Over the last 25 years, Forest Industries Intelligence Ltd has acquired wide ranging project experience in market analysis and the provision of strategic advice on market development, promotion, and public affairs in the global forest products sector.
Projects have included:
- Since 2008, independent market analyst and technical advisor on environmental and other market access issues to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). Examples of reports produced by FII Ltd for AHEC include “Telling the whole story: the environmental life cycle of American hardwoods”, “Maximising carbon storage through sustainable forest management” and quarterly commentaries on the European market for American hardwoods.
- Between 2004 and 2023, European correspondent for the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) Market Information Service involving preparation of twice monthly reports.
- In 2023, providing strategic advice to the Broader Market Recognition Coalition (BMRC), an initiative to incentivize good forest governance in tropical timber producing countries.
- Between March 2014 and December 2022, Chief Technical Consultant to the FLEGT Independent Market Monitor (IMM), a major EU-funded project hosted by the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) to monitor the market impact of FLEGT licensing procedures.
- Management of the Sustainable Timber Information Exchange (STIX), an on-line timber trade flow database, including transparent algorithms for validation and procedures for free access, an initiative of the ITTO.
- Lead of author ITTO’s Technical Report 36 “Levelling the playing field” published in November 2010 which assessed the relative competitiveness of tropical wood products and provides much of the information necessary for tropical wood producers to build more effective market development strategies.
- Preparation of a report in May 2013 for the UK Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) on “The import of composite wood products into the EU and implications for the EU Timber Regulation”.
- Preparation of a report in January 2013 for Forest Trends on “European Timber Trade Flows and Risks”.
- Independent Market Monitoring Methodology preparation – lead member of the EFECA team commissioned by the European Forestry Institute with EC funding to develop the methodology to assess the impact of the FLEGT VPA process on international timber trade and forestry investment flows.
- Preparation of a comprehensive survey of efforts to promote use of wood in the EU region for the Japan Lumber Inspection and Research Association in November 2012
- Preparation of regular reports between 2006 and 2010 on market demand and price premiums for verified legal and sustainable timber products in the United Kingdom and the EU for the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and Timber Trade Federation (TTF).
- Preparation of market reports for the Ghana Forestry Commission.
- Preparation of regular quarterly reports on the trade impacts of the EU Timber Regulation for the European Timber Trade Federation.
- Advising the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) on the strategic implications of international wood trade flows and global timber markets for future development of forest certification.
- Analysis of South American wood trade flows and trends for TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network.
- A “Market impact assessment on the proposed EU-Malaysia FLEGT VPA“, including country reports for the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Italy, undertaken for the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
- Regular monitoring of the European wood products market for the Beijing Academy of Management.
- Assessment of the implications of the EU Timber Regulation for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (July 2012) and for the wider U.S. wood industry for the American Forest and Paper Association (November 2012).
- Between 1998 and 2009, long-term consultant to the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) assisting in international market development.
- Lead author to the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry Annual Market Review on Sawn Hardwoods. Formerly also the Lead Author on Forest Certification.
- Between 1998 and 2005, Editor of Tropical Timbers/hardwoodmarkets.com, an independent trade journal providing news and statistics to hardwood traders and policy makers in over 30 countries including in Europe, America, Africa, Asia and Australasia.
- Preparation of “An assessment of FSC against ISO norms for standards-setting, certification and accreditation, against the PEOLG (Pan-European) sustainable forestry guidelines, and against the UK government criteria for legal and sustainable timber” for the Confederation of European Forest Owners completed in 2007.
- The development of a comparative database and matrix of forest certification schemes on behalf of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), and follow up reports comparing forest certification schemes.
- Development of criteria and indicators of credible forest certification schemes for the International Forest Industry Roundtable, which provided the basis for the development of a Legitimacy Threshold Model by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
- Joint author of the UK impact assessment of the EC’s proposal for a regulation laying down the obligations of operators that place timber and timber products on the market undertaken for the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
- Preparation of a set of reports on African and South East Asian timber supplying countries and European hardwood markets for the UK Department for International Development (DFID) as background material for a series of industry roadshows held in Africa and South East Asia during 2005 and 2006.
- Preparation of a wide-ranging report on Environmental Timber Procurement Policies in the European Union for the AF&PA and supporting database of EU organisation policies in 2004.
- Advising the Indonesian Plywood Manufacturers Association (APKINDO) and Indonesian government on future market development strategy at the Lemhannas Round Table Discussion in Jakarta in 2006.
- Preparation of a Directory of National Forest Policies for the UK Timber Trade Federation Forests Forever Campaign between 1995 and 1998. This comprehensive analysis of forest regulatory systems in major timber supply countries, undertaken in support of the TTF Responsible Purchasing Policy, anticipated on-going efforts to develop national Controlled Wood and EUTR risk assessments by over 15 years.
- Preparation of an environmental brochure and detailed review of international hardwood markets for planning purposes for a major international wood products company