(Environmental Finance) - Financiers of forestry projects can access a free toolkit that will help ensure their money is invested in operations that are sustainable and legal.

Developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the initiative aims "to help financial institutions support the management of forest resources through sustainable and legal timber production and processing, and markets for carbon and other ecosystem services".

Jon Williams, a partner in PwC's sustainability and climate change team, said demand for the toolkit came from forestry companies dealing with multiple enquiries from investors on sustainability issues. "It's addressing a need that companies find, to have a common approach in assessing risk in the sector."