Goho(=Legal) Wood NAVI

Report(Printed version：pdf)

The following Symposium was held on Thursday, 10 December 2009 in Tokyo.
Tentative report is posted here.

1. Objective

The project for the promotion of general measures against illegal logging that has been implemented for three years since fiscal 2006 resulted in a certain measure of success such as the participation in the supply network of wood and wood products with verified legality and sustainability (goho-wood) by 7500 wood-related entities all over Japan.

In the future, it is important from the viewpoint of increase in the use and further diffusion of goho-wood to assess the past activities conducted by Japan, and at the same time, to clarify (1) the positioning of the measures against illegal logging for the building of a low-carbon society and (2) the significance of the diffusion of goho-wood in Japan and to appropriately introduce (3) the goho-wood supply network to the final users that include not only government-related organizations, but also consumers and companies in general for the further development and expansion of the goho-wood supply network.

Accordingly, the subject symposium was held in conjunction with the Eco Products Exhibition (December 10-12) where many of the related persons visit.

2. Outline of the Seminar

（１）Date: Thursday, 10 December 2009 (10:00-17:30)

（２）Venue: 7th Hall, Mokuzai Kaikan (Timber Hall, Tokyo Lumber Wholesalers' Association) Shinkiba Koto-ku Tokyo

（３）Organizer

Organizer	：Japan Federation of Wood Industry Associations (Council for Tackling Illegal Logging and Promotion of Goho-wood)
Support	：Forestry Agency (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)

（４）Contents of Main Program

Opening: Address from Organizer and guest of honor ( Director General of Forestry Agency)

Organizer speech  pdf	Hideo Namiki, President of Japan Federation of Wood Industry Associations
Guest speech  pdf	Taisuke Shimada, Director General of Forest Agency

The First Session: Presentation of domestic activities (10:00-11:00)

Overview of the legal wood supply in Japan relevant document	Motoaki Okuma, President of Council for tackling illegal logging and promotion of Goho-wood
Over view of the Screening  pdf	Shin Nagata, Chairperson of Goho-wood Promotion Award Selection Committee
Awarding	Director General of Forest Agency
List of awardees / summary	President of Japan Federation of Wood Industry Associations
	President of the committee
Case example presentation of the legal wood supply network
	Toshikazu Kutsuzawa, Managing Director, Kutsuzawa Seizaisho
	Yasuhisa Nakahara, Association of All Japan Forest Owners Cooperative

The second Session Keynote Address （1100-1200）

Dato' Dr. B.C.Y. Freezailah former Executive-Director of the International Tropical Timber Organization
（International Measures Against Illegal Logging and Goho-wood Promotion in Japan）
Text (pdf)

The Third Session Panel Discussion (1315-1700)
Issues and prospects for the further development of goho wood/sustainable wood and wood products

■Part I Wood products in exporting countries and the goho wood supply network （1315-1515）

Outline and Introduction of Panelists (pdf)

Chairman	Shin Nagata, Professor, The University of Tokyo
Panelist	Russia	Alexander Sidorenko Chairman, Dalexportles Summary pdf, Presentation material pdf
	The United States	Michael Snow Executive Director, American Hardwood Export Council Summary pdf Presentation material pdf
	China	Zhu Guang-qian Chairman, China Timber Distribution Association Summary pdf Presentation material pdf
	Malaysia	B.C.Y. Freezailah Chairman, Malaysian Timber Certification Council Summary pdf
	Japan	Yasuhiro Ohashi Executive Director, Japan Lumber Importers' Association

■Part II Issues and prospects toward the promotion of the use of Goho-wood in the Japanese market (1530-1700)

Outline and Introduction of Panelists (pdf）

Chairman		Hiroaki Kakizawa Professor, Hokkaido University
Government		Toshiyuki Akagi, Director of Wood Products Trade Office, Forestry Agency
Panelists	Demanders	Furniture industry	Yuji Abe, General Manager of Environmental Policy Dept., Okamura Corporation
		Housing industry	Satoshi Nakagawa, Director of Distribution Dept., Wooden Home Builders Association of Japan (Mokujukyo)
		Paper industry	Azumi Kawabe, General Manager, Wood Materials Dept., Strategic Resource Management Div., Oji Paper Co., Ltd.
	Suppliers	Lumber industry	Toshikazu Kutsuzawa, Managing Director,Kutsuzawa Seizaisho
		Market	Kazuo Suzuki, President, Tokai Mokuzai Sogo Shijo Corporation

2009 SYMPOSIUM ON THE PROMOTION OF WOOD AND WOOD PRODUCTS WITH VERIFIED LEGALITY (Goho-wood)
Conclusion (DRAFT)

The panelists and participants of the symposium titled as above and held on 10th December 2009 confirmed the following;

1) Under the current serious global concerns on the climate change and biodiversity conservation, the illegal logging problem which is closely related to these serious issues, has been critical more than ever requiring for action;

2) Whilst the demand on legality verified wood is increasing, there are a lot of challenges to be resolved, such as the definition of legality and sustainability and its methodology of verification and the incentive for legality verified wood;

3) The system to supply the legality verified wood (Goho-wood) is a significant approach toward the long term goal of sustainable wood. It shall be promoted to other countries much further. The exporter countries toward Japanese market should be urged to supply the product cooperating with Japan;

4) The urgent challenges are resolving these issues above further and establishing credibility and trust of the consumers to increase the demands of legal wood;

5) This will require the collaborating of the suppliers and demanders by advancing organization for the legal wood promotion, as well as increasing the use of environmentally sound wood and taking the measures to clarify the incentive to purchase of the legal wood.

6) International dialogue and partnership between exporters and importers are needed to promote the Goho-wood, regarding to the legality standards and incentive with feasibility.

（５）Participants

150 people including those attending via open reservation.