TFF looks to help Peru achieve sustainable forestry management

The Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF) is examining the feasibility of establishing a sustainable forestry management training centre in Peru.

Its study comes at a time when Peru is struggling to meet the forestry requirements of its trade promotion agreement with the US.

US trade representative Ron Kirk issued a statement in August pressing the Peruvian government to increase its commitment to implementing the requirements of an 18-point forestry section of the agreement.

Bozovich Group, the largest timber products company in Peru and which has an operation in the US, has asked TFF for help to speed up the industry’s adoption of improved forestry practices.

TFF has developed training centres in Brazil, Guyana, Gabon and Indonesia.

A centre in Peru would represent the first one established in Spanish-speaking South America and could serve as a regional centre for the industry in nearby Spanish-speaking countries.

The centres teach sustainable forest management practices and management of chain of custody from the forest to markets, with two types of certification offered – RIL Verified (reduced impact logging) and Legal Verified with chain of custody.