A recent report has highlighted the potential widespread use of illegal and conflict timber in furniture sold this Christmas. The study shows that more than 50% of wood utilised in Vietnamese furniture products comes from Africa, with over half of the suppliers unable to verify the timber's origin. This marks a significant concern, particularly as Vietnam emerges as one of the top four importers of European Union and US furniture.
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The report, titled Policy Forum: Opportunities and Challenges for Vietnamese Companies to Source Sustainable Timber from Africa, and Implications for Future Implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation, revealed that more than 20% of manufacturers admitted to sourcing timber from species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Led by Thu Thuy Pham of Flinders University, along with Andrew Lowe from the University of Adelaide and Thi Kim Hong Tang from Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City, the study highlights the lack of accurate data on timber supply chains in Africa.
'Information on timber supply sources, buyers, and sellers is seriously lacking, which creates challenges for Vietnamese government agencies in taking appropriate action to ensure the legality of imported timber and wood,' the report states. It further emphasises that many African countries struggle to provide comprehensive data on timber production and trade, with the information often scattered across multiple ministries and hard to access.
In July, Wood Central reported that over half of Europe's total timber furniture imports—comprising over 1 billion tonnes of merchandise—were at risk under the European Union's EUDR. Furniture emerged as a key area of concern for policy-makers across Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific regions, aiming to clamp down on illegal logging.
Vietnam, now a major player in global furniture imports, continues to rely heavily on African timber, particularly from the Congo Basin, renowned for its vast forests and high-quality timber. The study found that 47% of Vietnamese companies view importing African timber as a significant opportunity due to Africa's rich wood resources. However, this dependency also raises serious concerns about illegal logging and compliance with international regulations.
Thousands of Vietnamese enterprises import between 5 million and 6 million cubic metres of timber annually, with at least one-third coming from tropical hardwood sourced from countries including Cambodia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, and 20 African nations.
'To address these issues, improved governance and traceability mechanisms are essential to ensure the legality of timber imports,' the report concluded. As Vietnam prepares for the full implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation, more stringent measures may be required to curb the flow of illegal timber and protect the sector's long-term sustainability.
Source: woodcentral.com.a