History
Strengthening the Power of Collective Thinking
The Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF) was formed in 1990 as the result of a Smithsonian Institution workshop that brought together leaders of industry, science and conservation to address the growing concern for the protection of tropical forests. TFF was created to enhance dialogue about the issues surrounding tropical forest and rainforest conservation, to improve sustainable tropical forest management and to enhance the economic value of the tropical forests. The biggest threat to the sustainability of tropical forests is not illegal logging as often dramatized, but rather conversion of forest land to agriculture and other non-forest uses. If the economic value of the forest is realized through sustainable forestry, the pressure to convert the land to other uses will be reduced.
Defining the TFF Approach to Effecting Change
After identifying a lack of on-the-ground preservation efforts in tropical regions across the world, TFF’s founders established an international organization dedicated to promoting tropical forest and rainforest conservation and management through on-site education and training.
By 1993, TFF had teamed with IMAZON and Caterpillar, Inc. to research the benefits and costs of Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) near Paragominas, Brazil. The following year, TFF launched a landmark field program designed to promote the implementation of RIL methods throughout the Amazon's major tropical forest regions. Developing training programs on sustainable forest management through the implementation of RIL soon became the organization’s primary focus. To date:
TFF has established active on-the-ground reduced impact logging training programs in Brazil, Guyana, Indonesia and most recently, in the Congo Basin (Gabon)
The Foundation has released and posted the Tropical Forest Foundation Standard for Reduced Impact Logging (TFF RIL Standard) with legal Chain of Custody (CoC)
TFF has developed and implemented a Forest-Market Linking Program that connects producers and consumers of sustainably harvested tropical wood products
Since 1996, more than 4,000 individuals from logging companies, universities and government agencies have received TFF RIL training in the tropics
Evolving to Address Today’s Environmental Issues
In addition to improving logging practices, TFF continues to support research in an effort to increase the commercial value of tropical forests that have been logged. If the economic value of the forest is realized through sustainable forestry, the pressure to convert the land to other uses will be avoided. Linking progress towards sustainable forest management with preferred market access has become increasingly attractive to producers and buyers alike. TFF has taken an important step in developing a market-oriented program that stimulates improvements in forest management, while verifying the legality and origin of forest products from participating forest companies.
To further strengthen and expand programs and educational outreach, TFF has recently developed a partnership with Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (VT). Together, TFF and Virginia Tech are pursuing carbon sequestration opportunities that employ improved forestry practices in tropical regions to help mitigate the effects of global warming.
Recognizing the Organizations and Individuals Responsible for the Success of TFF
The success of TFF programs is largely due to the collaborative effort of a diverse, but not divergent, group of industry and non-industry organizations represented on TFF's Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Current and former Board members include individuals from organizations such as the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), World Wildlife Fund (WWF-US), Bioversity International, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), APKINDO, the Sarawak Timber Association, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Stihl, Firestone, Marvin, Armstrong World Industries, and Caterpillar and its affiliates, TRAKINDO and Tractors Malaysia.
Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, then with the Smithsonian Institution, served as the founding Chairman of the Board of Directors. The current TFF Chairman, John Carpenter, is President of Caterpillar Forest Products based in LaGrange, GA. Bob Johnston, TFF Executive Director, is a past President of the Board and Director.
