Pilot-Credits MRpc127: Timber Traceability 1 point

Credit language

Intent

To reduce the risk that illegally sourced, harvested or traded wood products are used in building projects while rewarding transparency and traceability in the forest sector through the application of technological innovation. This pilot credit is designed to align with and support existing approaches to “due care” or “due diligence” (such as third-party certifications/verifications) to assess and mitigate the risk of buying illegal wood.

Requirements

• Project teams shall identify the country of harvest and wood species (scientific name) for all wood products that are not reclaimed, salvaged or reused.
• To be eligible for this credit, wood products must constitute at least 5%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed building products in the project or be valued at a minimum of $100,000.
• At least 50%, by cost, of the permanently installed wood products must meet one of the following traceability/transparency requirements.
  • Low threshold: Samples of the product shall be tested using wood identification technology (see Annex 1) and the results shall not contradict the declared species and origin. Samples shall be accompanied by a map, or maps, of the “supply area(s)” of origin. Products that meet the low threshold are worth 100% of their base contributing cost.
  • Medium threshold: Samples of the product shall be tested and the results shall not contradict the declared species and origin. Samples shall be accompanied by a map of the Forest Management Unit of origin. Products that meet the medium threshold are worth 150% of their base contributing cost.
  • High threshold: In addition to meeting the requirements of one of the preceding thresholds, the product shall be tested and the test results shall corroborate both the declared species as well as the origin of the product. Products that meet the high threshold are worth 200% of their base contributing cost.
• Samples of wood products or components that originate in countries with elevated risk of illegal logging and/or trade (see Annex 2) shall be tested and the results shall not contradict the declared species and origin. In addition, each product and/or component must be backed by one of the following requirements:
  • Certified to FSC, SFI or PEFC standards.
  • Certified by a third-party legality verification program (see Annex 3).
  • Documentary proof that the products are backed by a FLEGT license accepted under the European Union Timber Regulation.
• A CITES permit shall be provided for all wood products containing or composed of species listed under CITES (Convention on Trade in Endangered Species, see Annex 4)

NOTE: While the systems listed above signal USGBC’s intention to avoid the use of illegally sourced wood in LEED projects, they do not guarantee legality. In order to avoid using illegally sourced wood, which is a crime in many countries, all actors in the value chain should take additional measures to mitigate risk.

Annex 1: Wood Identification Technologies

A wide range of laboratory technologies are being adapted for identification of species and geographic origin for timber products. Wood anatomy, stable isotopes, DNA and mass spectrometry can be useful tools to provide buyers with independent verification of claims from suppliers.

Wood Anatomy

Wood anatomy analysis uses characteristic differences in wood grain, pores and color to verify timber to genus or sub-genus level. Microscopic analysis of wood grain is quick to conduct, requires limited expertise and is very useful for providing at least an indication of the species group involved. However, wood anatomy can rarely provide confirmation of an exact species and is not an indication of geographic region of origin. Stable Isotope Analysis compares the ratios of common elements within wood samples to verify the harvest origin. Many common elements, such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen occur naturally in different forms, known as isotopes. These are absorbed and incorporated into the molecular structure of timber as trees grow from the soil, water and air. Isotopic analysis involves measuring natural variations in the ratio of these isotopes. DNA Analysis compares genetic sequences between wood samples to determine the species or origin of the wood. The DNA sequence of timber can be compared using genetic techniques. However, the success rate for extraction of usable DNA sequences from wood products is currently low. DART-TOF Mass Spectrometry is one of the newest techniques being used in wood identification and is a specific version of Mass Spectrometry (MS), an analytical technique that measures the masses of all of the unique chemicals within a wood sample. The specific compounds and relative amounts of each compound found within wood can have environmental as well as genetic links, thereby establishing a chemical fingerprint that has the possibility to be unique both for species identification as well as region of origin. Though promising for its ease of use and low cost, the application of DART-TOF Mass Spectrometry in wood forensics is currently at an early stage of development.

Annex 2: Country of Forest Origin Risk Categorization

Follow these steps to determine if a country has an elevated risk of illegal logging and/or trade for the purposes of filling the requirements of this credit:

1. Go to the Transparency International website: https://www.transparency.org
2. Click on the world map with the heading “Corruption Perceptions Index [YEAR]”
3. Scroll down to the Results Table. If a country has a score of 50 or less in the most recent year, then it is considered to have elevated risk.

Other useful resources for learning about and assessing the risk of illegal timber harvesting and trade include:

• NEPCon Sourcing Hub’s Timber Risk Assessments - https://www.nepcon.org/sourcinghub/timber
  • To learn more about the risk profile of any given country, click on the country on the map. You will find extensive information resources useful for exercising due diligence throughout wood products supply chains.
• World Resources Institute - https://forestlegality.org/risk-tool
  • This Risk Information Tool which was developed through a multi-stakeholder process which included NGOs, government, and business representatives.
• World Bank Legal Rights Index - https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IC.LGL.CRED.XQ
• Global Forest Registry - http://www.globalforestregistry.org
  • This resource redirects to the NEPCon Sourcing Hub.

Annex 3: Legality Verification Programs

• SGS: Timber Legality & Traceability Verification - http://www.sgs.com/en/public-sector/monitoring-services/timber-traceability-and-legality
• Rainforest Alliance: Verification of Legal Compliance (VLC) - http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/business/forestry/verification/legal
• Bureau Veritas: Origine et Légalité du Bois (OLB) - http://www.bureauveritas.com/services+sheet/olb-certification_14483
• Scientific Certification Systems: Legal Harvest Verification - https://www.scsglobalservices.com/timber-legality-verification-legal-harvest
• Certisource: Legality Verification System - http://www.certisource.org/
• NEPcon: LegalSource - http://www.nepcon.net/legalsource
• Other USGBC-approved legality verification program
• FSC, SFI, PEFC certification standards also require legal compliance and third party audits.

Annex 4: CITES-listed Timber Species

CITES-Listed Tree Species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a table of Current CITES Listings of Tree Species, but for the most up-to-date listing information, search the CITES Species Database, Species+, developed by UNEP-WCMC and the CITES Secretariat. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service table: http://www.fws.gov/international/plants/current-cites-listings-of-tree-species.html CITES Species Database: http://www.speciesplus.net/species See all forum discussions about this credit »

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