11 April 2013: The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet), convened a workshop in China aimed at improving national forest statistics. The workshop identified and brought together the numerous actors involved in gathering and managing forest related statistics to discuss the different methodologies and processes currently employed.

The workshop specifically discussed legal and organizational frameworks for forest statistics and gaps in data analysis and reporting. It also looked at forest statistics from the perspective of customs offices and provincial administration. With regard to specific products, the workshop considered wood fiber, wood-based panels and challenges in estimating roundwood and plywood production in China.

A representative from ITTO presented on the importance of accurate statistics, as well as the ITTO projects related to statistics in China. The presentation divides forest statistics into three steps: collection of data, processing and analysis. A representative from FAO presented on the FAO statistical program for forest products, which reports on roundwood, wood charcoal, wood chips and residues, sawnwood, wood-based panels, pulp, and paper and paperboard.

In addition, workshop participants recommended a number of follow up activities, including carrying out a study on China’s plywood products industry, conducting additional training on forest statistics for national and provincial government officials, preparing a Forest Product Statistics Guidebook, and enhancing collaboration among government agencies. [ITTO Press Release] [FAO Press Release] [Workshop Website] [Publication: Proceedings of the Workshop on Forest Products Statistics in China]