Sustainable forest management needs “incentives revolution”, says Executive Director

ITTO Executive Director Gerhard Dieterle says governments needed to do more to encourage sustainable forest management (SFM) in the tropics, including by providing incentives.

“In many countries, unsustainable production is more profitable than sustainable practices, which are more expensive,” he said. “So we need a revolution in terms of how the public sector is providing incentives and how it promotes sustainable forest management against unsustainable forest management.” Dr Dieterle made the comments as part of a panel discussion, “Sustainable Wood for a Sustainable World”, held during the 24th session of FAO’s Committee on Forestry and sixth World Forestry Week, held in Rome, Italy, on 16–20 July.