Make a Pledge

Do you or your contractors buy any wood or paper products?

Make a Pledge for forests during 2011 the International Year of Forests

Did you know that more than 1.5 million cubic metres of timber imported into the UK is from illegal sources? And the public sector is responsible for around 20% of all timber purchased in the UK?

Recent research by our associates WWF in the UK showed that local authorities often don’t keep records of the timber products they buy. If you don’t know where your timber comes from, you could be supporting the illegal and unsustainable timber trade, which threatens forests and the many people who depend on them, in countries like Indonesia and in the Congo Basin.

Local authorities in Ireland have a great opportunity to influence the way timber is harvested and processed, by making sure they're buying responsibly sourced wood and paper. We’re asking all local authorities in 2011 to make a pledge to improve their timber purchasing.

Go for Gold!

There are three levels of pledges: Bronze, Silver and Gold. When you've achieved your commitment, we'll award you with a special WWF 'badge' to display on your website and newsletters. And we'll help you promote your achievement in your local press.

More great reasons to make a pledge
- The former Chairman of the Dail Committee , on Environment, Deputy Sean Fleming, T.D. strongly encourages local authorities to make sure they’re buying timber products from legal and sustainable sources.
- From March 2013 a new EU regulation will mean that anyone introducing a forest product into the Irish market will have to show where it’s come from and that it isn’t illegal. This is likely to apply to many of your suppliers.
- Your community wants you to do it! Recent survey showed that 84% of UK citizens think their local authority should commit to buying sustainable wood and paper products. Ireland trades daily with UK Timber Importers.

Pledges

Bronze pledge - We’ll get the know-how!
We will attend a CPET workshop or host a Just Forests/CPET/WWF seminar for our local authority on responsible procurement of forest products, and the importance of valuing forest resources
We will train our key staff on responsible procurement of forest products
Already done these easy steps? Make a Silver pledge!

Silver pledge – We’ll get planning!
We will not buy any timber or paper where we don’t know the source of the wood
We will choose a project(s), contract(s) and/or product group(s) where recycled, certified or sustainable and legal timber products will be used
Done the Silver steps? Now go for Gold!

Gold pledge – We’ll get active!
We will ensure that we only buy recycled, certified or sustainable and legal timber products across all our departments
We will set up a recording and monitoring system to ensure forest products we procure meet the requirements of our policy

Monaghan Co Council

Local Authority Pledge Form