Yokohama, 22 May 2025: When we think of biodiversity, we often jump to images of wildlife, national parks, and conservation areas. For decades, the dominant approach to conserving biodiversity has been to shield natural ecosystems from human activity—an understandable reaction to the rapid loss of species and habitats. However, a growing body of evidence now shows that conservation and sustainable production can reinforce each other and co-exist.

Yokohama, 21 May 2025: The timber sector in key countries including China and Ghana showed further strength in April, according to the latest Global Timber Index report, even as businesses across the tropics began noting now global tariff uncertainty was disrupting trade.

Yokohama, 15 May 2025: Examining the contents of this issue of Tropical Forest Update, a reader might struggle to identify a unifying theme given the wide range of topics, from ITTO’s global advocacy to microcredit schemes in Cambodia to the emergence of Viet Nam’s booming forest sector. In fact, the wide variety of subjects demonstrates how sustainable forest management (SFM) is permeating the whole forest sector. Slowly but steadily, an approach that delivers benefits simultaneously for society, the economy and the environment is becoming mainstream—the status that SFM must attain to be effective.

New York, 09 May 2025: Tropical forests need more than protection, they need investment. As global attention sharpens on sustainable finance and nature-based solutions, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) made a strong case for the need to urgently mobilize resources where they matter most.

Ho Chi Minh City, 08 May 2025: The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) took center stage at this year’s PEFC Forest Forum in Viet Nam, where Director of Forest Management Jennifer Conje delivered the keynote address and joined a panel discussion on the future of sustainable forestry. 

New York, 07 May 2025: As part of the weeklong gathering in New York, on 06 May 2025 the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) actively contributed to critical discussions centered on advancing the Global Forest Goals and UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030 at the 20th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF20).