Transparency through Technology

Transparency is a key sticking point in improving forest governance and enforcement around the world. Corporate and political reforms for transparency, as well as the implementation of traceability systems, can ensure that legal and sustainable commodities can be distinguished from those which have been produced in violation of local rights or forest and land use governance. At the same time, targeted investment in new timber and commodity identification technologies can have game-changing impacts on keeping traceability schemes honest and verifiable. EIA examines opportunities to expand transparency and traceability technologies and systems across forest countries and in consumer markets.

Featured Work

Origin Project

The Origin Project aims to achieve greater supply chain transparency, helping consumers find or demand origin information for wood products.

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Forest Inspector

In 2016, EIA engaged with a new Romanian government to develop and release the “Forest Inspector” system, which brings real-time timber transport data to the public and allows citizens all around the country to spot and report illegal transports.

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The spread of smartphones to nearly all corners of the world’s forests brings high-tech tools into the hands of loggers and forest defenders alike, and the development of complex digital traceability systems for timber supply chains are within reach though not yet integrated into any national governance systems. By showing what’s possible when data is made available through our investigations and reports, EIA aims to illustrate why such data needs to be transparently available for forest governance to function effectively.

To strengthen data collection a range of timber ID technologies have been developed over the past decade that intend to identify and trace timber species and origin across the supply chain.  EIA has been at the heart of these efforts, engaging with scientists and law enforcement, sending samples for testing, and identifying gaps. Through further engagement with funders, scientists, and other NGOs, we seek to develop universal sampling protocols and to ensure that samples collected by various groups can feed into a common database.

While individual data collection may allow for one-off verification, comprehensive systems – that cover entire supply chains or national timber sectors – can address the broader systemic risks that allow illegal logging and deforestation to continue. EIA is currently developing a forest sector supply chain traceability system in Gabon, while also working to replicate these systems to other countries. In addition to traceability in forest countries, supply chain transparency will be most effective at shifting global markets when consumers possess real information about the source of their products. EIA has developed the Origin App to provide species and country of harvest information straight to individuals, connecting a product’s traceability from point of origin through to the final consumer.

Related Resources

Video

Has HS Timber Achieved Full Traceability?

    HS Timber, formerly Holzindustrie Schweighofer, is an Austrian company that is the largest timber processor in Romania. Following a year-long investigation into widespread allegations of illegal timber purchasing, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) disassociated itself from HS Timber in 2017. The first requirement the FSC set for HS Timber’s reassociation was for the […]

Illegal wood in PNSD and Yavarí Tapiche
Press Release

The Origin App

EIA Launches Mobile App to Help Consumers Seek and Demand Wood Product Origin Information to Achieve Greater Supply Chain Transparency Washington D.C. — Today, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) launched The Origin App, a mobile application that empowers people to make better choices about what and from whom they buy. EIA believes that people deserve […]

Illegal wood in PNSD and Yavarí Tapiche
Press Release

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Romania’s New Timber Traceability System Removes Public Transparency

On January 31, Romania released a new electronic timber traceability system, an important step in its transition to a fully digital forest sector. Unfortunately, the new system has inexplicably removed all public transparency. Following years of intense public pressure on the government to end the rampant illegal logging that is plaguing the country, the new […]

Report

How to Use Romania’s Forest Inspector

  Forest Inspector, a real-time map-based presentation of all timber transports in Romania, has been updated to include significant levels of transparency to an already impressive online tool. EIA has created a short video tutorial introducing the website’s new and existing features. Due to increasing deforestation globally, pressure has increased for improved transparency and traceability […]

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Blog

Critical Updates Made to Romania’s Forest Inspector System

The revisions mark an important step forward for a world-leading system that involves all its citizens in combating illegal logging and managing its forests New updates to Romania’s Forest Inspector public website, released today, mark a significant step forward in the involvement of Romania’s people in the fight against illegal logging mafias in their country. […]