FOREST CERTIFICATION

Transcription

1 FOREST CERTIFICATION Jari Parviainen Finnish Forest Research Institute Former Chairman of the Finnish Forest Certification Council Joensuu March 2010

2 Topics to be covered: What is certification basic terms Current situation in the world Finnish Forest Certification System (FFCS) Comparision PEFC/FSC Future perspectives

3 What is forest certification? Voluntary, marked-driven tool for promoting sustainable forest management A procedure in which a third independent party assesses in writing that forestry of a given area complies with the predetermined standards of sustainable forest management The standards (performance requirements) has been worked out in an open and transparent process

4 Why Forest Certification? Promotes Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and wood as renewable and recyclable raw material timber weak compared to plastic, aluminium, steel and concrete Improve market access for timber products Demonstrates that the actors in forestry commit themselves to the sustainable forestry Leads to efficient and high-quality activities in forestry organisations

5 International Certification Systems PEFC PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) The aim of PEFC (launched 1998) is to create an international framework for the national and regional forest certification systems of the countries worldwide, and to promote their mutual recognition FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) FSC The FSC is an international, independent accreditation organisation founded in 1993 by environmental and human rights organisations, wood producers and timber trade organisations from 25 countries

6 Preconditions for Product Labelling Together, both forest certification and chain of custody certification provide an assurance to a purchaser of wood and paper products, that the timber used for the product originates from wellmanaged forests and that this can be traced through the production process.

7 What is forest certification? Accreditation Certifier Standards s Customer Claim Producer (Manufacturer) standards should be measurable, clear and well defined, realistic and practical, committed to by all major parties involved and cost-effective. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische für Zusammenarbeit jari parviainen (GTZ) GmbH metla / Autor: Tasso Azevedo / Forest Certfication Project tasso@imaflora.org / P991125E

8 What is chain of custody certification? A chain of custody certificate is an assessment from an independent, qualified and accredited expert who verifies in writing that the wood flow accounting system, applied by an enterprise to trace the flow of wood from certified forests through the enterprise meets the exacting requirements of the certification scheme.

9 Area of Forest Certified to SFM Standards Worldwide 7 % Area of forest certified worldwide to all SFM standards Other area of closed canopy forest worldwide 300 mill. ha 3214 mill. ha 93 % Total area of closed canopy forest (FAO) 3454 mill. ha Note: Potential area of forest likely to become certified is approximately mill. hectares. This is the core productive forest that produces world annual harvest of 1,500 mill. m 3 of industrial roundwood.

10 millions hectares Forest area certified against schemes associated with PEFC and FSC Area certified to PEFC members not endorsed yet (estimated) Area certified to PEFC endorsed schemes PEFC FSC 11 April 2005

11 PEFC has in its membership 35 independent national forest certification systems of which 25 to provide the assessments on which mutual recognition decisions are taken by the membership.

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16 Certified forests by forest ownership categories and certification schemes in Europe FSC PEFC State Communal Industrial Families

17 Forest Certification in Finland

18 In brief: Forest Certification in Finland In operation 10 years since after 3 years development and preparatory phase Over 95 % of the Finnish forests certified (about 22 mill ha, more than forest owners) The Finnish certification standards endorsed first time by the PEFC Council in May 2000, and third time in 2010 (expected) More than 170 chain-of custody have been issued by independent certification bodies (Det Norske Veritas, SFS Certification, Bureau Veritas and Lloyds Register)

19 Regional Certification (Group Certification) Most suitable for private, small scale family forest ownership small holdings (< 30 ha in average) ensuring biological diversity on landscape level great number of small timber sales realistic, cost effective and rapid implementation

20 Application of forest certification to small scale private properties Key elements 1. Several standards describe biodiversity at landscape level such as precribed burning of humus layer, protected areas 2. Regional group certification 3. Commitment of all stakeholders involved Implementation of ecological and social requirements is realistic only on wider areas, and these can be achieved by areas that cross land ownership boundaries

21 Criteria for Group Certification The first set of criteria (1997) was revised by working group (23 organizations) in Third revised standards will be taken in use in Revised set (2009)consist of 29 criteria Characteristics -newest research results taken into account -experiences from the implementation of certification -international development updated

