FSC-certified forest in Wisconsin Courtesy of Potlatch Corporation Forest Stewardship Council FSC Certification as a Market-Based Tool to Improve Forest Management
Forest Stewardship Council The FSC s mission is to promote the environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests through standards development and certification. The FSC grew out 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, concern about deforestation and forest degradation in ecosystems around the world, and a failure to create an intergovernmental global forest compact.
The Problem: Deforestation & Degradation 32 million acres of natural forest destroyed each year from deforestation and degradation Illegal logging As much as 30% of hardwood lumber and plywood traded globally, and some 10% entering the U.S., is of suspicious origin.
The Problem is not limited to the tropics: Poor forest practices in highly regulated areas (e.g. North America) conservationists vs. timber enterprises (e.g., timber wars over the spotted owl) rapid conversion to plantations and suburban/ex-urban development loss of water quality, wildlife habitat and other ecosystem functions commercial cutting of old-growth forest forest-dependent economies hurt and communities marginalized
A Market-based Solution: Forest Stewardship Council FSC was founded in 1993 as a market-based conservation tool to promote responsible forestry that benefits people, communities and nature in all working forests around the world.
Who is FSC? International association of: Environmental and social groups Timber trade and the forestry professionals Indigenous peoples organizations i Responsible corporations Community forestry groups Unique governance structure based on participation, democracy and equity Economic, social and environmental chambers (1/3 each) North and south (industrialized & developing countries)
FSC Certification Market-based, non-regulatory forest conservation tool Designed to recognize and promote environmentally and socially responsible forest management Third-party verification of forest management practices, chain-of-custody, custody, and product labeling Proven benefits for businesses: the opportunity to protect forest ecosystems and communities rewards responsible forest management in the eyes of customers, businesses and the public fulfills corporate social and environmental responsibility goals
FSC s 10 Guiding Principles 1. Compliance with Laws and FSC Principles 2. Tenure and Use Rights and Responsibilities 3. Indigenous Peoples' Rights 4. Community Relations and Workers Rights 5. Benefits from the Forest 6. Environmental Impact 7. Management Plan 8. Monitoring i and Assessment 9. Maintenance of HCV Forests 10. Plantations
Forests and people benefit High conservation value forests are preserved Conversion prohibited Rights of indigenous peoples and workers are respected Waterways are protected Communities manage their forests Wildlife habitat and species are protected Management practices are monitored annually Genetically modified trees are not used Revenues stay in country and communities
Balance Transparency Impact Certification systems are judged by stakeholders and the market by: The quality, rigor, and impact of their standards Financial independence and democratic governance Inclusiveness and balance of standards development Rigor by which standards are audited and enforced
Essentials of FSC FSC is designed to preserve forest ecosystems with genuine social protections and economic benefits FSC s diverse membership and origins i Other certification systems primary aim is to minimize the negative impacts of industrial forestry Other certification systems dominated by timberland owners and forest products industries
FSC requires performance on critical issues associated with forest products Forest conversion High Conservation Value Forests Protected areas Plantations Chemical use GMOs Community benefit Indigenous rights Public consultation
System integrity and credibility FSC is endorsed by the nation s leading environmental organizations:
System integrity Brand integrity Our corporate partners trust the FSC to affect real social and environmental change and are proud to participate.
How Does FSC Certification Work? Voluntary, market-based tool for forest conservation Tracks products from forest to shelf Responsibly produced forest products are identified with the FSC logo. 1. Forest management 2. Chain of custody 3. Product labeling certification certification Introduction to the FSC
What is Chain of Custody? Objective: ensure that t FSC-certified material is tracked through h the production and distribution process End consumers can have confidence there is a system in place to verify the source of the wood. FSC-certified forest paper manufacturer printer FSC-certified products
FSC-certified product origins FSC-certified wood and pulp can originate from: Well-managed forests Post-consumer recycled content Combination of FSC-certified wood fiber, recycled content and other controlled sources.
Chain of Custody 100% 100% of wood in a product comes from an FSC-certified forest FSC-certified forest Chain of custody-certified mill certified product
Chain of Custody Mixed Some of the wood in a product comes from an FSC-certified forest FSC-certified forest Chain of custody-certified mills/processors/distributers certified product Controlled Wood sources
The Labels Going into effect in 2010
FSC Controlled Wood Governs non-certified part of an FSC- certified product Legality Recognition of civil rights High conservation values Conversion GMOs
Impacts and Growth United States and Globally
Global l Impact 334.4 million acres 18,073 CoC certificates 81 countries Current 7/1/10
U.S. & Global Chain of Custody Growth r of Certificates Number Current 7/15/2010
FSC channels surge in U.S. Number of Certificates Current 1/1/2010
And the land base responds Millions Acres in M Current 7/15/2010
Forest ownership in the US & FSC certified acres by state WA: 1,879,620 OR:560,289 ME: 4,577,521 VT: 110,689 MN: 5,362,504 504 NH: 418,982 NY: 974,316 WI: 5,584,224 MA: 39,224 MI: 3,684,725 CT: 7,840 MO: 146,208 PA: 2,529,162 NJ: 20 MD:102,880 IN: 676,370 VA: 265,883 CA: 1,213,806 HI: 34,602 TN 32,702 MS: 345,584 LA: 451,719 NC: 2,911,359 SC: 6,865 FL: 120 Total of 32.4 million acres as of July 15, 2010
FSC forest certification
The U.S. consumer FSC has a highly regarded product with key stakeholder support; market share growing through corporate buyers US consumer recognition of FSC is low (single digits); FSC has not yet executed a consumer strategy FSC must successfully transition from being a businessfacing symbol of compliance to a consumer-facing symbol of environmental & social responsibility Multiple, independent market research studies are very encouraging, especially given low awareness Primary benefits statements, brand language, consumer-friendly website, print and web advertising
However.U.S. Consumers Don t Know FSC Label! Low brand awareness in U.S. 4 6% despite US being largest consumer of wood and paper pp products in the world Low market share for certified wood Only 3 4% Little focus on consumers FSC efforts to date have focused on business to business outreach
Low Awareness & Familiarity With FSC Label Source: BBMG CONSCIOUS CONSUMER REPORT, 2009 ReDEFINING VALUE IN A NEW ECONOMY
Current FSC US Branding Because Forests Matter
More than half of the American public is concerned about the environment 174 million Americans is conservation concerned. (58% of the general public) 42 million Americans are conservation engaged. (24% of the Conservation concerned ) SOURCE: HARRIS INTERACTIVE
Moving from Interest to Action Frequency Of Actions To Help The Environment SOURCE: CBS News/New York Times, Conducted August 17 21, 2006, 1,206 adults
Gary Dodge Director of Science and Certification FSC-US FSC-certified forest -Nova Scotia. Jeff Amos 2006. Prints available through TREES Gallery www.treesgallery.com