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Timber tracking system will enforce ethical logging
17/05/2010
A system that tracks timber all the way back to its source is being pioneered by an Oxford-based technology company.
Helveta's software system is aimed at clamping down on the illegal timber trade and will electronically tag trees and map boundaries of permitted logging areas.
The system will boost the confidence of people looking to make ethical investments in timber, who can be assured of the principled system behind their investment.
Helveta is rolling out the software in the Central African Republic (CAR), working closely with Bureau Veritas - Bivac (BV), which is the global leader for conformity assessment and certification. Its Tax Verification Program, which it operates for the CAR Government, works to ensure that export taxes for wood products are collected.
The system enables the real-time tracking of any timber as it is processed through the supply chain at various points, such as saw mills and the point of exit from a country.
It is also be deployed in South America, Liberia, Ghana and South Africa as well as other Central African countries where the EU is the key market.
Helveta's chief executive, Patrick Newton, said: "Helveta has the only working end-to-end traceability system that meets the requirements of the ITTOs Innovative Timber Tracking System initiative."
"More importantly, the results which will be shared with various stakeholders in the CAR will raise awareness of Timber Legality Verification in light of the impending EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade negotiations with the CAR."
Helveta's software system is aimed at clamping down on the illegal timber trade and will electronically tag trees and map boundaries of permitted logging areas.
The system will boost the confidence of people looking to make ethical investments in timber, who can be assured of the principled system behind their investment.
Helveta is rolling out the software in the Central African Republic (CAR), working closely with Bureau Veritas - Bivac (BV), which is the global leader for conformity assessment and certification. Its Tax Verification Program, which it operates for the CAR Government, works to ensure that export taxes for wood products are collected.
The system enables the real-time tracking of any timber as it is processed through the supply chain at various points, such as saw mills and the point of exit from a country.
It is also be deployed in South America, Liberia, Ghana and South Africa as well as other Central African countries where the EU is the key market.
Helveta's chief executive, Patrick Newton, said: "Helveta has the only working end-to-end traceability system that meets the requirements of the ITTOs Innovative Timber Tracking System initiative."
"More importantly, the results which will be shared with various stakeholders in the CAR will raise awareness of Timber Legality Verification in light of the impending EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade negotiations with the CAR."
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