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.
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Photo: Independent Market Monitor
The increased consumption of sustainable wood products can provide many economic, social and environmental benefits. ITTO is addressing responsible consumption and production by, for example, helping:
- Private-sector companies adopt legal and sustainable supply and production systems.
- Build capacities among small and medium-sized enterprises to better understand and conform with the regulations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
- Develop national timber-tracking systems to ensure legality.
- Monitor the implementation of timber legality assurance schemes and the development of forest certification.
- Increase transparency in the tropical timber trade, including through the Tropical Timber Market Report (published every two weeks) and the Biennial Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation.
Related ITTO contributions for the selected Sustainable Development Goal(s)
(62 results found)
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.
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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
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.
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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.
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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
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.
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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
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
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.
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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.
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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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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
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
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
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