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: In Way
Tropical forest degradation is contributing more to climate change than previously thought. On the other hand, sustainably produced wood is a renewable substitute for many carbon-intensive materials. Sustainably managed tropical forests, and their associated sustainable supply chains, therefore, can be a cornerstone of efforts to combat climate change and develop a more circular economy.
Through projects and policy development, ITTO is helping stakeholders take the following steps to make this a reality:
Through projects and policy development, ITTO is helping stakeholders take the following steps to make this a reality:
- Protect high-conservation-value forests for their ecosystem services.
- Restore degraded forest landscapes for productive uses.
- Increase the capacity of tropical forests to adapt to climate change.
- Improve fire management.
- Manage and use existing productive forests to increase carbon sequestration and avoid deforestation and degradation.
- Promote trade through legal and sustainable supply chains.
Related ITTO contributions for the selected Sustainable Development Goal(s)
(53 results found)
ITTO backs call to “restore the planet” in support of Mother Earth
No poverty Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land
Forest landscape restoration is essential for ensuring that tropical forests can perform their crucial planetary roles, said ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru to mark International Mother Earth Day, which celebrates the concept of Mother Earth and the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet. More
Sustainable tropical wood can contribute to decarbonize societies, Executive Director tells policy dialogue
Affordable and clean energy Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru asserted at an international event that there are several opportunities to continue working with countries to further develop sustainable wood supply chains in the tropics as means for achieving society-wide carbon neutrality. More
ITTO promotes use of criteria and indicators in Trinidad and Tobago
Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
Nearly 30 participants attended an ITTO-sponsored national training workshop on criteria and indicators for sustainable tropical forest management (C&I), held last week in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The aim was to provide forest managers with insights into the C&I to assist in monitoring, assessing and reporting on forests and ensuring their sustainable management. More
ITTO and UN Convention to Combat Desertification strengthen cooperation on tropical forests
No poverty Decent work and economic growth Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
The overall objective of the new MOU is to support ITTO member countries and Country Parties to the UNCCD in restoring and maintaining tropical forest landscapes while promoting the sustainable production of timber and other products and ecosystem services. More
First steering committee meeting held for collaborative SFM projects in Sarawak’s Upper Baram forest
No poverty Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
The first meeting of the project steering committee (PSC) for two ITTO projects to promote collaborative forest management and community empowerment in the Upper Baram Forest Area (UBFA) in Sarawak, Malaysia, was held on 25 September 2023 in the Sarawak town of Miri. The two projects encompass an area of 283 500 hectares in the northeast of the state. More
Making the link between sustainable forest management and cleaner air
No poverty Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land
Tropical forests are known as nature’s purifiers, but the increasing incidence of forest wildfire and other stressors worldwide is putting this reputation at risk. In marking the International Day of Clean for Blue Skies, we highlight the importance of sustainable forest management in the tropics for maintaining clean air. More
ITTO encourages sustainable wood use at meeting of APEC Expert Group
Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land
ITTO updated the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Expert Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT) on its work to promote sustainable wood use in domestic markets of member economies at the 24th plenary meeting of APEC EGILAT in late July. More
New video shows how sustainable forestry works
Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
A one-minute animation produced as part of an ITTO project in Brazil provides a simple explanation of forest management and how it is helping make timber production more sustainable in the Amazon. “Everyone wins from the sustainable use of forests,” says the video. More
Side-event hosted by ITTO and Teaknet examines challenges and opportunities for boosting teak value
Affordable and clean energy Decent work and economic growth Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land
A side-event convened jointly by ITTO and the International Teak Information Network (Teaknet) during the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Forest Products Conference in Cairns, Australia, on 4–8 June 2023, explored means for boosting the value of teakwood products. More
We must do more to enable women in forestry and land restoration
Gender equality Climate action Life on land
