The VFTN is the Vietnamese chapter of the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), WWF’s worldwide partnership between leading non-governmental organizations, companies, and communities aimed at eliminating illegal logging and improving the management of valuable and threatened forests. By facilitating market links between companies committed to achieving and supporting responsible forestry, the GFTN creates market conditions that help conserve forests and biodiversity, while providing economic and social benefits for the businesses and people who depend on them. Working in parallel with 30 other country Forest and Trade Networks, which represent more than 400 other progressive companies, the VFTN gives its members market access to a vast global network of similarly minded businesses. “Vietnam’s timber processing sector is rapidly expanding and heavily dependent upon imports” said Sander van den Ende, Coordinator of the VFTN, at yesterday’s event. “We are happy to cooperate with these successful and visionary companies in assisting them to source from and prove that they are sourcing from legally and sustainable managed forests.”

Half of the world’s original forest covered has already been destroyed, with much of that destruction having taken place over the last 50 years. As a large and growing importer of industrial timber, pulp, and paper, Vietnam leaves a massive ecological footprint across the forests of the globe, both as a producer and a consumer.  With an increasing demand for wood and paper products, along with diminishing forest resources, Vietnam imports timber from Europe, USA, South America, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. These regions have significant problems directly related to irresponsible forest management practice; such as illegal logging and forest crimes, loss of natural forest to agriculture and silviculture, and loss of biodiversity.

Against this backdrop, the environmentally sensitive markets of Europe and North America are calling for wood products that are legally harvested from well managed forests. The companies that joined the VFTN today see the potential to increase their export trade with these regions by becoming more responsible in their purchasing and achieving credible certification.

In order to qualify for the VFTN, all the new member companies have undergone baseline audits and prepared detailed time-bound action plans to improve their environmental performance. The VFTN will provide technical support and guidance to help these companies follow through on these action plans, in order to achieve credible certification within a five-year period.

“The Truong Thanh Furniture Corporation has always supported legal logging and trading, by becoming a member of the VFTN we are making a long-term commitment to sustainable forest management and responsible procurement of timber,” said Vo Truong Thanh, General Director-President of Truong Thanh Furniture Corporation.