Goho(=Legal) Wood NAVI

Registration open(over)/ International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012 Initiatives
by Industry Associations in Japan to Combat Illegal Logging and to
Promote Legality Verification of Wood and Wood Products

The following International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012 is planned for 11 November 2012 in Yokohama, Japan.
We are looking forward to your participation.
Registration for the seminar is open(over).

3 October 2012

1.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTVES OF THE SEMINAR

　In Japan, associations related to wood and wood products have contributed to the government and international efforts on combating illegal logging and associated trade by developing and promoting the globally known “Goho(legal)- wood” supply system. This system is in line with the Guideline for the Verification of Legality and Sustainability of Wood and Wood Products developed by the Forestry Agency of Japan. The Goho-wood system ensures consumers the legality of the products through the chain of documentations issued by authorized companies which are accredited by industrial associations. The principle of the system has been applied to the Guideline for Woody Biomass for Generation of Electricity, which were recently developed by the Forestry Agency of Japan.

　This international seminar is organized by the Japan Federation of Wood Industry Associations (JFWIA) to inform international participants as well as domestic stakeholders about the Goho-wood system and its implementation including its future prospects. In order to have wider range of international participants, the seminar will be held back to back with the ITTC sessions.

2.GENERAL INFORMATION

(1)DATE:	Sunday 11, November 2012 (The following day of ITTC)
(2)VENUE:	Pacifico Yokohama #503 Meeting Room
(3)Organizer:	Japan Federation of Wood Industry Associations (JFWIA)
(4)Supported by:	Forestry Agency of Japan, International Tropical Timber Organization

3.PROGRAM OUTLINE (Tentative Program in Detail)

Part I: Reports from Participants （1015-1215:TBA）
Efforts to tackle Illegal logging and associated trade: timber legality verification system by Japanese Industry Associations’

This session introduces the Goho-wood system which provides legality verified timber and wood products to consumers. The system is based on documentation issued by authorized companies which are accredited by industrial associations. This method of verification is in line with procedures specified in the Forestry Agency’s Guideline. The session aims to clarify the implication of the Goho-wood initiative in the global trade.

Moderator: Dr Akihiko Araya (Chairman of Forest Economic Research Institute) Speakers: Representatives from municipalities, timber industries and consumer organizations (TBC)

Part II: Panel Discussion（1315-1600:TBA）
The significance and challenges of the Japanese timber legality verification system from an international perspective

This session evaluates the implementation of the Goho-wood initiative and discusses its challenges and future potential of from a perspective of foreign timber companies and stakeholders who have concern about illegal logging and associated trade.

Moderator: Dr Takeshi Toma (Head, Partnership Promotion Office, Bureau of International Partnership,FFPRI)
Panelists: Representatives from related sectors such as business, governments, NGO from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, USA and EU, and ITTO (TBC)

4.EXPECTED PERTICIPANTS

Expected participants of the seminar include stakeholder from wood products industries, trading companies, research institutes, administrative body and NPO. The seminar is also open to the general public.