The World Resources Institute (WRI) has announced the launch of the Forest Legality Risk Information Tool, an open-access global information website designed to assist purchasers of forest products in securing fiber from legal sources. Source: Sustainable Forestry Initiative
The risk tool, a project of the Forest Legality Alliance, was partly funded by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) through its Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program.
“Our hope is that the information in this tool will make it easier and cheaper to examine forest product supply chains and improve transparency in the marketplace,” said Adam Grant, WRI Senior Associate.
“We are pleased to be working with SFI and other partners to raise awareness and equip participants in forest product supply chains with practical, interactive and freely accessible tools so they can exercise due care and keep illegally harvested forest products out of the market.”
“SFI chain of custody and fiber sourcing requirements require that program participants assess and address risks of offshore fiber from controversial sources such as illegal harvesting operations,” said SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow.
“The WRI risk tool will help our program participants ask the right questions to get the information they need to make informed and responsible purchasing decisions.”
The tool helps to provide details about where forest products come from and what issues a buyer might encounter. The tool allows searching by country or species to find specific information.
Future additions to the tool will provide interactive supply chain profiling tools, such as decision trees.
The risk tool is available at http://www.forestlegality.org/risk-tool
