Timber Design & Technology Middle East - November 2012

1November 2012 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

A N A L Y S I S | I N T E R V I E W S | D E S I G N | S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y | T E C H N O L O G Y

Issue 05 | November 2012

DNA testing of wood to help curb illegal logging

World’s tallest timber building ‘tops out’ in Melbourne

‘Out of the Woods - Adventures of 12 Hardwood Chairs’

Illegal logging nets organized crime up to USD 100 billion dollars every year

Miro Forestry aims for leadership within the sustainable plantation forestry industry in West Africa

PLUS Timber industry news, new products, exhibition previews and more


FROM THE PUBLISHER

Publisher’scomment

Issue 05 | NOVeMBeR 2012

Timber Design & Technology Magazine

PublisherAndy MacGregorpublisher citrusmediagroup.net+971 55 9199 783

Marketing Managereric Hammondmarketing citrusmediagroup.net+971 4 455 8400

editorTony smitheditor timberdesignandtechnology.com

International RepresentativesRabia AlgaAntexpo Org. | Turkey+90 216 541 0390rabia antexpo.net

Timber Design & Technology is published 6 times a year

by Citrus Media Group (powered by WillyMac Associates FZ LLC)Level 14, Boulevard Plaza - Tower One, emaar Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, PO Box 334155, Dubai, uAe

and is printed by Masar Printing Press Great care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents of Timber Design & Technology but the publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. All contents are © 2012 Citrus Media Group and may not be reproduced in any form without prior consent.

Letters and readers’ contributions may be edited at our discretion.

1

November 2012 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

A N A L Y S I S | I N T E R V I E W S | D E S I G N | S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y | T E C H N O L O G Y

Issue 05 | November 2012

DNA testing of wood to help curb illegal logging

World’s tallest timber building ‘tops out’ in Melbourne

‘Out of the Woods - Adventures of 12 Hardwood Chairs’

Illegal logging nets organized crime up to USD 100

billion dollars every year

Miro Forestry aims for leadership within the sustainable

plantation forestry industry in West Africa

PLUS Timber industry news, new products,

exhibition previews and more

Cover photo:‘Out of the Woods ‘ display

This is the final issue of the magazine for 2012 and the end of our first year of publishing. It

has been quite a steep learning curve for me, but I have met a good number of seasoned wood

industry professionals who have helped me get a grasp of the industry both here in the region

and internationally. Recently I was delighted to be the first representative from the Middle East to

attend the annual meeting of the Woodworking and Furniture Suppliers Magazine Association in

Istanbul. This is a group of 28 publishers from every corner of the globe from Argentina to Taiwan

with a total distribution to over 250,000 industry professionals. We will now have access to the

best possible wood industry news and trends and we plan to share some of this information in our

forthcoming issues.

In this issue, we have covered a range of interesting topics including a feature on how DNA

testing of wood can help combat illegal logging and trade in illegal timber. This has been pioneered

by a company based in Singapore - DoubleHelix - and we were able to track down Jonathan Geach,

Executive Director at the company to learn more about this unique service. Sticking with the same

theme, we have covered a recent report from INTERPOL-UNEP, which estimates the global economic

value of illegal timber trade to be in the region of USD 30 - 100 billion annually. The report focuses

at length on the different methods employed by those involved with illegal logging and outlines key

recommendations to counter this global problem.

As always we invite readers and industry professionals to share their thoughts with us and in

this issue we have featured articles submitted by Dovetail Partners and Broadleaf Consulting. The

former looks at the current state of certification within the timber industry and what next whilst the

latter focuses on the Turkish economy and the market for hardwoods in the country. For those of

you who have been with us from the start, you might remember that in our first issue, we introduced

Cross Laminated Timber and the world’s tallest building - the Stadthaus in London - made from CLT.

Recently, the world’s tallest building made from timber (CLT again) has topped out in Melbourne and

we take a closer look at this structure in this issue.

Looking ahead, we plan to publish five issues of the publication again in 2013 starting in February

and then our Dubai WoodShow special issue in April. We will also be expanding our online activity

with updated news, features, exhibition information and technology developments. Do log on to the

website - www.timberdesignandtechnology.com - for the latest updates and please get in touch if you

have any suggestions for subjects we should consider covering.

Best Wishes,

America’s favourite timber.

For more information on your choice of sustainable AmericanSoftwoods, including certified Southern Yellow Pine, WesternRed Cedar, Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Eastern White Pine, visitwww.americansoftwoods.com

rdar

chite

cts.c

o.uk

www.americansoftwoods.com

16758 SP American softwoods 245(h) x 192(w) Generic Ad .indd 1 09/03/2011 11:16



rdar

chite

cts.c

o.uk





rdar

chite

cts.c

o.uk




IN THIS ISSUE

ContentS

PLUS

p7 Latest news

p46 Showtime

P12

P16

P30

12 SUSTAINABILITYDNA testing of wood to help

curb illegal logging DoubleHelix pioneers testing that

can pinpoint timber species and origin

16 MARKET REPORTIllegal logging nets organized crime up

to USD 100 billion dollars every yearINTeRPOL-uNeP release ‘Green Carbon: Black Trade’

report on illegal timber trade

20 ANALYSISBeyond Certification

Understanding the challenges of certification and identifying opportunities to both improve on existing

programs and develop new approaches

27 ANALYSISTalking Turkey

An assessment of the Turkish market for hardwoods

30 DESIGN & DéCOR‘Out of the Woods - Adventures of 12

Hardwood Chairs’ Ground breaking LCA research helps RCA students

generate full environmental profiles for each of their designs

36 FEATUREWorld’s tallest timber building ‘tops

out’ in MelbourneConstruction innovation heralds new era for

building industry

40 PROFILEMiro Forestry

Company aims for leadership within the sustainable plantation forestry industry in West Africa

43 TECHNOLOGYHOMAG Group hosts the 20th edition of its annual ‘Treff’ expo in SchopflochVisitors experience an unprecedented array of smart

solutions for the production of furniture, windows, floors, staircases and doors at landmark event

46 SHOWTIMEPreview of the upcoming exhibitions

FARLIN GROUP OF COMPANIES ARE VERTICALLY INTEGRATED WITH AN ESTABLISHED PRESENCE WORLDWIDE IN TIMBER LOGS, SAWN TIMBER, PLYWOOD, PANEL PRODUCTS AND COAL FOR ENERGY SECTORS.

Tel: 04 8809 889 | Fax: 04 8809 779 | www.far l indubai.com

farlin_ad_A4.indd 1 25/03/2012 12:01

In OctOber 2012 FarlIn GrOup OFFlOaded One OF the bIGGest ever lOads OF FIlm Faced plywOOd, cOmmercIal plywOOd, mdF and Other panel prOducts at KhalId pOrt In sharjah and dOha pOrt In Qatar. the tOtal sIze OF the carGO was 36,000cbm. mOre vessels lIKe thIs have already been planned tO meet the GrOwInG demand OF Our valuable custOmers FrOm acrOss the Gcc. please cOntact Our sales team tOday FOr ImmedIate servIce.


NEWS

neWSOne of the few remaining European countries with a significant share of

private forest owners yet without a national forest certification system,

Hungary, has launched the process to develop a PEFC-compliant system.

Representatives from various sectors met for a multi-stakeholder workshop

in Sopron on the Austrian Border at the invitation of the University of West

Hungary, to learn about the benefits of PEFC’s unique bottom-up approach.

PEFC, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, requires

countries to develop their own national forest certification standards, in

line with international requirements, and to manage all aspects related to

forest certification independently at national level.

Speakers from PEFC organizations in Austria, Germany, Slovakia

and Slovenia introduced the distinct features of their respective

systems within the context of their specific forest ecosystems, legal

and administrative frameworks, and socio-economic factors. These

experiences provided the backdrop for engaged discussions among

representatives from governments, the forest sector, companies,

research organizations and NGOs concerning how PEFC might work

in practice in Hungary and how the country could benefit from the

lessons learnt in other countries, specifically concerning the needs of

smallholders: at present about 45 percent of the total forest area of

Hungary to Develop National Forest Certification System

Wood must be at the heart of the green economy, say scientists

A green economy must be based on natural, environmentally sound

and sustainable materials and goods. For this, wood is surely the

ideal candidate. It’s a renewable material, and products made from it

store carbon. Through forest products, forests, as well as sequestering

carbon, also play a crucial role in storing carbon and in replacing fossil

fuel, concrete and steel, which have higher carbon emissions and a

significantly larger ecological footprint. At present, the general public,

most policymakers and even the construction industry often see

wood as a ‘traditional’ material, with little or no relevance to modern

technologies and current environmental concerns. However, UNECE

wants to change this perception and has therefore turned to science.

Over 100 experts and scientists gathered in Geneva in October to

discuss Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), and how this methodology can highlight

wood and its qualities as a sustainable material with an increasing

number of innovative uses. LCA can be applied to evaluate the total

environmental impacts of a material or a product throughout its life.

The experts and scientists drew up a set of recommendations for

action by governments, the private sector and UNECE. When discussed

and approved by the UNECE Timber Committee, the recommendations

will help better communicate the benefits of LCA to a larger public so

that consumers can make the right choices when selecting materials

and products.

Paola Deda, Chief of the UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section,

said: “As consumers, we need to be sure we’re not basing our choices

on erroneous beliefs and perceptions. LCA provides us with a scientific

method to assess the ecological footprint of a material or product from

cradle to grave so that we can make informed choices.”

LCA can compare the efficiency and sustainability of wood with that

of other materials for use in different products and purposes. It thus

helps to identify in which instances wood use is the best choice. The

sustainability of using wood for energy, for instance, depends very

much on the life cycle and related impact of the woody material that is

used, as well as on the scale of its use.

The ‘cascaded’ use of wood helps to make the best use of wood and

its ability to store carbon and replace other, less ecologically friendly

materials. In this instance, ‘cascaded’ means where wood is used in

one product and then, at the end of that product’s life recycled into

another. And this process is repeated many times before the ‘final’

wood product is used for energy.

about two million hectares is estimated to be privately owned, with

the vast majority of properties being smaller than one hectare. Only 4

percent of owners have forest properties larger than five hectares.

Participants agreed that there is great potential for advancing

forest certification in Hungary through the development of a national

forest certification system in line with PEFC requirements, which are

specifically designed to cater to the needs of smallholders. Private forest

owners, contractors, and forest professionals have been showing an

increasing interest in PEFC certification in the past few years. A recent

study by the University of Western Hungary concerning the feasibility

of PEFC certification in Hungary has resulted in renewed momentum

with a number of stakeholders showing increasing interest in the

benefits that PEFC can provide.

Building on this momentum, ERFARET, a research and development

organization founded by the University of West Hungary, has started the

process of developing a national forest certification system in line with

PEFC requirements with the support of the 2012 PEFC Collaboration

Fund. This project is also supported by MEGOSZ, the Association of

Hungarian Private Forest Owners, FAGOSZ, the Hungarian Federation of

Forestry and Wood Industries, and PEFC Austria.

8 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | November 2012

NEWS

Pace presents award-winning Hand

LIGNA and interzum to coordinate their visitor advertising activities

Dubai-based Pace Joinery,

one of the region’s leading

manufacturers of interiors,

furnishings and fittings for

the hotel and hospitality

markets, has appointed Barry

Hand as general manager. The

53 year old South African-

born Hand has over 34 years’

international experience in

construction and interior

fit-out, 15 of those in the

Middle East. He has managed

the fit-out of the Jumeirah

Beach hotel and was part of

the project team at Dubai

International Airport for

over eight years. Hand’s other roles include, founding director of

Plafond interiors and managing director of MEP company Macair.

In addition, regionally and internationally, he has managed

some of the most prestigious interior fit-out projects, two of

which received national industry excellence awards. Hand was

Every two years, wood and furniture specialists from around

the world come to Germany to attend the two most important

trade fairs for their industry: LIGNA in Hannover and interzum

in Cologne. The two fairs are staged in quick succession so that

international visitors can attend both in a single trip. 2013 will be

no different. Together, LIGNA and interzum will once again provide

a comprehensive overview of the materials, design solutions

and technologies currently available for the woodworking, wood

processing and furniture industries. As in the past, the organizers,

Koelnmesse (interzum) and Deutsche Messe AG (LIGNA), are

coordinating their international visitor acquisition and marketing

activities.

In 2013, interzum, the world’s leading trade fair for furniture

making materials and design and interior finishing, will be held

from 13 to 16 May - meaning that it will follow LIGNA rather

than precede it as is normally the case. The reason for the change

relates to the timing of public holidays. LIGNA, the leading

marketplace for the international forestry and wood industries, is

always timed to coincide with Ascension Day. In 2013, however,

Ascension Day falls so early in May that the May Day holiday

would clash with interzum if the latter were to be held before

LIGNA.

LIGNA and interzum are the world’s foremost trade fairs in their

respective sectors. Together, they cover a very broad spectrum of

exhibition topics, ranging from wood as a renewable material to

woodworking and processing technology to components for the

furniture and interior finishing sectors. For visitors from abroad,

the timing of the two fairs is ideal because it enables them to

take in both events in a single trip – which is eminently feasible,

given that the host cities, Cologne and Hannover, are only 300

kilometers apart by road or two and a half hours by rail.

also involved in projects such as the Queen Alia International

Airport in Jordan and the Military Hospital in Muscat, Oman.

Hand sees his key role with Pace as substantially developing the

company’s manufacturing business to support major international

hotel projects, while at the same time ensuring the bespoke

furniture business maintains its reputation for exceptional quality.

By combining traditional workshops, with state-of-the-art

manufacturing facilities, Pace Joinery has built an enviable

reputation throughout the region for its high-quality, handcrafted,

furniture, which serves its prestigious client-base, as well as

providing interiors, furnishings and fittings for major hotel,

hospitality and retail projects. With an annual turnover in excess

of AED 50 million, Pace has a full-time staff of some 350 skilled

personnel and has manufacturing facilities totaling some 35,000

square feet.

“Pace is renowned, particularly in the hotel, hospitality

and retail sectors, for combining traditional carpentry skills

and craftsmanship with state-of-the-art manufacturing and

fabrication processes. My strategic business plan for this highly

successful regional company is to develop it still further, into an

exceptionally successful organization on an international level,”

said Hand.

Barry Hand, GM, Pace Joinery


NEWS

Chinese wood imports have fallen dramatically this year

‘Wild West’ timber trade threatens Congo forests

The reduction in construction activities in China during 2012 has

resulted in reduced demand for lumber, and as a consequence imports of

both logs and lumber to China fell substantially in 2012, according to a

report by the Wood Resource Quarterly. Total imports, by value, during

the first eight months was USD 4.3 billion, or 19 percent less than in

2011, with the biggest declines in logs imported from Russia and the

U.S., and in lumber from North America. By volume, log imports were

down 17 percent and lumber imports down 5 percent.

Imports of softwood lumber in August were down for the third

consecutive quarter to 1.1 million cubic meters, which was a decline of

21 percent from May and 23 percent lower than in August 2011. Canada

and Russia are the two dominant suppliers of softwood lumber to China,

together accounting for 84 percent of the total imports, with the U.S.,

Chile and New Zealand making up most of the remaining import volume.

Further, during the first eight months of this year, Russia, Chile and New

Zealand have increased their shipments to China, while volumes from

North America have declined. Exports from the U.S. are down as much

as 41 percent as compared to the same period in 2011.

In August, the average import value for all softwood lumber

imported to China was down nine dollars to USD 203/m3 from a year

ago, according to Customs data. The cost for Russian lumber fell as

much as USD 19/m3, while Canadian average costs were down only

five dollars to USD 200/m3 over the past year. Costs for Canadian

lumber have steadily increased from earlier this year and were at a 12

month-high in August.

Chinese softwood log imports have also fallen dramatically this year.

From January through August, imports from Russia were down 21

percent, and from the U.S., 31 percent as compared to the same period

in 2011. The two other major log-supplying countries, New Zealand

and Canada, have shipped practically the same volume this year as last

year. With the reduced demand for logs by the lumber industry in China,

log prices have fallen through most of 2012. Average import softwood

log values in the third quarter of this year were down 13 percent from

a year ago, and domestic Chinese-fir log prices have fallen about 6

percent in the last year.

Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are colluding with foreign

logging firms to support illegal logging, harming local communities and

risking the destruction of the world’s second largest forest, a report

by a campaign group says. Derelict ports in Congo’s riverside capital

Kinshasa are piled high with logs ready to be shipped out to China and

Europe as part of the lucrative timber trade. Much of the timber has

been harvested using permits signed by the ministry of environment in

direct contravention of Congolese law, advocacy group Global Witness

said in the report.

Congo’s forest is part of the Congo Basin that spans six countries in

the central Africa region covering about 500 million hectares, over 130

million of which is in the Congo. It contains thousands of species and a

quarter of the world’s remaining tropical forest.

According to the report, so-called artisanal logging permits - meant

only for small scale tree felling by Congolese nationals - are being

awarded to foreign firms. The companies then use industrial methods

to cut and export large quantities of wood out of the country, while

sidestepping the environmental and social obligations demanded of

industrial logging operations. Attempts to bring order to Congo’s chaotic

forestry sector have seen a ban on all new industrial logging licenses

since 2002, but this has done little to improve the situation according to

Colin Robertson, one of the report’s authors.

“Basically this is a new system to get around the moratorium. Officials

have been giving out artisanal permits to industrial loggers, and it’s

created a completely chaotic situation in the forests,” he told Reuters.

In the heavily forested province of Bandundu at least 146 artisanal

logging permits have been issued in the last 2 years according to the

report, which also shows evidence of some firms having cut far more

than is allowed by artisanal licences. Local chiefs are paid off with

anything from motor bikes or alcohol to allow the trees to be felled,

while rural communities see no benefit at all, the report states.

Congolese conservationists say the situation is as bad if not worse

elsewhere in the country, which is home to 86 million hectares of forest.

However, Victor Vundu, Director of the Ministry of Environment’s legal

team said they were working on clarifying and tightening up legislation

under a new minister.

“It’s not surprising, in a post conflict country where the administration

has been really weakened, that the state should be accused of not

sufficiently controlling the application of the law,” he said.

Industrial logging output from Congo has dropped in recent years

and currently stands at around 350,000 cubic meters per year, as

companies say that without far tighter regulation they cannot compete

with the illegal market.


NEWS

Emerging African market to drive Danube’s growth

Danube Building Materials has recently extended its presence in

Africa with the opening of its new showrooms in Kenya and Libya.

Conveniently located in the heart of the city, the showroom in Kenya

is situated at Nairobi and spread across 20,000 square feet. Similarly,

the franchise outlet of Danube in Libya is located in Benghazi and is

spread across 35,000 square feet. Both the showrooms showcase an

extensive collection of products including sanitary ware, ceramic tiles,

parquet, flooring, MDF, Chandeliers, Garden Furniture, Timber, Steel,

Hardware etc. Further, the company foresees expansion in other areas

of Africa such as Ethiopia and Tunisia.

“Danube’s commitment to the construction and building materials

market is underlined by our expansion, which is aimed at addressing

the needs of the customers across the region,” said Rizwan Sajan,

Founder & Chairman of Danube Group. “With several construction

projects currently under way and planned projects, there was an

obvious demand for building materials in Africa which has helped us

expand and consolidate our market presence in the region.”

The African market is set for a rebound and the construction

industry is currently gaining momentum across the region with the

demand for building materials giving a much-needed lift to Africa’s

materials manufacturing sector. A new report sponsored by PwC and

carried out by Global Construction Perspectives and Oxford Economics

forecasts that global construction will grow by 67 percent from USD

7.2 trillion to USD 12 trillion annually by 2020. Of this, the Middle

East and African region is expected to outpace the global growth rate.

Libya has a huge potential to become a role model for other Arab

nations considering the steady recovery it is experiencing post the

war. At present, the country is experiencing massive demand across

major sectors of the economy including construction, which bodes

well particularly for foreign companies and investors. Additionally, a

report from Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) stated that the

economy of Kenya grew by 4.9 percent in the first quarter of 2011

due to improved productivity in the construction industry.

In addition to its expansion into Africa, Danube has launched

three new showrooms in key locations including Saudi Arabia, Abu

Dhabi, and Al Ain in the first half of this year. To keep pace with the

emerging market trends, Danube has plans to continue opening more

outlets with a view towards creating a stronger market presence

not only in the Middle East but also across the global market. The

company is set to open 20 new showrooms by next year across UAE,

Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Africa. The increased demand for its

products coupled with its expansion has resulted in the company

growing its workforce since its inception, to 1800 people.

Moreover, the company recently announced a 20 percent growth in

sales for the first two quarters of the fiscal year 2012, with Rizwan

Sajan citing growth and demand for products in the Middle East and

African markets. With its strong cash position, Danube Group is well

poised for a growth of 25 percent over the rest of 2012. Danube’s

growth in sales can be attributed to its provision of world-class

high quality building materials and home interiors combined with

great value and special services. The company’s dedicated focus on

establishing facilities in high potential locations has made it a major

hit with customers.

Farlin Group receives one of the largest single shipments of film-faced and commercial plywood, MDF and panel products for the GCC market

The Farlin Group has recently received one of the biggest

shipments of Film-Faced and Commercial Plywood, MDF

and panel products at Port Khalid, Sharjah. The shipment,

which was estimated at 36,000 cbm, arrived in Sharjah on

a chartered ship - MV Rattana Naree - where approximately

70 percent of the total cargo was offloaded. According to

Abdul Gafar, Business Development Manager at Farlin, the

remainder of the load was directed to Doha Port in Qatar. The

announcement further reaffirms Farlin’s position as a leading

global supplier of timber and timber related products.

The majority of the cargo comprised the group’s own

brand of film faced plywood - Farlinplex - in addition to

commercial plywood, MDF and other panel products. The

materials that were offloaded in Sharjah are primarily for

the UAE market with some of it being routed to Saudi Arabia,

Bahrain and Oman. Meanwhile the shipment to Doha was

earmarked for local consumption in the Qatar and aimed at

local traders in the country who have a strong relationship

with the Farlin Group.

According to Gafar, this shipment represents the ability

of the Farlin Group to continue supplying market demand in

the aftermath of the global economic recession and despite

volatile market conditions. The company is positive of the

growing demand in the region and has expressed a firm

commitment towards ensuring a regular and healthy supply

of products for traders who supply the construction sector in

the UAE and wider GCC.

NEWS


Image © Farlin Group

Image © Farlin Group

Image © Farlin GroupImage © Farlin Group

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | November 201212

DnA testing of wood to help curb illegal logging

DoubleHelix pioneers testing that can pinpoint timber species and origin

SUSTAINABILITY

In a recent report (see page 16), Interpol has estimated

that the value of illegal logging is worth more than USD

30 billion a year, while the legitimate annual global trade

is estimated to be worth in the region of USD 115 billion.

Perhaps the biggest shock is a revelation by Interpol that

the trade in illegal logs is worth almost as much as drug

production. One possible solution to this global problem

is through government legislation such as the USA’s Lacey

Act, the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR), and the

Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill amongst others.

However, the true impact of these measures on illegal logging

is still yet to be fully realized. The answer could perhaps then

lie in the DNA testing pioneered by Double Helix Tracking

Technologies (DoubleHelix). Timber Design & Technology

talks to Jonathan Geach, Executive Director at DoubleHelix to

learn more about DNA testing of wood.


Established in June 2008, the company today is the leader in applied forest genetics and aims to bridge the gap between cutting edge genetics, forest management and timber supply chain issues

SUSTAINABILITY

such practices. Geach is hopeful that

the progress being made could result

in small-scale laboratories around

the globe carrying out cheap DNA

timber tests for companies, customs

agents and law enforcement agencies

within the next two years.

As the cost of genetics research

continues to fall, novel applications

are becoming viable and affordable

to meet a multitude of challenges

faced by the forestry industry and

beyond. As a result, the range of

services offered by DoubleHelix is

expanding across species and sectors

and includes plantation forestry,

timber certification and genetic

inventory for carbon projects.

Geach goes on to state that the

scope of the company’s services is

spreading significantly across a range

of questions as they aim to find

practical commercial applications at

prices that work for their customers.

This has happened due to a

combination of the breadth of issues

that DNA tests easily resolve and the

company’s ability to introduce more

species and regions into play.

“We are seeing clients in Europe

start to incorporate DNA testing

into supplier contracts to verify

country and species claims. Many

clients are using the EU Timber

Regulation as a spur to examine their

supply chains, often with little real

idea of the existing risk. We bring

together our three strengths - an

understanding of trade, expertise

in legality and cutting edge science.

In this way clients are able to get

ahead of the curve and harness the

EUTR as a marketing opportunity

rather than a new risk in operating

internationally,” says Geach.

The company has also been

According to Geach, DoubleHelix

grew out of a timber product

legality standard in Indonesia called

CertiSource (www.certisource.

co.uk). Established in June 2008,

the company today is the leader in

applied forest genetics and aims to

bridge the gap between cutting edge

genetics, forest management and

timber supply chain issues. As such,

the company is pioneering the use

of applied genetics to verify claims

associated with legality, origin,

sustainability, whilst removing

fraud from within the timber supply

chain and preparing businesses for

legislation in the USA and Europe.

Registered in Singapore, the company

is the first in the world to develop

and commercialize DNA testing

for wood. Geach confidently states

that commercial services have

been purchased by businesses keen

to access markets secure in the

knowledge that they are getting what

they pay for since 2007.

Up until now, the fight against

the trade in illegal timber has been

waged with government regulations

and preventive measures, which

have not met with much success. As a

result, there has been a shift towards

using the criminal justice system and

law enforcement techniques, which

has forced companies around the

world to undertake their own due

diligence or pay the price of neglect.

The DNA testing services offered by

DoubleHelix is helping responsible

companies ensure the legality of the

timber they have procured whilst

also fighting to ensure that common

practices in the timber industry such

as mislabeling, lying about origin or

substituting one type of wood for

another are a thing of the past.

Andrew Lowe, Chief Scientific

Officer at DoubleHelix, is one of

the world’s top plant geneticists

and was responsible for making

the breakthrough in DNA testing

of wood. At his laboratory at the

University of Adelaide in South

Australia, he perfected the method

of extracting DNA taken from a log,

a board, a table or even flooring,

which paved the way for the

commercialized testing of timber.

Today, rapid advances in the field

and plunging costs for DNA testing

of timber now mean that it is

commercially feasible for companies

trying to meet new regulations in

the United States and Europe against

Jonathan Geach, Executive Director, DoubleHelix

Andrew Lowe, Chief Scientific Officer, DoubleHelix

Image © DoubleHelix Image © DoubleHelix


SUSTAINABILITY

involved in several civil and criminal

actions. Geach recalls the case of a

developer who was concerned that a

decking supplier had provided mixed

species instead of a single species

included in the procurement contract.

The developer wanted to use the

company’s services to prove the

mix of species a few years later at

a time when the product was falling

to pieces. Furthermore, governments

and investors interested in forest

carbon schemes such as REDD

are increasingly recognizing the

value of DNA postcodes for trees

to form a security system for their

investment, all of which bodes well

for DoubleHelix.

Aiming to explain the science

behind it all, Geach highlights the

fact that tree’s are individuals and as

such each tree has it’s own unique

DNA. When a tree is cut down and

transformed into a product, its DNA

is still present and can, with skill,

be extracted. The idea is that by

extracting the DNA and conducting

a simple species test, DoubleHelix

will be able to verify the species

of wood and its origin. At present,

this testing is done in only one of

two very specialized laboratories,

but the company is working towards

developing this so that it can be

easily and cheaply handled by

licensed laboratories anywhere in the

world. The aim is to license Lowe’s

DNA extraction technique within

two years to accredited laboratories

globally in a bid to firmly stamp out

the illegal timber trade.

In principle, DNA testing is

extremely accurate due to the unique

DNA signature of each species. One

could then be mistaken for thinking

that the journey for DoubleHelix

has been smooth sailing. The truth

is that when the company launched

in 2008, the concept of DNA testing

was relatively unknown with clients

unable to fully grasp the benefits of

the service. However, with the Lacey

Act in play in the US over the past

few years and the proposed EUTR

set to come into effect in 2013, the

number of clients is growing. Geach

states that the number of clients for

the CertiSource chain-of-custody

and legality verification scheme is

numbered in the hundreds and this

When a tree is cut down and transformed

into a product, its DNA is still present

and can, with skill, be extracted. The idea is that by extracting the DNA and conducting a simple species test,

DoubleHelix will be able to verify the species of

wood and its origin Kevin Hill, Founder of DoubleHelix

Image © DoubleHelix


SUSTAINABILITY

DNA TesTiNg iN prAcTice: The cAse of The simmoNDs Lumber groupThe Simmonds Lumber Group is one of Australia’s leading wholesale timber importers with an annual turnover of over AUS$ 100 million. The company imports high quality tropical timber flooring, structural components and decking products from a number of countries including the USA, China and Indonesia.

Simmonds sought to safeguard their reputation as a responsible importer of tropical hardwood from Indonesia, a market tainted with high volumes of illegal timber and without adequate solutions at hand to secure their supply chain.

the certisource solution ensured:• Due diligence analysis of Simmonds’ existing supply chain to assess ability of suppliers to meet legality and traceability standards.

• Independent audit of forest sources and sawmill Chain-of-Custody systems against the CertiSource standard for Verified Legal Timber.• Implementation of DNA testing on every batch of timber processed through the audited supply chain from forest to sawmill, providing scientific validation of unbroken Chain-of-Custody.• Simmonds secured supply of CertiSource Verified Legal timber products from Indonesian sawmills. Every product can be traced back to a specific batch of logs from legally harvesting forest concessions.

Simmonds achieved four significant benefits from the solution:• Access to new forest sources they were previously excluded from due to lack of traceability.• Significant risk reduction in their tropical

timber supply chain.• Differentiation of their product offer and brand leadership position in Australia.• Access to new buyers due to assurance of product legality.

These have led to two significant business wins for Simmonds; they have secured a contract to supply Masters Stores (a joint venture between Lowes of the United States and Woolworths of Australia) who are opening 158 outlets across Australia. Simmonds has also successfully penetrated the New Zealand market based on the supply of CertiSource Verified Legal timber.

“From a perspective of legality of our industry at the supply end through to the marketability of products to Australian consumers, this is the way of the future,” said Paul Elsmore, CEO, Simmonds Lumber Australia 2007.

includes both big and small businesses

in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

Commenting on the company’s

customer base, Geach says: “Clients

for new genetic services tend to

be larger businesses up, mid and

downstream. These lead clients

are enabling us to ensure that the

services we’re developing are what

the market really needs and that

pricing and service structure serves

purpose. This currently numbers less

than 20 but we anticipate a sharp

increase in the next six months,

especially as we hope to see a major

timber audit business and a well

known international certification

brand start piloting our technology.”

The biggest challenge (and a common

misconception as well) to DNA testing

is the fact that clients think a

DNA forest map is required

for comparison purposes.

Constructing such a

map is crucial because

DNA for each species

changes subtly

from one area to

another, acting like a

postcode that can be

used to determine

a sample’s origin.

At the same time,

the process of going

into a forest to take DNA

samples across a species’

entire range is costly and time

consuming. Geach counteracts by

stating that this is only a slight

challenge and it’s more of a

common misconception of the scale of

the issue.

“At present, there are a number

of very useful species identification

services that do not require

background databases. Maps exist

for many species and more are

being made as people increasingly

realize their value. The data is

generally in the public domain and

will be of great use for far more

than legality issues for hundreds of

years to come,” says Geach. “More

recently, the International Timber

Trade Organization has approved

and funded a project that will create

large scale ‘genographic’ maps

of several commonly traded tree

species in seven African countries

and implement DNA based Chain-

of-Custody (CoC) systems in these

countries. This project will

facilitate access to premium

European and United States

markets both of which

have legislation requiring

proof of legality, and

therefore traceability.”

Spurred on by the

early success of the

company, support for

DoubleHelix has come

from both the industry

and from governments.

