Perú works toward online information system that enables legal timber verification for domestic and international markets

Peru’s National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor), attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (Minagri), completed the forest management and control mechanisms’ update process, in order to continue advancing toward the development of a technological system that records the information generated throughout the timber production chain, from its origin in the forest to its commercialization in the market.

The technological system, named Control Module of the National Forest and Wildlife Information System (MC-SNIFFS), is estimated to be up and running in 2021 and will enable forest administration procedures to be more efficient, as well as contribute to prove the legal origin of Peruvian timber in both domestic and international markets.

The use of timber from natural forests in Peru implies the development of seven processes for its forest administration: the management of the areas on which forest titles for timber harvesting can be granted; the management and granting of those enabling titles; the presentation and approval of the forest management plans that detail how the timber will be used in these forest titles; the execution, monitoring and reporting of the aforementioned plans’ implementation; the issuance, registration and control of forest transportation guides for the harvested timber; the registration and management of raw materials in the timber industry and, finally, transport management and control for timber commercialization in the market.

In this context and since September 2019, the reviewal sessions, aimed at thoroughly analyzing the MC-SNIFFS processes, have been carried out with authorized representatives from both Serfor in Lima and subnational forest authorities.

Aiming to increase transparency and efficiency of the MC-SNIFFS processes, efforts are underway to put in place an effective and integrated IT system. For this reason, it is essential that SERFOR and subnational forest authorities continue working together in updating the mapping and development of the forest administration’s seven processes within the current legal framework, considering the regional context and striving for forest competitiveness and management improvements. This foundation will allow for the construction of the IT system that will service the processes and its subsequent deployment in the timber-producing regions of the Peruvian Amazon.

Guided by this overarching goal, during the reviewal sessions, feedback was collected from the participants and documentation was identified to define IT architecture and development.

In parallel, Serfor and the subnational forest authorities have been preparing measures and instruments for public investment and administration, as well as the issuance of guidelines and instruments for forest and industry stewardship, which will help strengthen the enabling conditions for the full implementation and nationwide scaling of the MC-SNIFFS.

Next steps

Over the remainder of May and throughout June, the review of these processes will be carried out with additional forest authorities’ representatives (Loreto, Ucayali, Madre de Dios and other Amazonian regions), in order to consolidate an articulated proposal between the national authority (Serfor) and its subnational peers.

The USAID Pro-Bosques Activity continues providing technical assistance to Peruvian forest authorities in this long-term commitment to improve the competitiveness, sustainability, inclusion and legality of the forest sector. The joint work being spearheaded by Serfor, alongside subnational authorities toward MC-SNIFFS implementation, will enable forest administration procedures to become more efficient and guarantee the legal origin and traceability of Peruvian timber products marketed in both domestic and international markets.

Additionally, achieving effective implementation of this system will contribute to public and private efforts in the sustainable management of Amazon forests and strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the timber value chain, which is key for the Peruvian Amazon economy.