Barking up the right tree? A scorecard of UK local authorities’ responsible wood and paper procuremen

This paper is addressing the problem of illegal logging* in the UK. The UK government is trying to tackle this illegal trade through the implementation of its commitments under the European Union's Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) action plan, published in 2003. Implementation of Agenda 21, the UN's action plan that relates to sustainable development, among other drivers, encouraged local authorities to take steps to implement sustainable procurement policies. The recommendations of the paper are drawn from the study of UK's (England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland) timber procurement policies. WWF's recommendations: - Local authorities should make it a mandatory requirement that they have a legal and sustainable timber procurement policy. - More training and awareness raising on timber product procurement policy is needed. - Local authorities should make better use of existing procurement guidance mechanisms. - Local authorities should help create a level playing field for the timber trade. *Illegal logging occurs when timber is harvested, transported, processed, bought or sold in violation or circumvention of national or sub national laws.