According to Geach, many

governments have helped not

just with funding but also with

support in championing the idea.

The US, German, Australian, and

Singaporean governments are

a few who have actively supported

the company. From an industry

perspective, Geach believes that

once a person grasps the simplicity

of genetic solutions to timber supply

chain issues, and the longer term

view of global forestry, they quickly

recognize it’s inevitability. In the

Middle East, Kevin Hill, the founder

of DoubleHelix, is confident that

DNA CoC will play an important

part in reducing cost and providing

more security when incorporating

compliant timber products into LEED

and other Green Building standard

projects given the widespread

prevalence of ‘green building

standards’ in the construction sector.

“Our business is going through

several cycles. We have gone

through the proof of concept phase

where we have shown that these

services work, are affordable and

people like them. We are now going

through a wider commercialization

phase and will finally get to a point

where we own and license IP. This

will allow third-party businesses

to offer the technology solution

whether they are a timber supply

chain auditor, lab services company

or otherwise involved in compliance

issues, investment or forestry.

In short, people who adopt our

technology now are benefiting by

winning new business, accessing

markets they’re previously excluded

from as well as reduce risk and

cost of risk management/security,”

concludes Geach.


MARKET REPORT

In a new report released by

INTERPOL and the United Nations

Environment Programme (UNEP), the

economic value of the illegal timber

trade by organized crime groups is

estimated to be worth between USD

30 and 100 billion annually, which

represents around 10 - 30 percent

of the global wood trade. The Rapid

Response Report, entitled ‘Green

Carbon: Black Trade’, states that illegal

logging now accounts for between

15 - 30 percent of the global legal

trade and significantly hampers the

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation

and Forest Degradation (REDD)

initiative - one of the principal tools

for stimulating environmental change,

sustainable development, job creation

and reducing emissions.

Forests worldwide bind CO2 and

store it - so called Green Carbon - and

help mitigate climate change. However,

deforestation accounts for an estimated

17 percent of global carbon emissions,

which is about 1.5 times greater than

emissions from the entire world’s

air, road, rail and shipping traffic

combined. According to the report,

the vast majority of deforestation

and illegal logging takes place in the

tropical forests of the Amazon basin,

Central Africa and Southeast Asia, with

recent studies projecting that illegal

logging accounts for 50 - 90 percent

of the volume of all forestry in key

producer tropical countries and 15 - 30

percent globally.

“Funding to better manage forests

represents an enormous opportunity to

not only address climate change but to

reduce rates of deforestation, improve

water supplies, cut soil erosion and

generate decent green jobs in natural

resource management,” said Achim

Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General

and UNEP Executive Director. “Illegal

logging can, however, undermine

this effort, robbing countries and

communities of a sustainable future,

if the unlawful activities are more

profitable than the lawful ones under

REDD+.”

A number of certification schemes

and programmes have evolved as

a means to reduce illegal logging.

These schemes, such as voluntary

trade agreements including the EU

Forest Law Enforcement, Governance

and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary

Partnership Agreements (VPAs), or

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

certification, have been relatively

successful in bringing stakeholders

Illegal logging nets organized crime up to USD 100 billion dollars every year

‘Green Carbon: Black Trade’ outlines the severity of the

illegal timber trade and makes recommendations to combat this global problem


MARKET REPORT

together and generating incentives for

legal exports and more sustainable

forestry. Additionally, the Convention

on International Trade in Endangered

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

(CITES) is increasingly being used by

states to ensure that trade in listed

timber species is legal, sustainable and

traceable.

The report points out that the

main aims of the aforementioned

programmes are to promote

sustainable trade. With the exception of

CITES, they are not designed to combat

organized crime and are not effective

in combating illegal logging, corruption

and laundering of illegal timber in

tropical regions. Other incentives and

subsidies to offer alternative incomes

are also unlikely to be effective when

illegal logging and laundering offer

much higher profits and very low risk.

Furthermore, widespread collusive

corruption from local officials to the

judiciary, combined with decentralized

government structures in many tropical

countries, provide little or no economic

incentive for illegal loggers and corrupt

officials to change their practices.

The report goes on to state that

to become effective, voluntary

trade programmes and the effective

implementation of CITES, must be

combined with an international

law enforcement investigative and

operational effort in collaboration with

domestic police and investigative task

forces in each country. This is to ensure

that a local decline in illegal logging

is not offset by increases elsewhere,

as international cartels move to new

sources of illegal timber.

“The threat posed to the

environment by transnational

organized crime requires a strong,

effective and innovative international

law enforcement response to protect

these natural resources and combat

the corruption and violence tied to this

type of crime, which can also affect a

country’s stability and security,” said

Ronald K. Noble, Secretary General of

INTERPOL.

In the last five years, illegal

logging has moved from direct illegal

logging to more advanced methods of

concealment and timber laundering.

The report outlines more than 30

ways of conducting illegal logging,

laundering, selling and trading in

illegal logs. Primary methods include

falsification of logging permits, bribes

to obtain logging permits (in some

instances noted as USD 20 - 50,000 per

permit), logging beyond concessions,

hacking government websites to obtain

transport permits for higher volumes

or transport, laundering illegal timber

by establishing roads, ranches, palm

oil or forest plantations and mixing

with legal timber during transport or

in mills.

According to the report, the much

heralded decline of illegal logging

in the mid- 2000s in some tropical

regions was widely attributed to a

short-term law enforcement effort.

However, long-term trends in illegal

logging and trade have shown that this

was only temporary, and illegal logging

continues unabated today. More

importantly, the apparent decline in

illegal logging is due to more advanced

laundering operations masking criminal

activities, and not necessarily due to

an actual decline in illegal logging. In

many cases a tripling in the volumes

of timber ‘originating’ from plantations

in the five years following the law

enforcement crackdown on illegal

logging has come partly from cover

operations by criminals to legalize and

launder illegal logging operations.

The report also cites other cases of

increased illegal logging that involve

road construction and the cutting of

wide corridors, which facilitates land

clearing by impoverished settlers, who

are later driven away by ranchers and

soy producers, such as has occurred

in the Amazon. Companies make

money from clearing the initial forest,

have impoverished farmers convert

forestland to farmland, and then

push these farmers off to establish

In the last five years, illegal logging has moved from direct illegal logging to more advanced methods of concealment and timber laundering

The heALTh of our foresTs

net loss of forest

current forest cover

net gain of forest

dryland degradation

Source: Adapted from a map by Philippe Rekacewicz originally published in UNEP-FAO Vital Forest Graphics , 2009; data source from MA 2005.


MARKET REPORT

rangeland for cattle.

Funneling large volumes of illegal

timber through legal plantations, across

borders or through mills, is another

effective way to launder logs. In some

instances, illegal loggers mix illicit

timber with 3 - 30 times the amount of

officially processed timber, which also

constitutes tax fraud. Many of these

illegal operations involve bribes to

forest officials, police and military, and

even royalties to local village heads.

In addition, other scams include the

falsification of eco-certification.

Experts concur that much of the

laundering of illegal timber is only

possible due to large flows of funding

from investors based in Asia, the EU

and the US, including investments

through pension funds. As funds are

made available to establish plantations

operations to launder illegal timber and

obtain permits illegally or pass bribes,

investments, collusive corruption and

tax fraud combined with low risk

and high demand, make it a highly

profitable illegal business, with

revenues up to 5 - 10 fold higher than

legal practices for all parties involved.

This also undermines subsidized

alternative livelihood incentives

available in several countries. In

addition to increased organized crime

involvement, the report also highlights

a rise in other crime types linked

to illegal logging, including murder,

violence, threats, corruption, fraud and

theft, with indigenous forest dwellers

particularly affected. The challenges

already facing indigenous peoples are

further compounded as companies now

launder illegally felled timber under

fraudulent permits for ranches or

plantation establishment schemes.

According to the report, efforts to

stop this black trade must concentrate

on increasing the probability of

apprehending illegal logging syndicates

and their networks, reducing the flow of

timber from regions with high degree of

illegality by adapting a multi-disciplinary

law enforcement approach, developing

economic incentives by discouraging the

use of timber from these regions and

introducing a rating of companies based

on the likelihood of their involvement in

illegal practices to discourage investors

and stock markets from funding

them. When combined with economic

incentives, through REDD+ and trade

opportunities through CITES and FLEGT,

these actions may become successful in

reducing deforestation, and ultimately,

carbon emissions.

INTERPOL and UNEP, through the

UN agency’s GRID Arendal centre in

Norway, have also established a pilot-

project called LEAF (Law Enforcement

Assistance to Forests) funded by

the Norwegian Government agency

NORAD to develop an international

system to combat organized crime in

close collaboration with key partners.

However, the cost of implementing an

effective international law enforcement

scheme and training capacity to

substantially reduce the emissions

from illegal logging is estimated to be

approximately USD 20 - 30 million

dollars annually. While INTERPOL is

currently leading the police related law

enforcement response through Project

LEAF, its success requires strong,

constant, and sustainable commitment

from governments, civil society, and

the private sector.

The newly established International

Consortium on Combating Wildlife

Crime (ICCWC), chaired by the CITES

Secretariat and comprised of INTERPOL,

the United Nations Office on Drugs

and Crime (UNODC), the World Bank

and the World Customs Organization

(WCO), also provides a substantial

new commitment to the sharing and

coordination of a comprehensive

international effort to help combat

wildlife crime, including illegal logging.

In fact, the ICCWC represents the

entire enforcement chain - customs,

Key recommeNDATioNs of The iNTerpoL-uNep reporT• Strengthen and consider funding opportunities for the development of a full-fledged Law Enforcement Assistance to Forests (LEAF) programme under INTERPOL and UNEP in close collaboration with all ICCWC partners, REDD+, FLEGT and other relevant programmes and agencies. The objective of the programme is to implement coordinated international and improved national law enforcement and investigative efforts to reduce illegal logging, the international trade in illegally felled timber and forest-related corruption including tax fraud and laundering.

• Increase national investigative and operational national capacities through an INTERPOL based training scheme to strengthen and build national task forces on combating illegal logging and laundering. This includes strengthening national law enforcement agency cooperation and co-ordination through

supporting the formation of national taskforces to ensure enforcement of laws and regulations related to forests.

• Centralize nationally the issuing of permits for land clearance whether for logging, plantations or ranching and permits for road transport of timber with strong anti-counterfeit measures.

• Develop an INTERPOL classification system of geographic regions within countries according to the suspected degree of illegality in collaboration with National Central Bureaus (NCBs) and other relevant stakeholders. This includes defining upper limits of volumes of logs to be transported, restricting transport funnels of all timber from such illegal logging regions and monitoring forest change on a regional basis.

• Encourage national tax fraud investigations with a particular focus on

plantations and mills laundering, under- or over-reporting of volumes and over- or under-invoicing, tax fraud and misuse of government subsidies.

• Reduce investment attractiveness in forest enterprises active in regions identified as areas of illegal logging by implementing an international INTERPOL-based rating system of companies extracting, operating in or buying from regions with a high degree of illegal activity. This includes investigating possible complicity of investors in funding illegal activities related to logging, transporting, laundering or purchasing illegally logged timber.

• Strengthen the resources available to ICCWC to have a dedicated role, unit(s) and responsibility at global and regional levels, as appropriate, specifically tasked to combat illegal logging and international trade in illegally logged or procured timber and wood products.

police and justice. It also addresses

anti-money laundering and serves as

a model at the international level for

the sort of cooperation that is required

amongst enforcement agencies at

the national level to more effectively

combat illegal international trade in

timber products.

MARKET REPORT

Lastly, priority attention must be

given to investigation of tax fraud,

corruption and anti-laundering,

including substantially increasing the

investigative and operational capacity

of national task forces working with

INTERPOL, against logging companies,

plantations and mills.

This feature contains

information and text

from the Summary of the

INTERPOL-UNEP Report.

The report - Green Carbon:

Black Trade - is available for

download on the INTERPOL

and UNEP websites.

CAD+T Middle East JLT, PO Box 262353, Indigo Icon, Offi ce 507, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai, UAE, Mobil.: +971(0) 50-2738319, Tel.: +971(0) 4-4477880, Email: offi [email protected]


ANALYSIS

Dr. Jeffrey Howe and Kathryn Fernholz of Dovetail

Partners share their views on the certification of forests

In 2013, the world will mark the 20-

year anniversary of third-party forest

certification. After 20 years of effort,

approximately 10 percent of the world’s

forests have been certified through various

programs. During this time, many changes

have occurred in the forest sector and in the

practice of forest management. Yet, in spite

of many successes, major hurdles remain.

Although it could clearly be argued that

global forestry has been affected positively,

not only are 90 percent of the world’s

forests uncertified but also the certified

10 percent was already the best-managed

forestland in existence. So the key question

now is what will the next 20 years of forest

improvement look like? Will we continue on

the certification path we are on, or will we

thoughtfully assess and apply the lessons

learned in order to chart an improved

course? Based upon the knowledge

gained over the past two decades and the

experiences of other eco-labeling systems, it

is clear that a better method is needed, and

is possible. It is time to move beyond the

forest certification of the past generation

and entertain a broader, more inclusive, and

more cost effective approach.

The existing approach to forest

certification is extremely complex and is

inflicting significant cost on the forest sector.

It is complex in that current systems have

become moving targets with ever changing

standards and inconsistent interpretations

that undermine the credibility of the

entire effort. The current approaches to

forest certification have created confusion,

hypocrisies in the way standards are being

applied, and they have failed to adequately

address emerging issues such as illegal

logging and bio-energy production. Forest

certification is also costly. To date, it is

Beyond Certification Understanding the challenges of certification and identifying opportunities to both improve on existing programs and develop new approaches

Although it could clearly be argued that global forestry has been affected positively, not only are 90 percent of the world’s forests uncertified but also the certified 10 percent was already the best-managed forestland in existence. So the key question now is what will the next 20 years of forest improvement look like?

ANALYSIS


likely that hundreds of millions of dollars

have been spent in order to recognize the

existing best-managed forestlands in the

world. One shudders to think of the costs

and the complexities of addressing the

remaining forest segment under the current

approach. There are many diverse benefits

being realized from forest certification, but

the focus needs to be on the forest, rather

than the process, and the approach needs to

be easily applicable to more diverse forest

management situations.

In marketing terms, forest certification

is a well-defined attribute, but an unclear

benefit. When organic certification was

evolving, a similar situation occurred.

Organic certification was initiated by non-

governmental organizations and evolved

into competing systems that established

diverse standards and attempted to raise

the bar on each other to gain recognition

as the ‘gold standard’. Over the course

of nearly 20 years (1972-1990), as the

market potential for organic increased, the

competing standards and their changing

requirements became a barrier to growth

and a bottleneck to supply. In addition, the

perceived benefit from ‘organic’ became

muddied by the growing and diverse

claims of various producers scattered over

wide geographic areas. In response, the

U.S. and other nations chose to establish

government-based programs for managing

organic standards. These programs resulted

in many significant changes. Key among

these was a clarification of the legal

definition of ‘certified organic’, which

demystified the benefit to the marketplace.

These changes were followed by dramatic

growth in the organic market. The U.S. sales

of organic products have grown from USD

1 billion in 1990 (when the Organic Food

Production Act was passed) to an estimated

There are many diverse benefits being realized from forest certification, but the focus needs to be on the forest, rather than the process, and the approach needs to be easily applicable to more diverse forest management situations

Dr. Jeffrey Howe, Dovetail Partners

Image © Dovetail Partners


ANALYSIS

USD 20 billion in 2007; and grew an average

of 18 percent each year between 2007-

2010. The USDA Organic Program also drove

the creation of a new space for the direct

marketing of local products as a ‘deeper

shade of green’.

So, what would a better forest certification

system look like? How can the benefits of

certification be clarified in the marketplace?

