Sustainable timber - second report of session 2005-06, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes (Paperback)

Forests are a vital part of the world's ecosystem and support about 1.6 billion people worldwide. However, natural forests, which once accounted for 48 per cent of land cover, has now been reduced to 29 per cent and continues to decrease every year. These resources are irreplaceable and their loss has profound economic, social and environmental consequences. The Committee's report examines developments in UK public procurement practices since its earlier reports on sustainable public procurement (HCP 792-1, session 2001-02, ISBN 0215004671; published in July 2002 and HCP 266, session 2004-05, ISBN 0215024303; published April 2005). Issues discussed include: developments in the timber trade on illegal logging, recent revised Government guidance on procurement of legal and sustainable timber, the creation of a Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET) within DEFRA and the EU's Forest Law, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) action plan.