Sustainable Development Goals

Most recent ITTO contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals

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ITTO project in Mexico spotlighted by Diario de Yucatán

Life on land

An ITTO project to strengthen the economy of four rural communities in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula through the sustainable use of tropical forest resources and the preservation of Indigenous knowledge has attracted prominent media coverage.

The Diario de Yucatán, a Mexican regional daily newspaper, published an article on the project in February, illustrated with numerous More

International Women's Day 2025: ITTO's commitment to gender equality in sustainable forestry

Gender equality

International Women's Day, celebrated annually on March 8, recognizes the achievements and contributions of women around the world. This year's theme, "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment," aligns with the International Tropical Timber Organization’s (ITTO) commitment to gender equality in both policy and practice. ITTO has long championed the empowerment of women, More

ITTO reports slump in trade in most tropical wood products in 2023, with further uncertainties ahead

Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals

Yokohama, 5 December 2024: Trade in most tropical wood products declined significantly in 2023 in response to a slowdown in economic growth in most consumer economies, a cost-of-living crisis caused by inflationary pressures, and a slowdown in China’s property sector, according to a report presented on day 4 of the 60th session of the International Tropical Timber Council. More

ITTO forest fire projects spark learnings to inform policy

Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals

Completed projects in Indonesia and Peru have provided valuable insights on forest fire management and will inform new guidelines on tropical forest fire management, according to an evaluation of the projects presented at the 60th session of the International Tropical Timber Council, which convened on its third day today. Both projects were funded by the Government of Japan.

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Civil society group calls for more support for communities and women on forest landscape restoration

Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals

ITTO should accelerate support for community-led implementation of its Guidelines for Forest Landscape Restoration in the Tropics to increase the effectiveness of restoration efforts and ensure that communities benefit from them, the Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG) said in a statement today.

The statement was issued during a CSAG-hosted panel discussion on restoration strategies and More

Tropical timber trade group wants ITTO to do more to champion tropical timber

Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals

Yokohama, 3 December 2024: With wood producers worldwide reeling from skyrocketing shipping costs and the tropical timber sector suffering from negative consumer perceptions, the Trade Advisory Group (TAG) called on ITTO today to focus on rebuilding demand for tropical timber by communicating the “tremendous progress” producers have made on timber traceability, legality and sustainability. More

Deforestation regulation draws more discussion

Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals

Yokohama, 3 December 2024: The new European Union Deforestation Regulation, known as EUDR, which has been subject to considerable discussion in previous sessions of the International Tropical Timber Council, also received attention today as part of the Council’s Trade and Market Day. More

Civil society group calls for more support for communities and women on forest landscape restoration

Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals

Yokohama, 3 December 2024: ITTO should accelerate support for community-led implementation of its Guidelines for Forest Landscape Restoration in the Tropics to increase the effectiveness of restoration efforts and ensure that communities benefit from them, the Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG) said in a statement today. More

Deforestation regulation draws more discussion

Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals

The new European Union Deforestation Regulation, known as EUDR, which has been subject to considerable discussion in previous sessions of the International Tropical Timber Council, also received attention today as part of the Council’s Trade and Market Day.

CIFOR-ICRAF Chief Operating Officer Robert Nasi presented on the implications of the EUDR for the tropical timber trade. He said the More

Tropical timber trade group wants ITTO to do more to champion tropical timber

Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals

With wood producers worldwide reeling from skyrocketing shipping costs and the tropical timber sector suffering from negative consumer perceptions, the Trade Advisory Group (TAG) called on ITTO today to focus on rebuilding demand for tropical timber by communicating the “tremendous progress” producers have made on timber traceability, legality and sustainability.

In a statement More

Council chair challenges members to focus on common purpose as political uncertainties escalate

Responsible production and consumption Life on land Partnerships for the goals

Yokohama, 2 December 2024: The Chair of the International Tropical Timber Council, Anna Tyler from New Zealand, has encouraged ITTO members to present a united front during the 60th session of the Council, which started here today, and to focus on the crucial importance of sustainably managed tropical forests and the role ITTO can play. More

Shaping the Future of Tropical Forests: The 60th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council

Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible production and consumption Life on land Partnerships for the goals

The International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) is set to convene for its landmark 60th session, taking place from December 2 to December 6, 2024, in the vibrant city of Yokohama, Japan. This milestone event promises to be a pivotal gathering for member countries, industry and civil society representatives, and those dedicated to sustainable tropical forest management and timber trade.

Why More

ITTO gears up for UNFCCC COP29 to elevate tropical forests in global climate action

Climate action Life on land

Sustainably managed tropical forests and legal supply chains can be essential in fighting climate change and supporting a circular economy. These forests serve as carbon sinks, while sustainable wood offers a renewable, low-carbon alternative to more polluting materials. Sustainable management also boosts forest and community resilience to climate impacts by enhancing productivity, conserving biodiversity, More

Timber markets in Brazil and China pick up in September

Sustainable cities and communities Responsible production and consumption Life on land

31 October 2024: The timber sectors in Brazil and China showed signs of recovery in September, according to the latest edition of the Global Timber Index (GTI) Report, released today. The ITTO-supported GTI tracks the performance of the timber sector in diverse pilot countries.

The GTI indices for Brazil (52.3%) and China (54.2%) were above the threshold of 50% in September (up from 44.5% and More

Boosting Thailand’s Domestic Wood Consumption: ITTO’s Collaborative Effort with Thailand and Japan

Responsible production and consumption Life on land Partnerships for the goals

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken global markets, including tropical timber trade. Like many other countries, Thailand saw a significant decline in international demand for timber and its prices. In response to this challenge, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the Forestry Agency of Japan have promoted a key solution: boosting Thailand's domestic consumption of wood and wood More

CBD COP16: The Collaborative Partnership on Forests launched The Forest Factor

Life on land Partnerships for the goals

Cali, Colombia, 27 October 2024: As the global community unites this week at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) to advance the global biodiversity goals, the Forest and Water Day on October 25 spotlighted the critical importance of conserving, restoring, and sustainably managing our forests and water ecosystems. These efforts are More

New report on trends in tropical wood sector finds huge change since 1990—and remarkable resilience

Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible production and consumption

The tropical wood product sector has survived three major economic shocks —the Asian financial crisis, the global financial and economic crisis, and the Covid-19 pandemic—in the last three decades, and many tropical producer countries have emerged as value-added players in the export trade, according to a new ITTO report examining long-term trends in the sector. More

Smallholders need more support to grow high-quality teak—ITTO project to lead the way

No poverty Decent work and economic growth Life on land Partnerships for the goals

Participants in a regional workshop held in Thailand last month as part of an ITTO project advocated the provision of viable financial schemes to smallholders to support their efforts to cultivate teak and other economically useful tree species and sustainably produce high-quality timber on long rotations. The workshop also discussed how the ITTO project will assist in this endeavour. More

Global timber forum launches action framework for legal and sustainable timber supply chains

No poverty Quality education Gender equality Decent work and economic growth Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals

The Global Legal and Sustainable Timber Forum (GLSTF) has launched the Action Framework for Promoting Legal and Sustainable Timber Supply Chains to strengthen international collaboration among stakeholders in timber supply chains, promote the sustainable development of the timber industry, and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals and combating climate change. More

At APEC forum, ITTO calls for more investment in traceability innovation to support sustainable use

Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land

There is no shortage of inventiveness in timber traceability, but more investment and incentives are needed to further develop these innovations, facilitate their uptake in the timber sector, and ensure that such systems are financially self-sustaining, an ITTO officer has told Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)’s illegal logging expert group, known as EGILAT. More