There are many possible answers. One

approach would be to have forest certification

simply take greater advantage of existing

forest management infrastructure and

expertise, recognize the benefits of existing,

effective regulatory systems (e.g., U.S.

laws), and utilize terminology that has

greater acceptance in, and attraction to, the

marketplace. Marketplace acceptance could

be tested for attributes like GMO-free wood,

wood grown without the use of pesticides

or herbicides, or wood from forests that are

regenerated with native species. Another

approach would be to develop a comparative

index that ranks forest practices based upon

a small number, but clearly identifiable and

understandable forestry considerations. Using

this type of approach, product market claims

could be based on regional or global rankings

(e.g., wood comes from forests among the top

10 percent in the world or attains four out of

five stars). In addition to these possibilities,

further approaches and/or improvements

in forest certification could be defined by

interviewing both current and potential users

(especially in tropical areas) to identify those

methodologies that they would see as having

significant potential to increase the practice of

responsible forestry.

Pursuing additional options and

enhancements might allow the forest sector

to rapidly move beyond the current limits

of forest certification. The original goal

hasn’t changed. We still need to dramatically

decrease deforestation in tropical areas.

According to the UNECE, in the twenty years

since certification was formed we have

certified only 2 percent (200 million acres) of

tropical forest while over 700 million acres of

tropical forest has been deforested. We also

need to be able to identify wood from well-

managed forests across the globe. In addition,

U.S. markets need to be assured that the wood

products they purchase meet the requirements

of the Lacey Act.

The first question that matters for the forest

sector at this point is: Do we want the next 20

years of forest certification to look like that last

20? If the answer is No, which it must be for

anyone who cares about forests and the forest

sector, then the next question is: How can we

most effectively move beyond current forest

certification methodologies to dramatically

benefit forests? And the answer to that

question is to pursue a system that leads us to

the core principles of what wood means as a

renewable, infinite, sustainable, responsible and

natural product. Good examples and abundant

experience now exist to allow us to modify,

change, and adapt to a better future.

When you make maple syrup there is a

time after all the preparation and collection

of material (sap and firewood usually) from

the forest that you simply have to turn up the

heat, stir it up a bit, and tend to it carefully

to make it come out well. Certification may

be at the same point. The original goal of

forest certification was to create a label that

would enable the market to identify and

select wood from well-managed forests and

thus allow demand from the marketplace

to provide economic benefit that would

translate into increased funding for better

forest management practices. In short, the

goal was to link clear market choices with

sustainable forestry.

In order to understand the current

challenges of certification and to identify

opportunities to both improve on existing

programs and develop new approaches, we

need to take a look at forest certification from

two opposite ends of the spectrum, that of the

forest and that of the marketplace to see if it is

successfully addressing that original goal and

to recommend a possible next step.

The Forest PerspectiveTwenty years ago there was no common

agreement on the definition of ‘sustainable

forestry’. Today, with great regard to forest

certification, there appears to be a general

consensus on what good forestry entails.

However, this consensus has not been boiled

down to a finite number of characteristics

to which individual landowners are held

accountable. Instead, current sustainable

forestry is a complex series of interwoven

ecological relationships on which no two

landowners may find uniformity. In an attempt

to consider every possible negative outcome,

certification has become similarly complex.

This complexity provides incredible

strength when it results in comprehensive

auditing that leaves no stone unturned,

reviews all aspects of forest management,

and helps identify a full spectrum of

opportunities for improvement. For land

managers that want to make changes (or

need to), the current certification process

can be very constructive in identifying key

gaps and setting priorities for strategic

improvements. However, for land managers

that are already doing a very good job and

are in regions with significant regulatory and

management structure already in place (i.e.,

many of the current certificate holders), this

According to the UNECE, in the twenty years since certification was formed we have certified only 2 percent (200 million acres) of tropical forest while over 700 million acres of tropical forest has been deforested

Kathryn Fernholz, Dovetail Partners

Image © Dovetail Partners

Image © AHEC


ANALYSIS

emphasis on the details can be extremely

frustrating and costly. As one manager put

it in a private conversation, “it’s frustrating

spending time and money trying to be ‘more

perfect’ when there are a world of issues to

be addressed on other lands.”

The broad-brush approach inherent in

some certification systems appears to lead

to cost inefficiencies as well. For example,

the lack of trust in existing infrastructure

(e.g., government, management planning,

and legal systems) leads to unnecessary

administrative costs to landowners in

regions like North America. Also, in some

instances, the attempt to address globally

issues that are dominantly of regional

concern leads to efforts that appear

unnecessary. The net result is high forest

management costs related to certification

(or penalties) on well-managed sites and

few lands that are certified in regions (e.g.,

tropics) where sustainable forestry is in

greatest need of attention.

The Market PerspectiveThe key to success of a certification system

is its effectiveness in the marketplace. This

effectiveness is primarily based on trust

in the certified brand. It has been said that

we trust those that we believe have the

ability and the commitment to do what

they say. Thus, certification is as effective

as the extent to which the certified label is

recognized and trusted.

To date certification is relatively

unrecognized in the marketplace in North

America, at least by the average consumer,

and the concept of certification is both

poorly understood and poorly differentiated

from other ‘green’ marketing activities. For

example, is forest certification of the wood

in a product equal to, more, or less important

than attributes such as VOC-free?

Certification is also relatively

unrecognized and poorly differentiated in

the market channels that transfer wood

products. In the U.S. approximately 4,000

of the estimated 200,000 wood products

companies are chain-of-custody certified

today, and research suggests that even

key individuals from companies that are

certified are poorly informed as to what

that certification actually means. It is also

common for individuals and organizations

to ask the difference between certification

programs when in fact they really don’t

know anything about either, and are simply

trying to define them by their variances

rather than their attributes. Thus actual

benefits to the customer remain undefined

and no value can be placed.

To a certain extent some of this lack

of understanding of certification by the

marketplace can be explained by the

complexity of the systems they represent, but

it is also true that there are no simple claims

that can be made about today’s certified

wood products because there are almost no

universal truths. For example, the simplest

claim of all, the source of the wood, cannot

be universally guaranteed. That is, a seller

couldn’t necessarily claim that the wood in a

labeled certified product actually comes from

certified forests. It is hard to convince buyers

that a product has extra value when there are

no definable benefits to that claim.

Result of two perspectives - is it working?So is the marketplace providing funding

for the benefit of forest management?

It is hard to see that this is true at this

point. Anecdotally it would appear that the

opposite is true, meaning that costs have

increased while selling prices have remained

stagnant. Certainly, it is true that some new

buyer-seller relationships have been created

and there are benefits to aligning like-

minded organizations. But there is little to

no evidence that a clear premium exists for

certified products, in general.

So, how do we solve this? How do we

clearly answer the question of what it

means to support sustainable forestry

with the purchase of sustainable forest

products? First, we recognize the value

of the current programs. The current

certification programs and systems offer a

robust structure and model for developing

exemplary forest management systems

where they are lacking. The level of detail

and breadth of issues that are covered

help develop professional levels of forest

stewardship. But the gap of providing a

straightforward and guaranteed benefit for

the market can’t be filled by these systems

as they currently operate.

We need to leverage our twenty years of

experience to boil down the complex list of

100s of possible indicators of sustainability

to the top 3, 4, or 5 mandatory and universal

building blocks that define good wood. These

core components should be measurable,

auditable and widely applicable. They should

support a vision for the forestry we want to

see now and in the future, and the responsible

wood products that the marketplace desires.

By identifying the cornerstones of sustainable

forestry, we will articulate the expertise of

our good forest managers and eliminate the

confusion in the marketplace. Today we have

the knowledge and experience to address

this issue. By turning up the heat a little, and

boiling the system down a bit, we should be

able to come up with something a little more

intense, a little more pure, and better tasting

to the marketplace.

The net result is high forest management costs related to certification (or penalties) on well-managed sites and few lands that are certified in regions (e.g., tropics) where sustainable forestry is in greatest need of attention

AbouT DoveTAiL pArTNersDovetail Partners provides authoritative information about the impacts and trade-offs of environmental decisions, including consumption choices, land use, and policy alternatives. Dovetail is a highly skilled team that fosters sustainability and responsible behaviors by collaborating to develop unique concepts, systems, models and programs. Dovetail Partners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. More information is available at www.dovetailinc.org


nHLA hosts its annual convention and exhibit Eight hundred delegates attend the 115th annual ‘global gathering of the hardwood community’

Eight hundred delegates attended

the 2012 National Hardwood

Lumber Association’s Annual

Convention & Exhibit Showcase - the

115th annual ‘global gathering of

the hardwood community’ in Chicago

over three days in September. The

mood was cautiously upbeat with a

background of improving housing

starts and increased hardwood

lumber and flooring production in

North America. While the phrase

‘tough market times’ was frequent a

theme, most attendees agreed that

the worst may now be over and with

improving exports the future for

the hardwood industry is brighter.

American hardwood lumber exports

were up over 9 percent in value

through July 2012 compared to the

same period last year.

The annual convention is widely

supported by many sponsor companies

and a number of leading organisations

also use the event to hold their own

annual members’ meetings including

the American Hardwood Export Council

(AHEC) and the International Wood

Products Association (IWPA). Keynote

speakers this year included Mike Ditka,

FEATURE

renowned National Football League

(NFL) player, coach and commentator;

John Carpenter, President of Caterpillar

Forest Products Centre of Excellence

and Chairman of the Tropical Forest

Foundation; and Kevin O’Connor, TV

host of ‘This Old House’. In addition, the

sold out exhibit hall featured seventy-

two companies and organizations

showing off their products and services

on the show floor.

At the opening session outgoing

NHLA President Dave Redmond

welcomed delegates from all over

the USA and Canada, where there are

1,200 members of NHLA, as well as

hardwood traders from 12 countries

reflecting the growing emphasis that

the association is now placing on

overseas markets and membership.

The membership then heard reports

from the NHLA Executive Director

Mark Barford and the Hardwood

Federation President Brad Thompson.

Barford reported that last year 37

Chinese companies had joined NHLA,

testament to the NHLA’s growing

international network. Following the

presentations from the nominating

committee chairman Ted Rossi, the

NHLA membership unanimously

elected two new officers and six new

board members.

Scott Heidler, President of Heidler

Hardwood Lumber Co. of Chicago, Ill.

was elected to serve as President and

Pem Jenkins, President of Turn Bull

Lumber Co. of Elizabethtown, N.C.

Mark Barford introducing NHLA team of Inspectors

Mark Barford, Executive Director of NHLA Kevin O’Connor of ‘This Old House’ TV show

Image © NHLA

Image © NHLA Image © NHLA


FEATURE

will serve as Vice President. Further,

the six new board members include:

Mark Cifranick of Baillie Lumber Co.;

Shane Cook of Midwest Walnut Co.;

Charley Fiala of GMC Hardwoods,

Inc.; Scott Holley of Industrial Timber

& Lumber; Steve Jones of Ron Jones

Hardwood Sales; and T.J. Rosengarth

of Northwest Hardwoods.

Following the selection of the new

NHLA board, legendary coach and

player Mike Ditka officially kicked off

the 115th Annual Convention events.

During his address Ditka talked at

length about attitude, enthusiasm

and character as essential elements

of life. He concluded his remarks to

a standing ovation with a quote by

Abraham Lincoln. “You cannot build

character and courage by taking away

man’s initiative and independence.

You cannot help men permanently by

doing for them what they could and

should do for themselves.”

Ditka’s motivational opening

remarks were followed John Carpenter

who presented Caterpillar’s global

economic outlook focusing strongly

on China. Lastly, Kevin O’Connor,

the charismatic host of This Old

House, America’s most watched home

improvement television show, shared

his observations on the green building

movement and the green building bust.

The Exhibit Showcase and Traders

Alley was open on all three days for

delegates to meet with traders and

companies offering a wide range of

services to the hardwood industry.

Notable for overseas delegates was

the now very popular International

Buyers Panel of importers from

several key global markets, moderated

by AHEC Executive Director Mike

Snow. Also at the convention, NHLA

Chief Inspector Dana Spessert and

his team of inspectors presented an

educational seminar and update on

grading rules and on the domestic

and international inspection services.

Following the success of the 2012

convention, the NHLA has announced

that the 2013 NHLA Annual

Convention & Exhibit Showcase will

be held from October 2-4 at the Omni

Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.

Keynote speakers this year included Mike Ditka, renowned National Football League (NFL) player, coach and commentator; John Carpenter, President of Caterpillar Forest Products Centre of Excellence and Chairman of the Tropical Forest Foundation; and Kevin O’Connor, TV host of ‘This Old House

NATioNAL hArDwooD Lumber AssociATioN (NhLA)

The world’s largest and oldest hardwood industry association, the NHLA represents more than 1,300 companies and individuals that produce, use and sell North American hardwood lumber, or provide equipment, supplies or services to the hardwood industry. It was founded in 1898 to establish a uniform system of grading rules for the measurement and inspection of hardwood lumber. Since 1980, its headquarters have been in Memphis, Tenn. To learn more about NHLA, please visit www.nhla.com.

AHEC’s International Buyers Panel in Chicago

Dana Spessert, Chief Inspector, NHLA Keynote Speaker - Mike Ditka

Image © NHLA

Image © NHLA Image © NHLA

ANALYSIS


Turkey, at the crossroads of Europe and

the Middle East, is a key player in the

global economy and it has seen ten years

of high growth. By the third quarter of 2011,

Turkey was the fastest growing economy in the

world, with the biggest year-on-year growth in

GDP over the first six months of the year. The

budget was in surplus, tourism was growing,

and the banking sector was strong. The two

biggest problems were the trade and current

account deficits. We now know that all this

growth led to 2011 being the biggest year ever

for Turkish exports, with a total value of goods

worth USD 134.6 billion being shipped overseas.

As well as a new record this was also 18.2

percent higher than the figure for 2010 and this

massive export growth cannot help but close

the trade and current account gaps. According

to data from the Automotive Distributors

Foundation, 864,439 passenger cars and light

commercial vehicles were sold in Turkey last

year, representing a growth of roughly 16.4

percent from the year before and setting a new

record. At the same time, tourism hit the target

of 30 million in 2011, mergers and acquisitions

hit USD 15 billion and Turkey’s airports handled

118 million passengers.

All these signals pointed to Turkey continuing

to be one of the strongest and most stable

economies in the world and, so far in 2012,

the situation has remained very positive. One

concern is rising inflation and also the heavy

reliance upon foreign investment. However,

Turkey is embarking on inward investment

projects of its own, such as a massive rebuilding

programme across five major metropolitan

areas. This is designed to address the need for

earthquake proof construction (with reference to

the massive earthquake of 1999, centred around

Izmir), but it will also provide a major boost to

the already very active construction sector.

Turkey has a very substantial and growing

wood products sector, around half of which

is comprised of producers of raw materials -

lumber, veneer, wood-based panels, components

etc., while the other half comprises producers

of finished products - furniture, flooring and

interior joinery. The sector includes many

thousands of small firms and cottage-type

workshops, as well as much fewer large-scale,

fully mechanised manufacturers. As a result, it

is almost impossible to gauge the exact size of

the sector, but it is estimated that it accounts

for some 4 percent of all manufactured goods

in Turkey. Overall, there are some 44,000

enterprises operating within the forest and

wood products industry. Of these, around 200

can be classed as medium-sized companies

(100-150 workers) and large-sized companies

(150 plus workers).

An assessment of the Turkish market

for hardwoods

talking turkey


Turkey’s forests, which are entirely State-

owned, produced an estimated 18 million cubic

meters of logs in 2011. Of this total, some 13

million cubic meters were for pulp production,

leaving around 5 million cubic meters for

industrial use. Of the industrial roundwood

production, around 90 percent was accounted

for by various softwood species and the

remaining 500,000 cubic meters by poplar

(European), beech, oak, chestnut, ash, sycamore

(European maple) and walnut. The vast majority

of domestically produced hardwood logs were

destined for low end industrial uses, such as

pallets and packaging, while a significant volume

(unknown) was used for plywood, veneer and

lumber production, also supplemented by

imported logs.

Logs: Turkey’s considerable domestic hardwood log

production is also supplemented by imports,

which, in 2011, reached a total volume of just

over 160,000 cubic meters (see table below).

Roughly half of this volume was accounted for

by European species (mainly beech and oak)

from nearby Romania, Ukraine and Georgia,

but also from Germany. Much of the remaining

volume was accounted for by imports of tropical

species from Central Africa, while a significant

volume of hardwood logs were also brought in

from the United States.