Speaking on World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru said that women are often most affected by degraded landscapes but have least control over land management and/or ownership in some societies, yet are effective agents for restoration and forest management and must be empowered. More
ITTO project releases app for calculating timber volumes in products using smartphones
Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land
Software for smartphones developed by Guatemala’s National Forest Institute (INAB) under an ITTO project can be used to calculate log volumes requiring only photographs and a few simple measurements. The app also enables the scaling of logs for products such as sawnwood, rectangular boards, round billets, sawdust, chips, fuelwood, wood pieces and charcoal. More
ITTO fire guidelines and projects featured at 8th International Wildland Fire Conference
Good health and well-being Climate action Life on land
Three ITTO projects on fire prevention and response, and the Organization’s guidelines on fire management in tropical forests, were the focus of a workshop held as part of the 8th International Wildland Fire Conference in Porto, Portugal, last week. The conference also adopted the Landscape Fire Governance Framework to promote collaboration on fire management. More
International Biodiversity Day—ITTO project in Sumatran biosphere reserve contributes to Global Biodiversity Framework
No poverty Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
The first steering committee meeting has been held for an ITTO project designed to promote sustainable landscape management in the Giam Siak Kecil-Buit Batu Biosphere Reserve, a 705 000-ha conservation and sustainable use area on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. The meeting took place ahead of International Biodiversity Day, being celebrated today. More
Documentary released on fire prevention in Machu Picchu ahead of global wildland fire conference
Quality education Gender equality Climate action Life on land
Fires are affecting an increasing area of forest worldwide, and the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is not immune. ITTO Fellow Talía Lostaunau examines efforts to prevent fire near this stunning archaeological site in a new documentary, released today, ahead of a workshop hosted by ITTO at next week’s 8th International Wildland Fire Conference in Porto, Portugal. More
ITTO projects help improve forest fire management in Indonesia and Peru
Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
Two ITTO projects are showing how integrated fire management can tackle the threat posed by wildfire to tropical forests and forest-dwelling communities. We put the projects in the spotlight to mark International Firefighters’ Day, which recognizes and honours the sacrifices firefighters make to ensure that their communities are as safe as possible. More
New video shows how communities are implementing sustainable forest management in the Amazon
No poverty Gender equality Responsible production and consumption Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
A video released today shows how an ITTO project is helping communities in the Verde para Sempre Extractive Reserve implement sustainable forest management and thereby ensure the sustainability of the resource and the long-term viability of their forest enterprises. More
New analysis of timber legality assurance systems and good practices in China and Viet Nam released
Responsible production and consumption Climate action
Strengthened legal frameworks in China and Viet Nam are encouraging their timber industries to become more sustainable and creating more efficient ways for importers to verify the legality and sustainability of wood products shipped from these countries, according to reports presented at a webinar co-hosted by ITTO last week. More
Newly launched projects in Sarawak’s Upper Baram will boost local livelihoods and conserve biodiversity
No poverty Climate action Life on land
ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru and Sarawak Forest Department Director Datu Hamden Bin Haji Mohammad signed agreements on 20 March 2023, to initiate two projects aimed at improving the management of the Upper Baram Forest Area as means for improving biodiversity conservation and enhancing local socioeconomic development. More
Women-to-women digital learning essential for sustainable forestry
No poverty Gender equality Industry, innovation and infrastructure Climate action Life on land
Celebrating International Women’s Day, ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru and ITTO Fellowship awardee and journalist Talía Lostaunau called for stronger commitments to include women in digital and technological advances, hence enabling creative solutions for an equitable future in facing environmental challenges, including by facilitating women-to-women learning. More
Soka Gakkai makes video on ITTO initiative to restore landscapes in Togo by empowering women
Zero hunger Gender equality Climate action Life on land Partnerships for the goals
Soka Gakkai, a community-driven global Buddhist organization, has released a video of a field visit to an ITTO initiative in Togo’s Blitta and Lacs prefectures that has increased the financial independence of local women and enabled them to restore degraded landscapes, adopt agroforestry practices and increase food security for their families. More