GFTN-Russia

On June 10, 2021, WWF officially announced the termination of the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) and launched a new Forests Forward program on its basis. 

GFTN history and goals

From the time of its establishment the Association operates as a part of Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN). GFTN was founded upon an initiative of WWF-International in order to resist illegal logging and to improve forest management in high conservation value forests.

GFTN Russia was established as one of WWF-Russia initiatives in 1999. At that time, it united 13 companies which agreed to support development of ecologically and socially responsible business and voluntary forest certification in Russia. Lately, it included 15 companies that  account for 67% of Russian export of pulp and paper products, 21% of fiberboards, 15% of lumber, 8% of moulded timber, etc.

Strategic aim of the Association

Strategic aim of the Association is to contribute to environmentally responsible, socially oriented and economically healthy forest management that will allow to conserving natural heritage of Russia for the next generations.

The Association members think that implementing of ecological policy and voluntary forest certification helps to improve image of the companies, to enhance their competitiveness and to access better investment resources as well meet the interests of nature protection, biodiversity conservation and forest regeneration.

Goals of the Association

• to contribute to the development of sustainable forest management in the country and to the implementation of voluntary forest certification;
• to help promoting goods and services of Association members to the international market of certified forest products by developing contacts with GFTN members;
• to help improving attractiveness of Association members for foreign investors;
• to raise educational level of the staff in the field of sustainable forest management and forest certification.