On account of Turkey’s own position as

a hardwood producer, it has both a well-

developed sawmilling industry and good veneer

slicing capacity. Most Turkish wood importers

are also producers of lumber, veneer or panel

products and, often all of these, making them

fully-integrated forest products companies,

rather than just importer/distributors. Some of

these operate on a wholesale basis only, while

others offer both wholesale and retail.

Lumber: Domestic conversion of hardwood logs to

lumber is also significant in Turkey and this

production is supplemented by imports, which

reached a total volume of just under 47,000

cubic meters last year. This volume is not very

high in relation to the overall production and

consumption of hardwoods and it would have

been accounted for, in the main, by species

which require kiln drying before export or which

are unavailable in log form for export.

Veneer: Although production figures are not known,

Turkish production of hardwood veneers

is significant. This is also supplemented by

imports, which, in 2011, reached a total value

of USD 31.67 million. China was the leading

supplier last year, while the United States took

the number two position. Hardwood veneers

are also purchased from Southeast Asia, Central

ANALYSIS


Turkey -‐ Hardwood Log Imports by main supplying country

Jan-‐Dec 2011 Jan-‐Mar 2011 Jan-‐Mar 2012 % Change Jan-‐Mar 11/12 Supplying

country Val. ($000)

Vol. (m3) Val. ($000)

Vol. (m3) Val. ($000)

Vol. (m3) Val. Vol.

Cameroon 14,014 38,247 2,885 7,702 559 1,678 -‐81 -‐78 Congo 7,966 13,959 4,117 7,441 529 902 -‐87 -‐88 Romania 6,377 46,372 710 5,251 1,348 10,395 90 98 United States 5,695 9,447 1,537 2,017 1,984 2,288 29 13 Central African Rep.

4,327 6,270 1,374 2,145 1,295 1,942 -‐6 -‐9

Congo Dem. Rep. 3,872 6,738 622 1,075 342 651 -‐45 -‐39 Ukraine 3,541 23,695 992 6,216 1,766 14,509 78 133 Myanmar 1,061 437 325 125 0 0 n/a n/a Germany 769 3,201 112 470 212 1,036 89 120 Georgia 578 4,338 111 855 0 0 n/a n/a Others 3,298 7,510 1,367 3,298 857 2,394 -‐37 -‐27 Total 51,498 160,214 14,152 36,595 8,892 35,795 -‐37 -‐2 Source: Broadleaf Consulting, various

Turkey -‐ Hardwood Lumber Imports by main supplying country


country Val. ($000)

Vol. (m3) Val. ($000)

Vol. (m3) Val. ($000)

Vol. (m3) Val. Vol.

United States 5,732 8,076 1,227 1,718 2,017 2,842 64 65 Ukraine 6,531 9,498 1,822 2,577 421 963 -‐77 -‐63 Cameroon 3,628 7,883 871 1,888 930 1,603 7 -‐15 Romania 1,382 4,061 539 1,254 161 617 -‐70 -‐51 Georgia 1,132 5,414 245 999 73 266 -‐70 -‐73 Bulgaria 735 3,413 180 822 118 590 -‐34 -‐28 Central African Rep.

572 1,041 103 186 245 487 138 162

Gabon 770 802 287 293 23 44 -‐92 -‐85 Congo 830 664 349 326 12 4 -‐97 -‐99 Congo DR 403 441 205 233 39 67 -‐81 -‐71 Burma 1,626 413 457 132 317 120 -‐31 -‐9 Canada 456 542 109 132 0 0 n/a n/a Indonesia 840 555 230 151 105 76 -‐54 -‐50 Others 4,020 4,406 800 1,011 380 511 -‐53 -‐49 Total 28,657 46,809 7,424 11,722 4,841 8,190 -‐35 -‐30 Source: Broadleaf Consulting, various

Turkey – Hardwood Veneer Imports by main supplying country

Jan-‐Dec 2011 Jan-‐Mar 2011 Jan-‐Mar 2012 % Change Jan-‐Mar 11/12

Supplying country

Val. ($000) Val. ($000) Val. ($000) Val. China 11,947 2,285 2,134 -‐7 United States 4,193 1,250 1,400 12 Romania 2,933 703 672 -‐4 Gabon 2,222 394 1,176 199 Italy 2,203 282 750 166 Germany 1,768 421 221 -‐47 Ukraine 1,370 380 716 88 Bulgaria 879 195 159 -‐18 Indonesia 710 64 2 -‐97 Cameroon 434 181 0 n/a Czech Republic 372 0 27 n/a Russia 326 40 212 430 Malaysia 314 148 0 n/a Others 1,997 612 904 48 Total 31,668 6,955 8,373 20 Source: Broadleaf Consulting, various

Africa, Western Europe and the nearby markets

of Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria.

As a significant producer of hardwood

products from both domestic and imported logs

and in its unique position at the crossroads of

Europe and Asia, Turkey is also an exporter

of sawn hardwood lumber and hardwood

veneers. In 2011, the total volume of hardwood

lumber exported from Turkey reached 11,446

cubic meters, worth USD 8.1 million. The main

destinations were Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan,

Iran, Iraq and the Turkish Republic of Northern

Cyprus. In terms of hardwood veneers, exports

in 2011 were far more significant and reached

a total value of USD 24.7 million. The main

destinations for Turkish veneers were Italy,

Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates,

and Lithuania. Hardwood veneers produced in

Turkey were also shipped to a wide range of

other destinations in Western Europe, Central

Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.

Turkey is a major user of hardwood, but

much of this is for low quality industrial uses,

such as pallets and packaging. However, there

Turkey - Hardwood Log Imports by main supplying country

Turkey - Hardwood Lumber Imports by main supplying country

Turkey – Hardwood Veneer Imports by main supplying country

Source: Broadleaf Consulting, various



Turkey -‐ Hardwood Log Imports by main supplying country


country Val. ($000)

Vol. (m3) Val. ($000)

Vol. (m3) Val. ($000)

Vol. (m3) Val. Vol.

Cameroon 14,014 38,247 2,885 7,702 559 1,678 -‐81 -‐78 Congo 7,966 13,959 4,117 7,441 529 902 -‐87 -‐88 Romania 6,377 46,372 710 5,251 1,348 10,395 90 98 United States 5,695 9,447 1,537 2,017 1,984 2,288 29 13 Central African Rep.

4,327 6,270 1,374 2,145 1,295 1,942 -‐6 -‐9

Congo Dem. Rep. 3,872 6,738 622 1,075 342 651 -‐45 -‐39 Ukraine 3,541 23,695 992 6,216 1,766 14,509 78 133 Myanmar 1,061 437 325 125 0 0 n/a n/a Germany 769 3,201 112 470 212 1,036 89 120 Georgia 578 4,338 111 855 0 0 n/a n/a Others 3,298 7,510 1,367 3,298 857 2,394 -‐37 -‐27 Total 51,498 160,214 14,152 36,595 8,892 35,795 -‐37 -‐2 Source: Broadleaf Consulting, various


ANALYSIS

is also significant consumption of higher quality

hardwoods for yacht and boat building, decking

and cladding, outdoor furniture, flooring, interior

furniture and interior joinery. The yacht and

boat building sector is substantial in Turkey and

is a major user of tropical hardwoods in the

main, particularly from Central Africa. A few

temperate hardwoods are also used for luxury

yacht interiors. The decking and cladding sector

is growing quickly in Turkey and is influenced

by the renewed fashion for timber cladding, as

well as the rise in disposable incomes allowing

many people to purchase holiday homes

with swimming pools. This sector has been

a major user of tropical hardwoods, but the

increasing availability of heat-treated temperate

hardwoods in the market is allowing non-

durable species to penetrate this sector.

As with the decking and cladding sector,

the manufacturing of outdoor furniture is also

a major user of tropical hardwood species,

but heat-treated temperate hardwoods

have also begun to be used in recent years.

Turkey is a significant producer of hardwood

flooring (mainly engineered) and there is a

sizeable market for strip flooring and parquet,

particularly in oak from nearby supplying

countries, such as Ukraine. There are an

estimated ten or so companies in Turkey

producing engineered hardwood flooring.

Turkey’s furniture sector is very significant

and production in 2011 is anticipated to have

reached a value of USD 10 billion. In addition,

some USD 1.7 billion worth of Turkish-made

furniture is estimated to have been exported

last year, rising by around 18 percent from

2010. The main destinations were Iran, Iraq,

Libya, Central Asia, Russia, Romania, the UK and

the Arabian Gulf. However, the vast majority

of Turkish furniture is panel-based and the

sector is a heavy user of MDF and chipboard,

both also produced locally. While this means

that the use of solid hardwoods in furniture is

limited in relation to overall production, it does

mean that demand for hardwood veneers (along

with manmade papers and foils) is relatively

high. Nevertheless, there is a high end, bespoke

segment within the furniture sector and this

is where a significant proportion of imported

hardwood lumber ends up. Much of this

production is geared towards export and this

sector is growing.

Hardwood is also used fairly widely in

residential interior joinery, particularly for

staircases and kitchen worktops, while doors are

most often made using panels and softwoods.

In most cases, stair treads and worktops are

made from edge-glued finger-jointed panels and

these rely on European hardwood species in the

main, such as beech, oak and chestnut, but also,

increasingly, American hardwoods. Commercial

joinery is not a major hardwood-consuming

sector, but this is developing as fashions change.

Furthermore, buoyancy in the construction

sector is leading to a number of large-scale

commercial projects, including offices and hotels.

This is expected to drive the market for interior

joinery in the coming years.

Population: 79.7 million (July 2011 estimate)

Population growth 1.2% (July 2011 estimate)

Population age (avg.) 28.8 years

Urban population 70% of total (Istanbul: c.14 million, Ankara: c.4.5 million)

GDP growth8.5% (2011)

GDP per capita (PPP)USD 14,600

Inflation 7.8% (2011 estimate)

ExportsUSD 134.6 billion (2011)

Imports USD 240.8 billion (2011)

Main trading partners EU (especially Germany & UK), Russia, Ukraine, Iraq, Iran, Gulf countries, Libya, Central Asian countries

AbouT The AuThorRoderick Wiles has been analyzing the Middle East’s markets for wood products for the past 13 years. He has traveled extensively throughout the MENA region, developing a wealth of contacts and experience and providing consultancy services to a range of government and industry clients on a long term or one-off basis. For more information, see www.broadleafconsulting.com

‘out of the Woods - Adventures of 12 Hardwood Chairs’

Ground breaking LCA research helps RCA students generate full environmental profiles for each of their designs

The ‘Out of the Woods -

Adventures of 12 Hardwood

Chairs’ project culminated in a

fantastic high profile exhibition and

press conference at the Victoria and

Albert Museum as part of the London

Design Festival 2012. The project was

a collaboration between the American

Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the

leading international trade association

for the American hardwood industry,

and the Royal College of Art (RCA)

in London. The 12 chairs and seats,

which were designed and made by top

product design students from the RCA,

were shown in a creative display that

told the story of the project, and how

for the first time, full environmental

profiles had been developed for each

design using AHEC’s ground breaking

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) research.

The students were invited to work

with craftsmen at Benchmark Furniture

to finalize the designs and make their

prototypes earlier this year. Benchmark,

which was founded 30 years ago

by Sean Sutcliffe and world famous

designer Sir Terrence Conran, who

invited the students to camp in his

grounds, provided a unique educational

experience. As a result, twelve very

different seating installations were

created in a wide range of U.S.

hardwoods, including lesser known

species such as gum, pecan, hickory and

soft maple. In addition, each student

recorded all the inputs and impacts of

manufacture to develop an LCA profile

for each piece using the ‘i-report’

modeling system developed specifically

for the project by PE International.

“Our collaboration with the RCA and

Benchmark has resulted in fascinating

approach to working with an age-old

material. This unique exercise has

not only thrown the spotlight on the

beauty of American hardwoods but it

has also helped the students explore

the creative and environmental

potential of this naturally renewable

material by looking at the entire life

cycle of each product,” said Roderick

Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa,

Middle East, India and Oceania.

“By ensuring that every scrap of

material and minute of production

time was carefully recorded during

the manufacturing of these twelve

wooden chairs, we have been able to

help produce life cycle assessments,

charting the projected lifespan of each

chair against the cost of resources and

processes needed to produce it.”

Following the completion of the

prototypes, AHEC has produced

a publication that documents the

story, highlights the use of American

hardwoods and environmentally profiles

each design. In addition, the RCA

students have also produced a creative

publication, with support from AHEC,

that imagines the possible life scenarios

of these designs with the help of some

of the UK’s leading poets and writers.

“With the completion of our

LCA research study into American

hardwoods, the challenge now remains

to integrate life cycle thinking into all

stages in the design, manufacturing

and delivery of products containing

U.S. hardwoods. As a first step, the

LCA data for U.S. hardwood lumber

is being made available to suppliers

and specifiers by way of PE’s online

‘i-report’ tool, which will enable specific

data to be generated for individual

species, lumber thickness, processing

parameters (such kiln efficiency and

energy sources), transport distances

and modes (truck, ship, rail). This

project with the RCA has enabled us

to show the full environmental impact

of the designs produced and paves

the way for a more scientific approach

towards specification of timber,”

concluded Wiles.

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | November 201230

DESIGN & DéCOR

Image © Petr Krejci


Swedish-born Petter Thörne was

conscious about making a modest,

yet elegant piece of furniture

that is economical in its use of

materials. His design, Beeeench, is

a 3.5 metre beam structure made

up of thin strips of American ash.

Ash is a very strong and flexible

timber; “For me this project has

been about pushing the material to

the limit,” says Thörne. Beeeench

has removable legs making it easy

to transport.

Well Proven Chair - James Shaw and Marjan van Aubel

Beeeench - Petter Thörne

Phyllida - Nicholas

Gardner and David Horan

The Well Proven Chair is an

experimental project exploring new

sustainable ways of production,

utilizing timber waste from any

well-run factory. Combining

timber shavings collected from the

workshop floor, bio-resin, water

and dye, British born James Shaw

and Dutch-born Marjan van Aubel

moulded the porridge-like mass to

a classic chair, which dried to form

a hard structure. This unique piece

sits on elegant legs of turned ash,

contrasting with the liveliness of

the seat.

Named after the sculptor Phyllida

Barlow, this piece was inspired by one

of her works. With the aim of creating

a packable bench out of harmonious

materials, Irish David Horan and

Australian Nicholas Gardner have

designed a flat-pack bench made out of

a tulipwood board, 1.5mm ply, bungey

cord and no screws. The legs fit in to

tulipwood base rings, and to a circular

groove in the underside of the bench.

When the bench is to be carried, the

‘legs’ unroll to become flat, and the base

rings slot in to another set of grooves in

the underside of the bench. The whole

assembly is held together with cords,

which when the bench is assembled

join the rings to hooks on the

underneath of the flat bench. Tulipwood

was chosen for its character and its

strength as well as its light weight, so

the bench can be carried by one person.

DESIGN & DéCOR


Image © Petr Krejci Image © Petr Krejci





Snelson - Sam Weller

Solitude - Mary Argyrou

Floating Chair - Bobby Petersen

and Tom Gottelier

Sam Weller has always had a keen

interest in mechanics and engineering

principles. His stool is inspired by

Kenneth Snelson’s sculptural works

that are built around the principle of

tensegrity (a concept later defined

by Buckminster Fuller), where

components of a structure are held

together by the continuous tension of

binding strings. Weller’s design uses

string under tension to hold together

the elements, which do not even need

to touch. The manufacturing process

was relatively simple and it would be

easy to replace any damaged part,

giving the stool greater longevity.

Weller made three stools in American

ash, cherry and walnut.

Bobby Petersen and Tom Gottelier

wanted to create an experience, not just

a seat. Fascinated with the longevity

and solidness of boat construction,

they decided to design a floating chair.

The boat has been built in marine ply

and veneered in American cherry,

which was chosen both for its high

strength-to-weight ratio and for its

color, which will darken in sunlight. The

keel is in American white oak, which is

both durable and heavy - a desirable

property for a keel. In an unusual

twist, the boat can be controlled by a

smart phone working with GPS, and

the software will drive the propulsion

system allowing you to sit back and

relax while the boat takes you for a ride.

