Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA), presents SA forest and forest product perspective at the WTO
“Unilateral decisions, no matter how well intended, have dire consequences for African trade. Fortunately, on the forestry front, South Africa is in a better position than many, thanks to excellent SFM systems.” These are the words of Jane Molony, executive director of PAMSA, when she represented PAMSA and the greater South African forest sector at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva in September 2023.
The discussion centred on Global Environmental Challenges & Inclusive Solutions with specific focus on Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and National Experience Sharing from three countries – India, Indonesia and South Africa.
Jane was part of a panel with representatives from India and Indonesia, respectively Aashish Chandorkar, a Counsellor at Permanent Mission of South Africa to the WTO, and Dr Riza Noer Arfani, Director of Centre for World Trade Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Chair-holder of the WTO Chairs Programme.
Healthy forests are instrumental in addressing some of the most pressing issues of the day: slowing climate change and the loss of biodiversity, advancing social equity and providing sustainable and renewable resources.
In conjunction with PAMSA, the Sustainable African Forest Assurance Scheme (SAFAS), which is endorsed by PEFC, developed a framework known as the Value Base Platform that small landowners can use to assist in all manner of reporting requirements.
It can track both emissions and carbon stored plus it gives an idea of biodiversity impacts. This plus company SFM systems ensure that compliance with EU Deforestation free regulations is possible.
“By making tools such as monitoring, reporting and verification more accessible to small timber growers, we invest in the rural economies that keep global supply chains trading.”
She touched on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and its objective to boost trade across the continent as being part of the solution adding “While there are several mechanisms in place, policies for developing countries need to be appropriate and not inhibit trade.”
Recording available here.
Source: ICFPA Quarterly Update – March 2024
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