16.05.2025
This committee is chaired by Emmanuel Groutel (Wale), with technical support from Jean Gérard (Cirad), secretary of the committee. It also includes various members of ATIBT.
We remind all our members that they can join the committee on request.
The main points discussed are listed below. The full minutes are available on request for ATIBT members.
A look back at the 12 guidance and recommendation documents on contracts and practices for international trade in tropical timber:
These documents have been well received by back offices, novice and experienced sales staff, and administrative and peripheral services such as customs. Please feel free to send us your suggestions, both on content and format. These brochures are evolving and their improvement depends on you. We will highlight them regularly, particularly via this newsletter.
Progress report on the study of gluing applied to solid wood:
ATIBT has launched a study dedicated to gluing tropical wood in response to numerous questions about quality marks and certifications applicable to finger-jointed laminated timber.
Conducted in conjunction with the ASP Cameroon project, this initiative aims to take stock of available knowledge, identify opportunities for added value—particularly for little-used species (LKTS)—and propose a typology of existing products based on reconstituted solid wood.
The study covers the following topics:
A preliminary report is currently being prepared. It will also highlight feedback from manufacturers on the use of LKTS, as well as the challenges of recognizing substitute species in the face of species that are currently regulated.
Upcoming study on the sustainability of LKTS and transition wood species:
As part of the One Forest Vision call for projects launched at the One Forest Summit 2023 in Libreville, CIRAD, in collaboration with the Institut de Recherches Technologiques (IRT) and the Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku (USTM), will launch a new study on the natural sustainability of several wood species in fall 2025.
Led by Gabonese doctoral and post-doctoral students, this project aims to better understand the variability in the sustainability of two so-called transitional species, as well as certain LKTS (Less Known Timber Species), which are little known or commercially exploited.
Other technical issues were discussed during this committee meeting. The full minutes of this meeting are available to ATIBT members.
They can be obtained on request.
