designed to cater to the unique needs of each country, leveraging technologies and equipment to address the challenges they face.

One of the key features of successful timber traceability systems in Latin America is their modularity. These systems are built in a way that allows for easy adaptation and transfer of successful and relevant elements from one context to another. This flexibility enables countries to tailor their systems to suit their specific requirements and circumstances, ensuring that they can effectively track and manage timber resources.

Another notable aspect of these systems is their scalability. They can be implemented at various levels, from small-scale operations to large-scale enterprises, and can accommodate the diverse needs of different stakeholders in the timber industry. This scalability ensures that the benefits of traceability are accessible to a wide range of actors, promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainability throughout the supply chain.

In conclusion, the demand for national timber traceability systems is growing, and countries across the globe.

across the globe are investing significant resources in developing and implementing these systems. Latin America has emerged as a region with notable successes in this regard, showcasing the potential of traceability to promote transparency, accountability, and sustainability in the timber industry. By documenting lessons and best practices in the planning and implementation of government-led timber traceability systems in Latin America, this report aims to provide a valuable reference for government officials in other countries who are tasked with developing and implementing similar systems. The report also seeks to raise awareness among other audiences about the global trend of traceability and its growing significance in conducting business and trade in international wood markets.

Dimension: 280 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789251358641