ITTO bolsters forest legality and technology innovation at recent APEC meetings

With ITTO’s support, members and stakeholders across the region are bolstering the adoption of legality and innovation best practices to enhance livelihoods and support forest-based bioeconomies. © APEC China 2026

Technology and governance innovation are driving sustainable use of tropical wood and legal supply chains for wood products in the Asia-Pacific region.

With ITTO’s support, members and stakeholders across the region are bolstering the adoption of legality and innovation best practices to enhance livelihoods and support forest-based bioeconomies.

Central to these efforts is strong engagement with regional forums and bodies, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) platform, comprising 21 member economies, 15 of which are also ITTO member economies. 

At the recent APEC First Senior Officials’ meetings 2026 (SOM 1) held in Guangzhou, China, ITTO Projects Manager Tetra Yanuariadi detailed how ITTO’s policy leadership and on-the-ground impact are advancing sustainable forest management and legal and sustainable supply chains in the Asia-Pacific.

Sustaining legal supply chains of tropical wood and wood products in the Asia-Pacific

During the 29th plenary meeting of the APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT), Dr Yanuariadi provided insights on ITTO projects that are embedding legality and sustainability in regional supply chains and enhancing capacities. 

Dr Yanuariadi stated that establishing norms and practices premised on legal principles and timber certification enable the development of sustainable wood and wood product supply chains. Supply chains empowered by legal standards drive international, regional and domestic wood use through increased production capacity, stronger positive consumer sentiment, a wider range of wood product offerings and policy alignment.

ITTO projects in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam have built local markets for domestic wood and wood products while developing industry capacities to further meet global market requirements. 

Dr Yanuariadi identified the construction industry as a key sector where legally sourced wood can replace more carbon-intensive materials, reducing emissions, facilitating economic growth, and fostering sustainable urban living. 

Technology and innovation for sustainable tropical wood product trade

Dr Yanuariadi also addressed an APEC workshop under the Digital Economy Steering Group (DESG) to explore how digital tools can address environmental challenges. He emphasized the contributions of tropical forests to sustainable development and their critical role as nature-based solutions.

ITTO’s experience implementing tailored technological solutions for the conservation, management, and utilization of forests was presented as a practical guide to the potential of technology adoption, combined with community collaboration and governance reform for APEC member economies.

Dr Yanuariadi highlighted digital tools that ITTO has implemented through its project work, such as timber tracking systems (including the use of blockchain methodology), forest planning software, mobile applications to assist wildfire prevention and log volume calculations, and online information exchange platforms.

In Brazil, legal requirements for sustainable forest management require the processing of significant amounts of data. An ITTO project that developed software to improve the forest planning process and meet data requirements was presented as a standard that could be replicated in APEC member economies.

The use of surveillance and monitoring technologies to combat forest loss and land degradation along Thailand’s border areas was also used as an example of how countries in the region are applying technology to address challenges and improve forest management outcomes. 

These innovations, and others developed and implemented with ITTO’s support, create trust across supply chains and ensure compliance with international trade regulations, said Dr Yanuariadi.

Cooperation and collaboration as the path forward

Throughout his interventions at the APEC meetings, Dr Yanuariadi underscored the overriding factors necessary for the successful adoption of legal norms and the application of innovation: governments creating enabling environments and cooperation with stakeholders.

Whether that principle takes the form of collaboration within multilateral organizations such as APEC or through on-the-ground collaboration with governments, private sector, local communities, Indigenous peoples, women, and youth, ITTO is committed to advancing cooperation that enhances livelihoods, strengthens timber legality, and improves sustainable forest management. 

ITTO looks forward to continued discussions under the EGILAT framework, participation in APEC formats such as the DSEG, and its newly announced partnership with the Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI).