Michael Snow
AHEC Executive Director

Title:
American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) – Responsible Procurement Policy (RPP)
I. Overview of the organization and the wood and wood products exported to JapanAHEC is an association established to report and provide technical assistance globally for
the US Hardwood market with more than one hundred company members and related
associations. And, as a part of the forest products export promotion program of theUSDA/FAS, AHEC performs various promotions around the world. The AHEC Japan Officehas been promoting American hardwoods through its eco-promotions such as theEco-Furniture Contests and several Eco-Interior Projects since 2001.
II. Current situation of Forest Management and Illegal Logging AwarenessWith sustainable forest management practices in the US for hardwood forests, resources
have increased every year. The Resources Planning Act (RPA) data shows that between
1953 and 2007, the volume of U.S. hardwood growing stock more than doubled from 5,210
million m3 to 11,326 million m3. U.S. Forest Service forecasts indicate that further
increases of 15 to 20 percent are expected in the hardwood growing stock inventory
through 2030. Projections of hardwood growth and removals nationwide indicate thatgrowth will continue to exceed removals through to 2050. All forest owners in the UnitedStates are subject to federal legislation to protect habitats for threatened species. However,more than four millions number of the owners (farmhouse) owned by an individual, around
80% of those forest. Therefore, it may be said that it is very difficult for each farmers toacquire forest certification system.
III. The supply system and the actual state of the supply of wood and wood productswith verified legality (Goho-Wood) based on the Guideline
AHEC carried out research by the third party about legality of American hardwoods in areasof the Eastern and the Midwest from November, 2007. The tough regulations governing
other aspects of forest management on private land have been implemented by individualstates. The RPA data shows that these regulations have been increasing overall. Based on
a comprehensive analysis of U.S. forestry regulatory systems and practices, the third party
study concludes that there can be high confidence of legal compliance in the hardwood
sector and estimates that stolen timber represents less than 1% of total U.S. hardwood
production. And the third party study indicates that hardwood purchased from the U.S.
should be considered Low Risk in all five risk categories of the FSC Controlled Woodstandard. As the above, the legality of the American hardwood (AHEC-RPP) was assured
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by it. And AHEC started the program of AHEC-RPP as the guideline of The Green
Procurement Law in Japan from January, 2009. In export to Japan, AHEC members whotake part in this program stamp the shipping documents with a stamp to show the legality(AHEC-RPP). The member company number is engraved into the stamp. Of course the listof members participating in AHEC-RPP is submitted to Japanese Government (ForestryAgency of MAFF) and organizations concerned.
IV. Future tasks and expectations of the Japanese market
AHEC Japan Office has been developing Hang Tag Promotion since 2000, and is providing
information of the good forest managements of American hardwood, the stable supply, andthe legality to Japanese consumers with about forty Japanese furniture and interiormaterials manufacturers. And the logo mark of AHEC-RPP is mentioned in the tools (tag,flier and POP stand) of Hang Tag Promotion. On the other hand, AHEC thinks that thestructure of The Green Procurement Law in Japan is extremely reasonable judging fromcost performance and hopes it will develop worldwide in the future.

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