22 Criteria for Group Certification (PEFC Finland) 1. The requirements by legislation 2. The sustainable allowable cut 3. Spreading the infection of root rot 4. Finnish native tree species 5. Harvesting damages in thinnings 6. Forest management planning 7. Tending of seedling stands 8. First thinnings and delivery logging in private forests 9. Conservation value of protected areas and sites 10. Habitats of special importance 11. Known habitats of endangered species 12. Retention trees 13. Gene modified seed and plant material not used

23 Criteria for Group Certification (PEFC Finland) 14. Forest road plans with an environmental impact assessment 15. Prescribed burning 16. Bufferzones along watercourses and small water bodies 17. Peatland nature is preserved 18. Water protection 19. The quality of groudwater chemical pesticides or fertilizers 20. Use of chemical herbicides and pesticides 21. Employees competence and ability 22. High quality and safe working 23. Statutory obligations of employers 24. Forest owners know-how 25. Responsible rights of access to forests 26. Know-how on forests among children and adolescents 27. Safeguarding of Sámi culture and the traditional livelihoods Sámi homelands 28. Integration of reindeer husbandry and forestry

24 Timber sale contract contracts each year Committed to certification Forest owner Company Enterpreneur Forest worker

25 Silvicultural recommendations Manual for good management of forests based on newest research results and experiences Includes the certification standards, and takes into account much more comprehensive approach for management

26 What is PEFC? PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests sustainably managed forests are those whose management implements internationally agreed environmental, social and economical requirements, which form the cornerstones of sustainability

27 Criteria for sustainable forest management (SFM) PEFC uses the results of intergovernmental, multistakeholder processes For Europe: the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE), the Helsinki-process criteria -Results of Helsinki-process: criteria, indicators and operational level guidelines for sustainable forest management developed by large, representative multistakeholder process For other areas: Montreal, Tarapoto, dry-zone-africa, ITTO etc. these 8 processes cover the global forest area

28 Intergovernmental Processes for SFM Criteria & Indicators

29 Definition of SFM Promoting Sustainable Forest Management for more info:

30 PEFC-labelled products on the market

31 What is FSC? NGO:s initiative in 1993 Main office in Bonn, Germany Financing: donations, participation fees and payments for accreditation Structure of FSC -three chambers for decision making -sets up the standards, accreditation and controls the certification bodies, gives logos National FSC-standards according to the general principles (Sweden, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland) Alliances WWF and industry for FSC

32 FSC Principles and Criteria Principles: 1. Compliance with laws and FSC principles 2. Tenure and use rights and responsibilities 3. Indigenous peoples rights 4. Community relations and worker s rights 5. Benefits from the forest 6. Environmental impact 7. Management plan 8. Monitoring and Assessment 9. Maintenance of high conservation value forests 10. Plantations

33 PEFC vs. FSC - an assessment of four major components Elements of credible forest certification Internationally agreed standards Accreditation Certification body Claims PEFC Rio declaration Helsinki criteria Guatemala Thematic areas Intern. accreditation body A third party accredited by national certification council Complaits procedure established FSC Ten principles by FSC By FSC A third party accredited by FSC Not available

34 Forest Certification Challenges Integrating Forest Certification s role into related initiatives such as combating illegal logging, CO 2 certification, etc Harmonising International of Chain of Custody Participating in Mutual Recognition (MR) initiatives and discussions Increasing visibility and awareness of PEFC through logo usage, and procurement decision makers communication.

35 Forest Certification Future Challenges Forest certification is today s reality. It brings SFM improvements and benefits the market players. It is most beneficial when it follows normal certification practices of other economic sectors Competition between schemes has positive effects in free market environment Forest certification continues to grow steadily, both in forestryand in the market place. PEFC is the largest global framework for mutual recognition of forest certification schemes. Integrating Forest Certification s role into related initiatives such as combating illegal logging, public procurement policy of wood products, CO2 certification, human health issue in tropical countries

36 Thank you for your attention