International Symposium on Legality Verified Wood 2010
Part Two Report: Activities in Japan to Tackle Illegal Logging Issues
Presenter Information
Name

Sayumi Takahashi

Affiliation

North Japan Wood Material Distribution CooperativeTitle

Managing DirectorCareer

1984

summarySciences, Fisheries Department (major in bio-resources)
1987

Graduated from Hokkaido University, School ofGraduatedfrom

Hokkaido

Agriculture,Forestry

University,Department(majorFisheries
Facultyofinforestrydivision(postedaccounting)
1987–2002

NiceCorporation,

foreignwoodto Portland, Oregon 1994–1998)
2004

topresentNorthJapanWood

MaterialDistribution

Cooperative

Report OutlineApproaches to Wood Legality Verification as a Domestic Log SupplierA. North Japan Wood Material Distribution Cooperative
Our wood material distribution cooperative was established on April 1, 2003, bymaterials producers and associated organizations in Iwate Prefecture.
At that time, there was no market for small-diameter, bent, and short timber unfit for
regular lumber and other grade B wood, which was left in piles at logging sites. Our
cooperative was established to arrange large-lot, stable supply of material to plywood
plants located in coastal Iwate Prefecture. We are now engaged in joint sales of wood
produced by cooperative members to plywood factories in Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi
Prefecture, Akita Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture, and Hokkaido.
In FY2003, our first year, the cooperative had 27 members with joint sales of 26,000
cubic meters. In FY2009, the cooperative had 98 members with joint sales of 222,000
cubic meters.

B. Goho-wood Certification Efforts
1. Legality Verified Wood Supply Trends
Our cooperative understands that wood materials producers are at the starting line oflegality verified wood certification, as the origin of wood distribution. We have advanced
efforts for the goho-wood system right from the start under the direction of the National
Federation of Wood Material Producers Cooperatives, the central organization to which
we belong, advised our members as a certification body, and have now certified all 100 of
our members as goho-wood suppliers. We also explain to new members that all logs thatthe cooperative jointly sells to plywood factories are goho-wood, and that certification asa goho-wood supplier is a prerequisite to joining the cooperative.
2. Efforts to Secure Credibility, and Evaluation
We require all goho-wood suppliers to attend training lectures, and have them acquire
knowledge regarding the goho-wood system. Our certification renewal training last year
was conducted together with two other certifying bodies, and we held a separate
additional training session for members with no prior training. We also distribute agoho-wood handbook and a video “Japan’s Actions against Illegal Logging” to newmembers for self-study, and certify them after their self-study is completed. The
self-study is confirmed through submission of “self-study reports” with answers toquestions regarding the goho-wood system.
As the basis for goho-wood certification, we urge members to submit upon log production
and shipment copies of government documents (notification of legal logging, protected
forest logging permits, national or prefecture-owned forest standing timber sales
contracts, etc.) that are the proof of legality. We file these documents and regularlycompare them with shipment documents to the plywood plants. This is to ensure that all
the raw materials are goho-wood.
Meanwhile, at the logging sites we call for safety measures and for clear signage
identifying the businesses conducting the logging.
3. Certificate Use
The certified supplier number and the phrase “from a sustainable forest” are submitted
together to plywood factories on delivery slips, in lieu of certificates, as proof that thematerials jointly sold through the cooperative are goho-wood. The plywood factories

maintain the chain of custody (CoC) by attaching copies of our cooperative’s delivery
slips together with their certificates, in response to requests from trading companies andhousing suppliers for goho-wood certification.
4. Issues
While the use of goho-wood certificates is spreading at plywood factories, paper mills,
large-scale lumber and laminated wood factories, certificates are often not requested forshipments to local, medium and small lumber plants, and many suppliers still do notvoluntarily issue certificates. We must make further efforts both upstream anddownstream to advance education on the importance and advantages of goho-wood.
Turning to the maintenance of management books and other documents, almost all thesuppliers conduct receipt, shipment, and inventory management by binding theirshipping slips (in place of certificates). The individual suppliers require highly detailed
guidance.