Sustainable Development Goals
Main SDG introduction
World leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at a historic UN conference in September 2015. The SDGs call for action by all countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet, thereby recognizing that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies to build economic growth, address social needs, tackle climate change and ensure environmental sustainability.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the sustainable management of productive forests in the tropics, and a sustainable tropical timber trade, can help in meeting future wood demand and achieving the SDGs. ITTO is empowered to promote the expansion of international tropical timber trade from legal and sustainable sources. It is perfectly placed, therefore, to assist countries in their efforts towards all the SDGs, especially SDG 1 (“No poverty”), SDG 12 (“Responsible consumption and production”), SDG 13 (“Climate action”) and SDG 15 (“Life on land”). Some of the ways it is doing this are outlined below.
Select one or multiple SDGs below to see ITTO’s contributions towards achieving them.
Most recent ITTO contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals
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,
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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
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
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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
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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
International Youth Day: how ITTO is tapping the energy and skills of young people to further sustainable tropical forestry
Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible production and consumption Life on land
The 2024 theme for International Youth Day, celebrated every year on this date, is "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development", highlighting how young minds are harnessing technology to create sustainable solutions to our world's most pressing challenges. More
ITTO-supported drive for sustainable teak in focus at IUFRO congress
No poverty Responsible production and consumption Life on land Partnerships for the goals
ITTO officials and partners provided updates on trends and developments for sustainable teak during a session on day five of the 2024 World Congress of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), held in Stockholm, Sweden last week. More
ITTO video highlights community forestry success in the Amazon to mark International Day of the Tropics
No poverty Gender equality Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
A new video on community forestry in the Amazon highlights how sustainable forest management (SFM) underpins the livelihoods and aspirations of millions of people in tropical countries, as the world marks the International Day of the Tropics. More
Innovation is lifting tropical forestry’s contribution to global sustainable development, says ITTO
Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnerships for the goals
Innovation in areas ranging from timber tracking to policy development is central to sustainable forestry in the tropics, and for magnifying the sector’s contribution to sustainable development. More
Increased investment is key for stronger linkages between forest science and businesses say experts
Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnerships for the goals
Business and sciences in forestry need to interact more closely if they are to bring innovative solutions for addressing global challenges and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Further investments are crucial in fostering effective business-science partnerships. More
ITTO acknowledges vital contributions of women to policy development on sustainable forestry
Gender equality Life on land
ITTO is marking International Day for Women in Diplomacy by recognizing the indispensable role and impactful contributions of women in advancing sustainable forestry in the tropics and by honouring these women and their invaluable efforts in shaping international policies and practices. More
ITTO and UNCCD unite for land restoration to mark world day against desertification and drought
No poverty Good health and well-being Gender equality Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
On World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, ITTO stands side-by-side with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and all governments and stakeholders committed to restoring degraded landscapes and sustainably managing tropical forests as means for ensuring ecosystem health and the wellbeing of local people, communities and nations. More
Capacity building needed urgently in Africa to avoid detrimental impacts of timber trade measures
No poverty Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
ITTO has urged more attention to the need for capacity building and training in the Congo Basin to ensure that the region’s vital forest sector and timber industry will be able to meet the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and other international trade measures. More
ITTO highlights commitment to “Generation Restoration” on World Environment Day
Good health and well-being Gender equality Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
ITTO proudly joins the global community in celebrating World Environment Day, recognizing that this year’s theme, “Our Land. Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration”, both underscores the crucial need to restore land for a sustainable future and aligns perfectly with ITTO’s mission and ongoing work. More
ITTO to revise fire management guidelines, Executive Director tells Fire Hub meeting
Good health and well-being Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
ITTO is revising its guidelines on fire management in tropical forests to incorporate new knowledge and to respond to the increasing risk of tropical forest fire due to climate change and pressures from land-use change and encroachment, ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru told participants at a meeting at FAO headquarters this week. More
Producers and consumers must share the cost of SFM, says Executive Director
Decent work and economic growth Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land
Sustainable production of wood and forest products must be balanced with sustainable consumption to enable countries to meet the cost of sustainable forest management (SFM) in the tropics, ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru told participants in a side-event during the 19th Session of the UN Forum on Forests. More
Executive Director calls for more support for tropical countries on forest fire management
Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
Fire looms as an increasing threat to tropical forests and has become a universal problem, and countries need financial and political support to implement integrated fire management, ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru told at a side-event during the 19th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests, which is taking place this week at UN headquarters in New York. More