By: Dita Ramadhani

Jepara – On January 21st and 22nd, 2014, some journalists from Jakarta and Semarang had the opportunity to participate in media briefing about timber legality trade in Indonesia and European Unioin. The media briefing conducted in Jepara, Central Java, one of the districts that hosted biggest timber furniture producers in Indonesia.

The aim of this event was to share knowledge to journalists about Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK), European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) and VPA (Voluntary Partnership Agreement) between Indonesian government and EU. Head of EU Delegation Collin Crooks attended the event and stated that EUTR was made to support timber producers countries’ legality regulation such as Indonesia. In addition to the briefing, the group visited Jepara’s SME, PT. Cambium Furni Industri. Cambium is producing timber furniture and exporting to some countries in EU, Turkey, Russia and Australia. Cambium has achieved Chain of Custody certification from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and is in the process to get SVLK certificate.

In this two days visit, the group that consist of journalists, EU delegation, WWF and ASMINDO (Association of Indonesian Furniture Industry and Handycraft) were greeted warmly by Jepara’s Head of District, Ahmad Marzuki. On his welcoming remarks, Ahmad Marzuki said that SVLK is needed for Indonesian timber product to be accepted in foreign market and to open more business opportunities for Indonesian timber product for development and improvement.

Journalists trip to Jepara is part of WWF and ASMINDO effort to further introduce SVLK and Indonesian timber product legality trade, with focus in Small Medium Enterprise (SME). This visit conducted under SWITCH ASIA project, where sustainable consumption and production is implemented in forest product use. WWF through Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) program, together with ASMINDO is giving facilitation to SMEs in Indonesia in increasing their capacity, awareness on SVLK, as well as to achieve SVLK certification. SWITCH ASIA project is supported by European Union.