Solitude by Mary Argyrou is inspired

by the traditionally crafted church

chairs found in her home country of

Cyprus. Staying true to the values

of the church, the chair is modest in

its expression and its form engages

with the longevity and significance

of furniture within a church setting.

Made in cherry, it has solid sides with

a hinge fold-down seat between them.

With the seat down, the user can step

back entirely into their own private

space. Church furniture can easily last

for over a century and there is no

reason why this chair should not do

the same. “Its life cycle is conveyed

both by the enduring qualities of the

material and its usage,” says Argyrou.

DESIGN & DéCOR






Imag

e ©

AH

EC


Squeeze - Nic Wallenberg

Num. 4 - Santi Guerrero Font

Tree Furniture - Anton Alvarez

London-born Nic Wallenberg has

created a stackable chair with

ergonomic curves. In order to make

the chair as sustainable as possible

Wallenberg has taken advantage

of the strength and flexibility of

American hickory and, with the

use of bolts, he has squeezed the

chair into its desired shape. The

chair thereby gains ergonomic

curves without the use of energy-

consuming techniques such as steam

bending or press molding.

This unusual bench is designed by

Swedish-Chilean Anton Alvarez. The

concept for Tree Furniture is that it

should be carved simply from a tree

cut down and left on the forest floor

where it has been cut – an idea that

had to be adapted slightly since he

was working with American hardwood

in England. By means of a portable

sawmill and simple hand tools, an

American cherry log has been made

into a bench. Alvarez’ idea is that it

would be a pleasure to happen on

such a bench during a walk through

the woods.

Num. 4 Chair reflects Santi

Guerrero Font’s interest in the

Danish style, which typically

showcases construction techniques.

His chair is visually very simple

and honest; you can see where the

legs pass through the structure,

and where their ends become

flush with the seat. By choosing

American ash, one of the strongest

timbers, Guerrero Font managed

to slim the thickness of the timber

required from 20mm to 12mm.

The Spanish born designer made a

jig to create the joints so it would

be relatively straightforward to

make multiple chairs.

DESIGN & DéCOR






Leftovers Chair - Lauren Davies

Folded Chair - Norie Matsumoto

Designed Legacy - Michael Warren

Davies’ interest in food and cooking

led her to designing a chair that could

be described in the form of a recipe,

made up from a variety of hardwoods

with a strong affiliation to food. Many

American hardwood species are fruit or

nut-bearing, oak, alder and hickory are

often used for smoking, maple syrup

is extracted from the maple tree and

so on. The seat is a traditional Windsor

Chair with a twist: the seat is ‘pickled’

with vinegar, the legs are ‘smoked’ and

the spindles of the back are ‘flavoured’

with fruit essences. Davies’ chair

is made up of red oak, alder, hard

maple, white oak, walnut, black cherry,

soft maple, hickory and pecan. The

flavorings, which supply color, include

saffron, paprika, blueberry, strawberry,

raspberry, beetroot, blackberry,

pomegranate and onion skins.

Upon the realization that one-inch

thick, kiln-dried timber requires much

less energy to produce than thicker

stock, Michael Warren set out to design

furniture using a single piece of timber

measuring 25mm by 145mm by 1.6m

long. Warren designed small-scale

connections drawing on joints used in

green timber frame buildings. Stemming

from a great desire to minimize

environmental footprint, Warren avoided

steam bending to create the curve of his

seat, instead using two laminations glued

together. The finished stool weighs only

1.5kg. Warren made several stools during

his week at Benchmark, his favourite

being sapgum, a very lightweight timber,

resulting in a featherweight version of

his already light stool.

Japanese designer and furniture-

maker Norie Matsumato wanted

her design to be a beautiful timber

sculpture that could also work as

a chair, rather than the reverse

approach, which is more common.

This led to an asymmetric design,

which unfolds in a surprising but

elegant manner. Folded Chair

combines American ash and walnut,

playing with the light and dark

tones and making a point at its

asymmetric nature. The fact that it

can be folded away when not in use

makes it more versatile, helping to

guarantee its longevity.

DESIGN & DéCOR






FEATURE

World’s tallest timber building ‘tops out’ in MelbourneConstruction innovation heralds new era for building industry

forTé

Location: 807 Bourke Street, Victoria Harbour, Melbourne, Victoria

Size: Forté is the tallest timber apartment building in the world rising up to 32.17 meter

Population: 23 apartments, over 10 storeys including:- 7 x 1 bedroom (59m2)- 14 x 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom (80m2)- 2 x 2 bedroom penthouse (102m2)

Time Frame: Start on-site: February 2012Begin Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) installation: May 2012CLT structure complete: August 2012Target construction completion: November 2012

Project cost (construction): Apartment tower: AUS $11 million

Design and Construction:Lend Lease

Image © Lend Lease


FEATURE

The world’s tallest residential timber

building has topped out in Melbourne

with builders having recently lifted

the last timber panel to complete the

structure. Taking shape near the water’s

edge in Melbourne’s Victoria Harbour, Forté

is being built with Cross Laminated Timber

(CLT), which has a structural strength

akin to the traditionally used concrete

and steel. CLT, which is already a proven

success in Europe for more than a decade,

is being used to build the 32-meter high-

rise apartment building, which upon its

completion will make it the tallest timber

building in the world.

According to Lend Lease, the developers

behind Forte, the project represents a

new era for the construction industry

as it incorporates a more efficient and

environmentally-friendly construction

process that has not been undertaken

in Australia before. By using CLT, Forté

will reduce CO2 equivalent emissions by

more than 1,400 tonnes when compared

to concrete and steel - the equivalent

of removing 345 cars from the roads.

Chief Executive Officer for Lend Lease’s

Australian business, Mark Menhinnitt

believes that CLT is the most significant

form of innovation in construction

technology that Australia has seen in

many years.

“CLT will transform the construction

industry by introducing a more efficient

and environmentally-friendly construction

process that has never been undertaken

in Australia before,” said Mark Menhinnitt.

“In 2001, we introduced the innovation of

chilled beam technology to the Australian

market, which has now become the

industry norm. CLT is another example of

how Lend Lease is leading the way with

innovations that will create value for

consumers in the industry.”

Sustainability and a lowered

environmental footprint have been

the key drivers behind the wide use

of engineered timber, more commonly

referred to as CLT, in Europe for more

than a decade. A building material that

has been around for centuries, timber,

enables the permanent capture of carbon

so buildings become essentially ‘carbon

sinks’. Using innovative technology, timber

panels undergo a process whereby they

are stacked at right angles and bonded

together over their entire surface and then

hydraulically pressed. This process delivers

a viable alternative to concrete and steel

that can withstand the same pressure as

prefabricated concrete.

“With an increasing number of people

moving to urban areas, this innovation is

timely given the urgency to create liveable,

sustainable cities that are climate positive.

The adoption of green technologies,

materials and construction processes, like

CLT, means we are closer to achieving this,”

added Menhinnitt.

As an engineered mass timber product,

CLT is very different to a traditional wood

frame. Mass timber - dense solid panels

of wood engineered for strength through

laminations of different layers - provides

significant benefits and has the equivalent

structural integrity to concrete. CLT on

a weight to strength basis meets, and in

some cases exceeds, the performance of

reinforced concrete, resulting in a very

stable and durable structural outcome.

Designed and produced in a factory

environment means it will also be built 30

percent faster than its material counterparts,

Sustainability and a lowered environmental footprint have been the key drivers behind the wide use of engineered timber, more commonly referred to as CLT, in Europe for more than a decade. A building material that has been around for centuries, timber, enables the permanent capture of carbon so buildings become essentially carbon sinks

Image © Lend Lease

Image © Lend Lease Image © Lend Lease

while being cleaner and more efficient.

Murray Coleman, Managing Director

of Lend Lease’s Project Management and

Construction business in Australia, said

that as well as offering a strong, solid,

warmer and more natural living experience,

the use of timber was also better for the

environment. “Forté is built on the principle

that what’s good for the environment is

good for the resident too. Using CLT offers

better thermal performance and requires less

energy to heat and cool,” states Coleman.

Aspiring to be the first 5 Star Green Star

As Built residential building in the country,

Forté in Victoria Harbour, Melbourne will

rise over 10 storeys, offering 23 boutique

residential apartments and 4 townhouses.

Designed and built by Lend Lease, the

building will reflect the contemporary

inner-city lifestyle of Victoria Harbour

while combining environmental initiatives

such as better energy efficiency in terms of

heating and cooling.

“Forté is a showpiece for natural and

new, where modern architecture meets a

natural building material. It will offer a

different way of living through reduced

energy costs due to better thermal

performance, an abundance of natural light,

ventilation, sweeping views and a healthier

living environment,” said Menhinnitt.

“Building with CLT is becoming increasingly

popular overseas with other residential

building developments such as Bridport

House and Stadthaus Murray Grove, both

in London being built successfully with CLT.

It proves that the appetite is there for this

kind of living.”

The 10-storey building is one storey

higher than the current highest timber

residential build - the Stadthaus in

Hackney, London - and will reflect the

modern urban-city lifestyle of Victoria

Harbour while delivering a healthier more

natural living environment for occupants.

Each apartment is dual aspect and has

been designed to make the most of sunlight

and natural ventilation. Designed to be

thermally efficient it will require less

energy to heat and cool than a typical

code compliant apartment. In addition, all

apartments will have smart meters, which

link to an in-home display that shows

real time and historic data on energy

consumption. The designers have also paid

attention to indoor environmental quality,

which will be maximized through good

levels of daylight, solar shading, natural

ventilation and acoustic treatment.

Construction of the building started

in the first week of June, with levels

rapidly added. After just 16 weeks, the

building has topped out and is already the

tallest timber residential building in the

world. Following on from Forté in Victoria

Harbour, the company is aiming to develop

30-50 percent of its apartment pipeline

using CLT and sees application elsewhere

across the Lend Lease Group.

“Lend Lease has a proud history of

landmark innovations in sustainable

construction and this project demonstrates

how we are, once again, leading the way,”

concluded Menhinnitt.

Forté is a showpiece for natural and new, where modern architecture meets a natural building material. It will offer a different way of living through reduced energy costs due to better thermal performance, an abundance of natural light, ventilation, sweeping views and a healthier living environment

FEATURE


Image © Lend Lease Image © Lend Lease


PROFILE

Miro Forestry aims for leadership within the sustainable plantation forestry industry in West Africa

Miro Forestry forecasting annual supply in excess of 500,000 cubic

meters by 2018 Miro Forestry is a commercially

focused and sustainable

forestry business centered

in West Africa. As an independent

Cayman Islands incorporated private

limited company headquartered

in Dubai, the company owns and

operates sustainable forestry

plantations of fast growing timbers

for the production of lumber, poles

and biomass in Ghana and Sierra

Leone. The company manages its own

forestry plantations, which cover

approximately 25,000 hectares of

land, and commenced planting a

mix of fast growing timber crops in

February 2010.

With an aim to be a leading,

commercial and sustainable

The Boumfoum Forestry Plantation consists of 5,000 hectares of fertile land located in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The company’s land is located about 10 minutes drive from the town of Agogo and about one hour from Kumasi.

The plantation is around 7° north of the equator and has a tropical climate with average monthly temperatures ranging between 24°C and 28°C

and annual rainfall between 1,500 - 1,650mm. The rains predominantly fall in June, July and September with the driest hottest months being December through to March.

The land on which Miro Forestry is establishing plantation forests was severely degraded during the 1980s and 1990s by agricultural clearing and heavy logging. Today, the land has been designated a forestry

reserve, and the Ghanaian Forestry Commission are very supportive of foreign investment being deployed to reforest the area. Moreover, Miro Forestry works in close consultation with local subsistence farmers in the area aiming to deliver mutual benefit through education and controlled agro-forestry practice.Most of the soils are well drained and considered ideal for trees such as Teak and Eucalyptus. The land

areas not planted by the company currently hold a canopy cover of less than 5 percent and show a dominance of secondary growth species such as elephant grass, characteristic of the transition zone, and is ideally suitable for growing both indigenous and commercial timber species.

boumfoum foresTry, ghANA

plantation business that operates

to high management, social and

environmental standards, Miro

Forestry focuses on fast-growing,

high-yield plantation timber that

enables it to cater to both local and

international markets. The company

mixes commercial plantation forestry

with protection and regeneration

of indigenous tree species, and

also promotes bio-diversity and

environmentally sustainable land-use

management. As such, the company is

also able to continue delivering both

attractive returns to investors as well

as significant social and environmental

benefits within local communities.

Managed by an experienced team

of forestry, business and investment

Andrew Collins, Executive Director & CEO, Miro Forestry

Image © Miro Forestry



PROFILE

management professionals who have

a good track record of building and

operating emerging market businesses,

the company aims to lead the

sustainable plantation forestry industry

in West Africa with in excess of 2,000

hectares being planted next year for

the production of poles, saw timber,

and wood chips for wood based panels

and biomass. In an exclusive chat with

Timber Design & Technology, Andrew

Collins, Executive Director & CEO, Miro

Forestry provides an overview of the

company and its strategy.

ObjectivesMiro Forestry is a profit driven,

commercial plantation timber

business that aspires to operate in

line with high management, social

and environmental standards. As

such, the company aims to continue

to conserve and expand natural

forest and other valuable vegetation

within its areas of operation and to

also obtain FSC certification for all

its forest plantations. In addition, the

company plans to continue to reach

out to local communities to establish

social, economic and environmental

development programs within

the local community adhering to

high standards of corporate social

responsibility. Collins states that this

is in line with the company’s’ aim to

be the preferred partner for the local

communities in which it operates and

for international business partners

and financial institutions.

At its core, the company’s principal

objective is to continue to acquire

and build interests in timber and

sustainable forestry businesses and

assets that provide it with:

- exposure to capital appreciation of,

as well as the cash yields generated

from, timber and forestry investments;

- optimize long-term sustainable

returns through best practice

management;

- ownership of timber and forestry

businesses and assets, which are,

or have the objective of, producing

sustainable timber certified by the

Forest Stewardship Council; and

- revenue from the supply of timber

and timber products worldwide.

According to Collins, the company

was borne out of a venture capital

group originally based in Dubai

and has its head office in the UAE.

Collins notes that the company has

a number of investors in the Oil &

Gas industry, based out of the Middle

East, who have been attracted to

investing in Miro Forestry given their

understanding of the growing demand

for timber as a global commodity and

the strong commercial returns that the

company can deliver. In addition, they

have been attracted by the ability to

offset their carbon footprint (given

the atmospheric carbon sequestered

by the plantations) and because the

company delivers significant social

benefits generating jobs, providing

vocational training and other benefits

in poor rural areas of Africa.

Business StrategyCollins believes that demand for

The company aims to continue to conserve and expand natural forest and other valuable vegetation within its areas of operation and to also obtain FSC certification for all its forest plantations

sustainable timber will continue to

rise with the increased global demand

for wood products particularly from

the expanding and increasingly

affluent emerging markets. More

importantly, in the face of increasing

demand, the planet is losing over

ten million hectares of forestland

every year or an area equivalent to

Ireland or Sierra Leone. On a positive

note, there are several measures

being implemented to curtail this

continued deforestation and illegal

logging. However, demand for

sustainable timber continues to grow

and plantation timber represents one

sustainable and feasible option to

address this demand.

In the case of plantation timber, the

truth is there is simply not enough

land being planted with sustainable

timber crops to meet the growing

demand. However, tropical climates in

emerging markets have high biological

growth rates, ensuring that trees

grow and reach maturity quickly.

This combined with low land and

operating costs ensure that countries

in West Africa such as Ghana and

Sierra Leone can be extremely

competitive and profitable for the

production of sustainable tropical

timber. Collins is quick to point out

that the industry in West Africa

suffers from a lack of investment

and knowledge of best practice

forestry and sustainable practices.

There is also a general shortage in

construction timbers - particularly as

the region continues to boom with

world leading GDP growth rates.

