Ecoforestry and ecotimber

Community-based ecoforestry operations produce a beautiful Good Wood called ecotimber.

Ecoforestry allows local communities to earn money by harvesting timber and other products from the forest in a way that ensures the long-term integrity of the forest's biodiversity.

3 key foundations of ecoforestry:

• community organisation
• clear and undisputed land rights
• a participatory land use plan

Greenpeace Australia Pacific actively supports ecoforestry projects in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Beautiful ecotimber is available to buy in Australia in small quantities.

Ecotimber is milled from hardwood trees, including dillenia (Dillenia spp.), vitex (Vitex cofassus), Pacific rosewood (Pterocarpus indicus) and taun (Pometia pinnata). It can be used for joinery, floorboards, benchtops, decking, panelling and furniture.

Search for ecotimber species in the Good Wood Guide.

Is ecotimber certified by the FSC?

Ecotimber is in transition to FSC certification and is expected to be fully certified in 2010. In the tropics, it is a long and difficult process to meet high FSC international standards for a 'well-managed forest', a process which takes at least 3 to 5 years.

After saw milling timber is carried out of the forest by members of the local community

How does ecoforestry work?

Customary landowners work together to manage their forest, using low-impact techniques to mill trees or harvest forest products. They ensure that, as a tree falls, it does minimal damage to the forest. They carry the timber out along narrow bush tracks or float it down rivers. Careful monitoring ensures the forest is maintained and allowed to regenerate.

The profit from ecoforestry is 4 to 10 times more than logging and is shared in the community. The money made from cutting just one tree can pay school fees for one child for a year. Greenpeace helps market the high quality ecotimber from Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to international markets, including Australia.