This research project is carried out on behalf of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and analyzes aspects relating to the conversion of timber procurement on the federal level in Germany to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. Such a conversion is foreseen by the 2002 coalition agreement of the federal government. Tropical timber shall, as a first step, only be procured from FSC certified sources; and the entire timber procurement shall be converted to this standard until the end of the legislative period, accordingly.

The R&D project will provide a comprehensive analysis of legal and various other aspects of the conversion of timber procurement on the federal level in Germany to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, as foreseen in the coalition agreement. The results of the project will permanently contribute to the political decision-making process. Ways of implementation, possible problems, and solutions will be explored. The most important outcome of the project will be the development of options for how to achieve a conversion to sustainable public procurement for timber products until the end of the legislative period. Thus, the project contributes directly to implementing the goals of the coalition agreement.