Against this backdrop of increasing

demand for sustainable timber, Miro

Forestry’s strategy is to convert

low-yielding grassland and degraded

forest into sustainable plantations that

grow the highest-yielding timber crops

suitable for the land areas under the

Establishing Teak Beds Teak BedsImage © Miro Forestry Image © Miro Forestry


PROFILE

company’s management. According to

Collins, the plantations currently are

still immature and no timber has been

harvested. However, the company is

positive of harvesting timber from

2016 onwards and building up towards

an annual supply of over 500,000

cubic meters per annum from 2018.

SpeciesMiro Forestry owns and operates its

own forestry plantations in Ghana

and Sierra Leone, which cover over

25,000 hectares of degraded land,

and commenced planting a mix of fast

growing timber crops in February 2010.

However, it is important to note that

selecting the correct species for future

plantings is not just about the timbers

and products that the market demands;

it is very important to select species that

grow well on the proposed planting site.

West Africa has ideal climatic conditions

for maximum tree growth and

competitive operating costs; it is also

a region with significant and growing

demand for timber products. As such,

the company is focusing on Eucalyptus,

which is appropriate for construction

and for transmission poles, sawn timber,

wood chip for wood based panels and

biomass, with a view towards selling

this in West Africa and into Europe.

Wood ProductsIn addition to its own plantation,

The company’s Yoni Plantation consists of 21,000 hectares of flat and fertile land located in the Tonkolili District of Sierra Leone, 90 miles from Freetown, the country’s capital, and adjacent to the country’s major highway into Freetown. At this plantation, fast rotation species, predominantly including Eucalyptus, are grown to cater to demand from the local transmission pole market as well as for export. Due to the proximity of the land to Freetown, and substantial deepwater port

facilities, the company has good access to the North American and European lumber, pulp and biomass markets, which are characterized by increasing demand coupled with decreasing supply.

The Yoni Plantation is around 8.5° north of the equator and has a tropical climate with average monthly temperatures ranging between 26°C and 36°C and annual rainfall in excess of 2,000mm. The dry season typically spans between December and

March having less than 100mm of rainfall.

The land on which Miro forestry has established its plantation forests was once forested with primary forest. However, the land now consists of secondary growth including grasses, low level bush and palms. The land is being leased under long-term agreements with landowners ratified by the chief’s and government as legal custodians.

The land area has limited subsistence

farming going on which is primarily centered around the low lying swampy areas for rice cultivation unsuitable for forestry. The Company works in ongoing consultation with local farmers and aims to bring additional benefit to such farmers through opening up swampy areas for rice cultivation and enabling controlled agro-forestry thus providing clear land for subsistence farming, mutual crop protection and keeping the land free of nutrient sapping undergrowth.

yoNi, sierrA LeoNe

Teak (c.2 years)

Seedling Planting

Eucalyptus Nursery (2012 pre-development)

Women in Nursery





Miro Forestry has supplied sawn

timber from third-party suppliers to

customers in Europe. Leveraging its

contacts in West Africa and globally,

the company has been able to source

a range of West African, South-

east Asian and European species

timbers. The company is also able

to supply creosote treated pine

transmission poles, primarily made

from eucalyptus and pine. In line with

its environmental policy, the company

is looking to obtain FSC certification

for its plantation and also works with

FSC certified suppliers. Further, Miro

Forestry intends to start supplying

sustainable wood biomass for

renewable energy in the near future.


TECHNOLOGY

HOMAG Group, the leading manufacturer of

plant and machinery for the woodworking

industry and cabinet makers, hosted

the 20th edition of its annual ‘Treff’ expo in

Schopfloch, Germany from September 25 - 28,

where visitors had the opportunity to experience

an unprecedented array of smart solutions for

the production of furniture, windows, floors,

staircases and doors. At the landmark event,

HOMAG was able to showcase just how it has

linked innovation with fascination over its 50-

year history in an area of just over 10,000 sqm.

The company further announced that over the

course of 20 years since the first HOMAG Treff

in 1992, over 35,000 visitors from 70 different

countries have visited the event.

A key highlight at this year’s event was the

wide array of large-scale plants that were on

display. In keeping with the 20th anniversary

of the event, the organizers displayed a total

of 20 production-ready large-scale lines.

According to the organizers, the smart batch

size 1 solutions from the entry-level machines

to the high-end plants attracted just as much

interest as the flexible concepts for efficient

series production. Further, a large number

of customer orders under construction or in

action were on display in a bid to demonstrate

A key highlight at this year’s event was the wide array of large-scale plants that were on display. In keeping with the 20th anniversary of the event, the organizers displayed a total of 20 production-ready large-scale lines

HoMAG Group hosts the 20th edition of its annual ‘treff’ expo in Schopfloch

World premier of the ‘Ambition 2200 NEW’ edge

banding technology at landmark event

Looking back over 20 years of the HOMAG Treff: 35,000 visitors from 70 countries - and innovations which shape our industry. Yesterday, today, and into the future!

Image © Homag Group


TECHNOLOGY

the broad-based expertise of HOMAG’s plant

specialists, and more importantly the trust

placed in them by customers.

The company was also able to highlight the

success of ‘woodWOP’, which over the course

of 20 years has become the most frequently

installed programming system with over 30,000

users worldwide and is now also the established

standard for CNC training in vocational training

schools and technical universities. At the

2012 Treff, the latest version of the program -

woodWOP 6.1 - was launched. The new version

comes with integrated CAD functionality and

offers users the scope for operators to generate,

import or modify CAD drawings in the office or

directly at the machine, supported by a wide

range of drawing and modification functions.

Further, this is not restricted to only the basic

coordinate system, and can be implemented on

any optional level.

highLighTs of The 2012 homAg Treff:• Biggest display ever with 20 large-scale plants: Batch size 1 and series production solutions• World premier of the Ambition 2200 NEW: Industrial- standard edge banding technology with a woodworking shop price tag• Venture 316: 5-axis technology for woodworking shops• Edge banding with zero joint in through feed and on processing centers• Window production cells with automatic feed• iPackage compact for BMG 316 and Ambition 2200 NEW: the customer-oriented service solution for woodworking shops• On-the-spot inspection at the HOMAG Treff ‘Pit Stop’: customers had the opportunity to bring their exchange processing units for some expert attention

20 years of the HOMAG Treff - 20 large-scale plants were on show live in action!

The Ambition 2200 NEW: Great on flexibility - small on priceGrowing with HOMAG......Timber is our raw material

20 years of woodWOP - with over 30,000 users the most successful programming system worldwide




Image ©

Hom

ag Group

Log on to our website for the latest news, technologies and trends affecting the industry. www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

For more than 110 years, the National Hardwood Lumber Association has been

serving its members and the industry by creating and maintaining a uniform

system of grading rules for the measurement and inspection of hardwood lumber.

The NHLA rules created in 1898, are now the standard employed worldwide.

Our standard means integrity – look for the NHLA logo.

TRADE WITH A MEMBER.

INTEGRITY

RESPECT

AUTHORITY

EXPERTISE

QUALITY ASSURANCE

WHAT’S IN OUR LOGO?

For membership information please contact John Hester at +1 901 399 7558 or email [email protected]


Top IndusTry ExhIbITIons comIng

up ThIs sEason

Date: 1 - 4 NovemberVenue: Pavilion 75, VVC ExhibitionLocation: Moscow, Russiatimings: 1 - 3 November (Thursday - Saturday), 10:00 - 18:00 and 4 November (Sunday), 10:00 - 16:00expecteD attenDees: 11,500+WeBsite: www.holzhaus.ru/home/default.aspx

Date: 1 - 4 NovemberVenue: Cairo Exhibition & Convention CentreLocation: Cairo, EgyptWeBsite: www.furnexegypt.com

The 17th International Specialized Exhibition Holzhaus

is the leading Russian exhibition for wooden housing

construction. The exhibition showcases the diversity of

contemporary wooden architecture, including full-size

beautiful, warm and eco-friendly wooden houses and

saunas, built with the latest technologies, which will be on

display at the exhibition. As such, the event brings together

builders, developers, architects, designers of wooden

houses, and manufacturers of building, finishing and

protective materials, parts and utility equipment.

The exhibitors - leading companies in domestic and

international wooden housing construction - are set to

introduce visitors to current trends in wooden housing

construction. Over four days, more than 200 companies

will present milled timber and log houses and saunas,

frame houses, gazebos, accessories and more. Buyers from

Moscow and other Russian regions will be able to purchase

everything they need at the exhibition - from the design to

the construction of houses. According to the organizers, over

11,500 visitors are expected to attend the event this year.

holzhaus

FurnEx

Furnex 2012 is a unique opportunity to discover Egypt

as a sourcing destination for furniture, home furnishings

and accessories. The exhibition is being jointly

organized by the Egypt Expo & Convention Authority

(EECA), the Egyptian Furniture Export Council (EFEC)

and Expo Link and will showcase the latest products as

well as the production capabilities of over 200 Egyptian

manufacturers. Taking up over 21,000 sqm at the Cairo

Exhibition & Convention Centre, the event will highlight

the tremendous progress made by the Egyptian furniture

industry, which has resulted in Egypt serving as a

reliable source of world-class furniture and accessories

to international markets.

Leading architects, designers, importers, chain stores,

hypermarkets, retailers, specialized dealers and project

contractors are expected to attend the event. According

to the organizers, Furnex 2012 will highlight the

Egyptian furniture exporters’ understanding of different

markets, which is evident in the continuous expansion

in product development and design, skilled labor

training, as well as in the acquisition of state-of-the-art

woodworking machinery.

SHOWTIME

SHOWTIME

brussEls FurnITurE FaIr 2012

Date: 4 - 7 NovemberVenue: Brussels Expo HeyselLocation: Brussels, Belgiumtimings: 9:00 - 19:00expecteD attenDees: 20,000+WeBsite: www.meubelbeurs.be/en

Date: 5 - 8 NovemberVenue: Dubai World Trade CentreLocation: Dubai, UAEtimings: 11:00 - 19:00expecteD attenDees: 50,000+ WeBsite: www.thebig5.ae

The Brussels Furniture Fair has become an international

platform for furniture in the Benelux and will be held at

Brussels Expo from 4 to 7 November this year. About 20,000

visitors are expected to attend the show, which covers 7 halls

with a floor area of around 70,000 sqm. As an extremely

important landmark in the furniture world and a setting

where sales really do take place, the fair is crucial not only for

Belgium and the Netherlands, but also for France. According

to the organizers, this is mainly because of the assortment:

varied and commercial, and exactly what the furniture trade is

seeking for its core range.

The show is a large fair, but it remains on a human scale,

which is appreciated by the 300 exhibitors, more than half of

whom come from abroad. Further, the show has a solid basis,

a broad spectrum of innovative and market-oriented products

with added value and a clear position in the commercially

most important segment of the market. In addition, more than

half the visitors are from abroad and the organizers expect

this proportion to increase even more in the 2012 edition.

ThE bIg 5

The Big 5 is the largest event for the building and

construction industry in the Middle East. It attracts more than

2,500 exhibitors from 70 countries, and is set to take place at

the Dubai World Trade Centre from November 5-8 this year.

For more than 30 years The Big 5 has provided a business

and networking platform for the construction industry and

is an opportunity for buyers and sellers of construction

products and services from around the world to source an

astounding array of the very latest technologies, innovations

and techniques.

More than an exhibition, the event provides attendees with

unrivalled access to information, intelligence, contacts and

hands on experience. Experts from around the world engage in

the industry’s most topical discussions, finding solutions, facing

challenges and seizing opportunities. As the gateway to the

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) providing both exhibitors

and visitors with the opportunity to conduct serious business

with like-minded professionals, the show continues to pioneer

new opportunities for the industry.


SHOWTIME

FurnITurE FaIr 2012

Date: 12 - 18 NovemberVenue: Belgrade Fair Exhibition CenterLocation: Belgrade, SerbiaexpecteD attenDees: 60,000+WeBsite: www.beogradskisajamnamestaja.rs

Date: 14 - 16 NovemberVenue: Lahti Fair CentreLocation: Lahti, FinlandWeBsite: www.lahdenmessut.fi/eng/fairs/puuntyosto_woodworking.html

The International Fair of Furniture, Equipment and

Interior decoration and the International Exhibition

of Machines, Tools and Production materials for the

woodworking industry are highly ranked amongst

the industry fairs that cater to the furniture,

interior decoration and related industries such as

production materials and woodworking machines

for the furniture industry in Serbia and the region

of Southeast Europe. This year the Furniture Fair,

which has been the meeting place for renowned

manufacturers from across the region, is celebrating

its 50th anniversary and is offering exhibitors the

opportunity to present their new products, keep

pace with current furniture design trends, maintain

old contacts and establish new ones, as well as to

exchange information and ideas.

Exhibitors at the event will include the complete

furniture industry from those involved with the

primary wood processing to those responsible for

the final product. All types of furniture will be on

display, including home and office furniture, and

interior decoration, as well as a special segment

on woodworking machines, tools and production

materials. Occupying more than 35,000 sqm within

the Belgrade Fair halls, the organizers are confident

of attracting over 60,000 visitors over the course

of the exhibition. To date, over 500 registered

exhibitors, of which a third are international

exhibitors, have been confirmed for the event.

WoodWorkIng 2012

The Woodworking Fair is the largest woodworking

and wood-products exhibition in the Nordic region.

The event features the entire production chain of

the industry including machinery, devices, raw

materials, blades, tools, surface treatment, and

fixing and packaging technology. Set to take place

in the Lahti Fair Center in Finland, the exhibition in

2012 will have a strong focus on carpentry training

and subcontracting. In addition, the event will

also highlight industrial design and environmental

expertise in the region.

To strengthen the increasing potential of the

woodworking industry and to promote expertise

from within the region, a special Woodworking

Industry Day event will be held during the fair. This

Woodworking Industry Day is being organized by the

Association of Finnish Woodworking and Furniture

Industries (AFWFI). Further, a special international

industrial design event - OLO.MUOTO - is also being

held under the theme - Finnish wood design.

SHOWTIME


chIna InTErnaTIonal Wood and Wood producTs Expo

Date: 21 - 23 NovemberVenue: Olympic Green Convention Center (CNCC)Location: Beijing, Chinatimings: 21 - 22 November (Wednesday - Thursday), 9:00 - 16:30 and 23 November (Friday), 9:00 - 15:00expecteD attenDees: 47,000+WeBsite: www.mujiaohui.com

Date: 21 - 24 NovemberVenue: EXPONOR - Porto International FairLocation: Porto, Portugaltimings: 10:00 - 19:00expecteD attenDees: 25,000+WeBsite: www.fimap.exponor.pt/default.aspx

The China International Wood & Wood Products

Trade Conference (IWTC) is one of the best-known

wood and wood products trade fairs in China. The

event has been successfully organized in cities such

as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and offers an

excellent platform to highlight the latest products and

technologies for the industry whilst also encouraging

trade between domestic and international wood and

wood products enterprises.

The 10th Wood & Wood Products Expo will focus on

the promotion of wood as an environmentally friendly

raw material, given the fact that is absorbs carbon. The

exhibition will also showcase wood products including

logs and timber, artificial board, PVC floorboard,

different types of flooring, wooden stairs, stair tread,

and other home decorative materials.

In addition to the exhibition, several forums

will be held simultaneously and these include the

China Real Estate and Residential Industry Peak

Forum; the China Wood and Wood Products Industry

Peak Forum; China Sustainable Living and Housing

Industrialization Technology Exchange; Housing

Industrialization and Urban Development Forum; and

the China and Canada Wood Construction Technology

and the Promotion Seminar.

FImap / FErralIa 2012

For the first time, EXPONOR will be simultaneously hosting

three industry events that aim to gather the timber and

woodworking industries in Portugal. The 15th International

Fair of Woodworking Machinery (FIMAP) and the 10th

Exhibition of Accessories and Equipment for the Wood

Industry (FERRALIA) are being hosted from November

21 - 24 and will aim to highlight the import capabilities,

manufacturing and processing potential for the wood and

woodworking sector in Portugal. In addition to FIMAP

and FERRALIA, the 14th International Fair on Industrial

Machinery, Equipment and Services for Industry (EMAP) is

also being held at the same time.

