Enviro News Asia, Colorado Springs — The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the private sector in sustainable tropical timber trade during the 70th World of Wood Convention hosted by the International Wood Products Association (IWPA) in Colorado Springs, United States.
Speaking at the event, ITTO Director of Trade and Industry Mohammed Nurudeen Iddrisu highlighted the organization’s wide-ranging initiatives to strengthen sustainable supply chains and promote responsible sourcing of tropical timber.
A key focus of ITTO’s strategy is its programme on Legal and Sustainable Supply Chains (LSSC), which aims to ensure that timber production and trade meet environmental and legal standards. The programme includes projects across countries such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam, targeting improvements in policy frameworks, production capacity, and consumer awareness.
Dr. Iddrisu also emphasized ITTO’s flagship teak initiative, implemented in six countries with support from the Government of Germany, which seeks to enhance the quality and sustainability of timber produced by smallholder plantations. The project combines international cooperation and innovative financing to benefit both businesses and local communities.
Beyond project implementation, ITTO continues to facilitate global networking and knowledge exchange. One of its key platforms is the Global Legal and Sustainable Timber Forum (GLSTF), co-organized with the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute of Macao SAR, China, which brings together industry leaders and policymakers to strengthen collaboration. The next forum is scheduled to take place in Macao in September 2026.
ITTO is also advancing market transparency through the Global Timber Index (GTI), a platform launched in 2022 that provides monthly insights into timber market trends and sustainability efforts across key producing countries.
In addition, the organization is promoting innovation in timber traceability, including the development of a smartphone application capable of calculating log volumes from photographs, as well as supporting dialogue through its Trade Advisory Group (TAG), which connects private sector stakeholders with government representatives. (*)