The organizers are confident that the three highly

specialized events offer an ideal platform for both

exhibitors and industry professionals. More importantly,

the synergies in hosting FIMAP, FERRALIA and EMAP at

the same time represents true vale and an opportunity

for business across the different sectors in attendance.

Exhibitors at FIMAP include manufacturers of cutting

machines, sawing machines, planning machines, moulding

machines, boring machines, sanding and polishing machines,

jointing and coating machines, presses, wood treatment

machines and tools and other auxiliary equipment for

timber processing. The companies represented at FERRALIA

include those involved in timber and its by-products, paints,

varnishes, glues, iron tools and utensils, furniture fittings

and chemical products for timber treatment.

SHOWTIME

50 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | September 2012

World congrEss oF TImbEr and Wood producTs TradE

Date: 27 - 29 NovemberVenue: Taicang Jinling Garden HotelLocation: Taicang, ChinaWeBsite: www.cnwood.org

Date: 31 January - 3 February 2013Venue: India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater NoidaLocation: New Delhi, Indiatimings: 31 January (Thursday), 10:35 - 18:00 and 1 - 3 February (Friday - Sunday), 10:00 - 18:00expecteD attenDees: 25,000+WeBsite: www.delhi-wood.com

The second World Congress of Timber and Wood

Products Trade is set to take place in Taicang, China

under the theme ‘Embracing New Pattern of International

Trade Together’ from November 27 - 29, 2012. Jointly

organized by the China Timber and Wood Products

Distribution Association, Taicang Municipality Government

of Jiangsu Province and the Jiangsu Taicang Port

Administration Committee, the conference aims to provide

a platform for business leaders in timber and wood

product trade to get together and explore paths towards

improved accountability, profitability and sustainability

within the timber business against the background of

changing economic and policy environment.

The conference is being held in China, which has

developed into world’s largest timber and wood product

trading centre. China’s unprecedented economic growth

has led to its robust demand for timber and wood

products. In 2011, China’s timber and wood product

industry total output value amounted to USD 300 billion,

which represented an increase of 23.9 percent over 2010.

With its steadily growing domestic demand for timber

and wood products, China is set to continue to demand

large volume of timber from international market.

Co-organized by the Taicang Timber and Wood

Products Distribution Association, Shanghai Furen

Forest Products Wholesale Market, and Shanghai Timber

Industry Association, the conference will be attended

by timber and wood product suppliers and traders

from around the world with a view to further explore

business opportunities with China. As such, the congress

will provide an excellent opportunity to meet and

establish business relationship with China’s largest timber

importers and wood product producers.

dElhIWood 2013

The 3rd edition of Delhiwood is being organized from 31st

January - 3rd February 2013 at the India Expo Centre &

Mart, Greater Noida. On account of demand from within the

timber industry in India, PDA Trade Fairs and the European

Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers

Associations (EUMABOIS) organized the first ever Delhiwood

in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from the 14 - 17th February

2009. The exhibition drew tremendous response with over

300 exhibitors from 29 countries taking part in the inaugural

event. Ever since the first event in 2009, Delhiwood and the

Indian Woodworking Industry have complemented each other

in their growth. In principle, the event offers a successful

platform to convert market potential to business within the

woodworking sector in India.

The show next year will aim to showcase the latest in wood

processing technologies including sophisticated CNC machines,

accessories and tools from all over the world. The aim is to

bring together a comprehensive range of materials and fittings

to help give an impetus to the growth of industry in India.

Delhiwood 2013 will have several new elements including a

special zone for demonstrations and display of woodworking

machinery; an option for pre-arranged business meetings with

exhibitors for pre-registered visitors; and an exclusive hall for

non-machinery exhibitors. In addition, Delhiwood 2013 will

also display new exhibit profiles including those companies

involved with wooden doors, windows, flooring and parquetry.

SHOWTIME

ForEsT day 6

Date: 2 DecemberVenue: Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC)Location: Doha, Qatartimings: 2 December (Sunday), 8:00 - 19:00WeBsite: www.forestsclimatechange.org/events/forest-day/forest-day-6/forest-day-6.html

Date: 21 - 24 NovemberVenue: Tatmadaw Exhibition HallLocation: Yangon, Myanmartimings: 9:00 - 16:30WeBsite: www.myanmar-expo.com/MIMIF

Forest Day, now in its sixth year, has become one of

the most influential global events on forests. It is a

platform for anyone interested in forests and climate

change to gather to ensure that forests are high on

the agenda of global and national climate strategies,

and that those strategies are informed by the most

up-to-date knowledge and experience. Under the

banner of ‘Living Landscapes’, which refers to the

interconnections between forests and agriculture and

their impacts on people and society, Forest Day 6 will

kick off the first of two popular conferences on the

sidelines of the United Nations Framework Convention

on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) annual Conference of the

Parties. Forest Day 6 will be followed by Agriculture,

Landscapes and Livelihoods Day 5 slated for December

3 at the Qatar National Convention Centre.

More than 1,100 people from 82 countries, including

216 official climate change negotiators, attended

Forest Day 5 on the sidelines of the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC)

17th Conference of Parties (COP17) in Durban, South

Africa on 4 December 2011. Forest Day 6 will seek to

inform UNFCCC’s global agenda and forest stakeholders

on ways to move forward with REDD+ agreements

reached at COP17 in Durban, to produce social and

environmental benefits, good governance, long-term

financing and the integration of forests into adaptation

strategies on the ground. REDD+ stands for Reducing

Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation,

as well as the conservation and sustainable

management of forests, and the enhancement of forest

carbon stocks.

myanmar InTErnaTIonal Wood procEssIng ExhIbITIon (burma-Wood 2012)

The Myanmar International Wood Processing Exhibition

(BURMAWOOD 2012) is the first ever trade show for

the wood and wood processing industry in the country.

According to official government statistics, Myanmar

exported over 864,000 tons of teak in 2010-11 and

earned over USD 569 million in revenue. Despite its

strong exports of timber, the furniture industry in

Myanmar is currently underdeveloped as a result of

economic sanctions. As such, the country is trying to

reduce its dependence on exports of logs and aiming to

train workers in the woodworking sector with a view

towards increasing skills and quality of output within

the sector.

The show aims to provide a perfect platform to display

the latest woodworking machinery plant & accessories

for production of sawn timber, veneer, particleboard,

MDF, OSB, LVL, plywood & panels; kiln drying & related

timber technologies; joinery machinery and machinery

for the furniture industry; and wood-based panels &

veneered products. Exhibitors include manufacturers of

upholstered products; machinery & lines for finishing;

handling equipment, tooling, woodworking tools, hand

tools & portable power tools; and fittings & accessories

(hinges, knob handles, other hardware) in addition to

dust extraction equipment. In addition, the show will

host traders of woodworking materials & consumables

including laminates, veneers, plywood, particle board,

MDF, engineered wood, moulded plywood, panel

products, wood composites, sawn timber, edge banding

materials, adhesives, lacquers, polishes, finished, sanding

paper, sanding materials, abrasives, coatings etc.


SHOWTIME INTERVIEW

domoTEx mIddlE EasT sET To ‘Floor’ TurkEy and ThE mIddlE EasT In IsTanbul

Timber Design & Technology talks to

Alexander Kühnel, General Manager at Hannover

Messe International Istanbul ahead of the show

DOMOTEX Middle East, which

runs from November 8 - 11

in Istanbul, is organized by

Deutsche Messe - the creator of the

original DOMOTEX fair in Hannover,

the world’s leading trade show

for carpets and floor coverings.

Deutsche Messe hosts its DOMOTEX

fairs in four locations (China, Russia,

Turkey and Hannover) around the

globe with a view towards creating

a dedicated industry platform that

provides visitors and exhibitors with

unparalleled insights into the latest

trends and market developments as

well as a myriad of networking and

knowledge-sharing opportunities.

After several years in Dubai, the show has been moved to Istanbul. How will the show benefit from a change in location?The Middle East region remains

an attractive region for foreign

companies offering numerous

lucrative business opportunities

and that is why it is imperative that

the fair should be organized for the

region. However, we felt that it was

time to move the show to a different

country. There are two established

hubs for business in the region -

Dubai and Istanbul. After six years

in Dubai, the fair has been moved

to Istanbul considering its strong

economy with a growth rate of 3.3

percent in 2012 (OECD) and access to

multiple markets such as the Middle

East, North Africa, Central Asia, Russia

and Europe. In addition, Istanbul

has always been at the crossroads

of Asia, Europe and the Middle East,

has an excellent exhibition centre,

and modern infrastructure including

an international airport and harbor,

exhibition sites and hotels that

make it ideal as the new venue for

DOMOTEX Middle East.

We believe that our exhibitors will

be able to profit directly from the

boom in Turkey. DOMOTEX is a brand

that commands strong trust in this

region and we expect this to translate

into a high level of acceptance both

on the part of Turkish and foreign

floor covering suppliers as exhibitors,

and on the part of purchasing

managers and agents, wholesale and

retail traders, architects, planners,

investors and property developers

from Turkey, the MENA region and

central Asia, as visitors.

How is this year’s edition positioned?DOMOTEX Middle East has already

attracted strong international

participation. As of today, the fair

has 135 exhibitors from 22 different

countries. The exhibiting countries

include Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium,

Canada, Czech Republic, France,

Germany, Greece, Hungary, India,

Iran, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands,

Pakistan, Portugal, South Korea,

Spain, United Arab Emirates, United

Kingdom and United States of

America. Under the support of the

Ministry of Economy in Turkey,

the fair has been promoted in 35

selected countries. We have also

invited senior decision-makers

and journalists from these target

countries as guests for the show.

Further, as a part of the special

buying mission programs that are

being organized, business delegations

will also have the opportunity to

make face-to-face meetings with

exhibitors directly on their stands.

Some of the target countries where

the show has been promoted include

Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Armenia,

Syria, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE,

Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt,

Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Turkey

and Turkmenistan.

What are the main objectives for this year’s edition?

Under the theme ‘Get the spirit of

flooring’, DOMOTEX Middle East aims

to provide a lively meeting place

where visitors and exhibitors will

have the opportunity to follow new

trends in the industry, to compare

the characteristics and quality of

the products exhibited, to touch

them and to feel the atmosphere


Image © DOMOTEX Middle East

SHOWTIME INTERVIEW

that carpets and floorings create.

DOMOTEX Middle East not only

invites professionals from the

flooring trade but professionals

from related industries. Visitors to

the show will primarily comprise of

interior designers, architects, floor

layers, industrial designers, furniture

and dye manufacturers, planners,

investors, real estate developers,

whole sellers, retailers, purchasing

executives for hotels, shopping malls

and public institutions as well as ship

and yacht building companies.

Are there any events such as awards, seminars and workshops at this year’s edition?

Like we do for almost all of our

shows, we will be organizing

conferences, workshops and panels

during DOMOTEX Middle East as

well. This will allow visitors the

ability to learn more about the

industry and trends for the future

in addition to seeing products first

hand at the stands. The conference,

seminar and special events will

create a synergy between exhibitors

and visitors in terms of business and

exchange of information.

On the first day of the fair, ‘The

Future of Flooring’ forum is being

organized with the support of

ORSIAD and will aim to discuss

the fundamental problems within

the carpet, parquet / laminate

and resilient floorings industry by

bringing together professionals of the

flooring industry and representatives

from sectoral unions. Further, leading

companies will also participate in the

conference as guest speakers.

Besides the forum, there will also

be a Hardware Corner and Workshop

Area in Hall 11. The demonstration of

carpet, parquet and ceramic flooring

will be organized by Praktiker and

can be visited during the show. In

addition, buyer delegations from

focus countries will be hosted during

the trade fair within the scope of

the International Buyer Delegations

Program. Professionals chosen

from different provinces of Turkey

within the scope of the Anatolian

Delegations Exclusive Program will

also visit DOMOTEX Middle East.

The Istanbul Union of Carpet

Exporters (IHIB), one of the most

important supporters of the fair,

is also hosting its traditional ‘IHIB

Carpet Design Competition Award

ceremony’ this year as part of

DOMOTEX Middle East. The award

winning carpets will be exhibited

for four days with the award

ceremony slated to take place on the

second day of the fair culminating

in a gala reception. IHIB will also

have a special presentation on the

restoration of old carpets, which is

expected to be one of the highlights

during the show.





SHOWTIME

HOlzHAUS1st - 4th NovemberPavilion 75, VVC exhibitionMoscow, Russiawww.holzhaus.ru/home/default.aspx

FUrNex 20121st - 4th NovemberCairo exhibition & Convention CentreCairo, egyptwww.furnexegypt.comt

BrUSSelS FUrNITUre FAIr4th - 7th NovemberBrussels expo HeyselBrussels, Belgiumwww.meubelbeurs.be/en

THe BIG 55th - 8th NovemberDubai World Trade CentreDubai, uAewww.thebig5.ae

DOMOTex MIDDle eAST8th - 11th NovemberIstanbul expo CenterIstanbul, Turkeywww.domotex-middle-east.com/en/index.html

2012 CHICAGO lOG & TIMBer HOMe SHOW9th - 11th NovemberDuPage expo CenterChicago, usAwww.thelogandtimberhomeshow.com/shows/118

FUrNITUre FAIr 2012 12th - 18th NovemberBelgrade Fair exhibition CenterBelgrade, serbiawww.beogradskisajamnamestaja.rs GreeNBUIlD CONFereNCe & exPO14th - 16th NovemberMoscone CenterBoston (MA), usAwww.greenbuildexpo.org/Home.aspx

WOODWOrkING 201214th - 16th NovemberLahti Fair CentreLahti, Finlandwww.lahdenmessut.fi/eng/fairs/puuntyosto_woodworking.html

CHINA INTerNATIONAl WOOD AND WOOD PrODUCTS exPO 21st - 23rd NovemberOlympic Green Convention Center (CNCC)Beijing, Chinawww.mujiaohui.com

FIMAP / FerrAlIA 201221st - 24th NovembereXPONOR - Porto International FairPorto, Portugalwww.fimap.exponor.pt/default.aspx

WOrlD CONGreSS OF TIMBer AND WOOD PrODUCTS TrADe27th - 29th NovemberTaicang Jinling Garden HotelTaicang, Chinawww.cnwood.org

FOreSTTeCH 201228th - 29th NovemberBayview eden HotelMelbourne, Australiawww.foresttechevents.com

BUIlDexPO WeST AFrICA 2012 29th November - 3rd DecemberDakar International Fair GroundsDakar, senegalwww.expogr.com/senegal/build

FOreST DAy 62nd DecemberQatar National Convention Centre (QNCC)Doha, Qatarwww.forestsclimatechange.org/events/forest-day/forest-day-6/forest-day-6.html

erBIl BUIlDexPO 20122nd - 5th Decembererbil, Iraqwww.expogr.com/iraq/buildexpo_erbil

MyANMAr INTerNATIONAl WOOD PrOCeSSING exHIBITION (BUrMAWOOD 2012)21st - 24th DecemberTatmadaw exhibition HallYangon, Myanmarwww.myanmar-expo.com/MIMIF

DelHIWOOD 201331st January - 3rd February 2013India expo Centre & Mart, Greater NoidaNew Delhi, Indiawww.delhi-wood.com

FleGT CONFereNCe6th - 7th Decemberuniversity of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg CampusCopenhagen, Denmarkwww.sl.life.ku.dk/English/outreach_publications/Conferences/flegt.aspx

Expo calEndar

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

ITG2013_EP_ad_210x297.pdf 1 2012-7-26 17:11:48

Keeping carbon out of the atmosphere.Naturally.

American hardwood.

Each kilogram of U.S. hardwood product stores the equivalent of 1.835 kilograms of CO2 for as long as it remains in use.

For more information visit: www.americanhardwood.org

Follow us on TwitterAm

eric

an b

lack

wal

nut

the li

bra

ry a

t Z

ayed

Univ

ers

ity,

A

bu D

hab

i, U

AE

Timber Design & Technology Middle East - November 2012

Documents

Transcript of Timber Design & Technology Middle East - November 2012