Forest Certification Part 2 Certification Schemes Descriptions & Comparisons

l Certification Systems l Characteristics of Systems l How Systems Work l Costs and Benefits

American Tree Farm System Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Forest Stewardship Program (USFS) Green Tag (Nat. Forestry Association) ISO (Int. Standards Org.) Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

ISO sets internationally accepted standards for auditing environmental programs focus –accountability for 1st party claims –improving performance

American Tree Farm System Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Forest Stewardship Program (USFS) Green Tag (Nat. Forestry Association) Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

Basic Components l principles or criteria l structured management plan l plan approved by professional (certifier) l periodic review

Systems Vary l scope of criteria l plan - rigor or detail l type of professional reviewer l rigor of review / assessment l costs and benefits

What Type of Certification? l 1st-party l 1st-party: internal assessment by an organization l 2nd-party l 2nd-party: assessment by customer or outside trade association l 3rd-party l 3rd-party: on-site assessment by neutral organization, based on accepted set of standards Barret 1993, Ervin, Elliot, Cabarle, and Synnott 1996

Tree Farm FSCStewardship Green Tag SFI USGlobal US (south) USUS

Principles Tree Farm FSCStewardship Green Tag SFI 2 nd 3 rd 2 nd 3 rd 2 nd 3 rd Verification

All systems were designed to achieve sustainable use over the long-term.

forestrypractice&operations environ.&social SFI Tree Farm Green Tag FSC

SFI Tree Farm Green Tag FSC naturalprocessmoreintensivepractice

American Tree Farm Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) USFS Forest Stewardship Green Tag

Forest Stewardship Program USFS program run through state & private forestry partnership with state agencies

Forest Stewardship Program state contacts available available

Green Tag l 10 principles –generally aligned with FSC l certifiers - consulting foresters Specificallyfor NIPF owners NIPF owners

l Plans and Ownership l Inventory and Diversity l Logging and Reforestation l Roads and Stream Crossing l Utilization and Aesthetics l Chemical Utilization l Social Component l Economic Viability l Record Keeping l Sustainability

51,795 acres 10 states NH WA NCNYWV,OR,TN,VA,IN,MI

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SFI Tree Farm FSC designed by forest industry for use on industrial lands agreement with AF&PA i.e. accepted as SFI certified designed for all ownerships however – cost and some criteria are easier for larger ownerships

SFI l 100 million acres l 89 million acres - 3 rd l 190 firms l 92% from trained loggers l oversight board l 11 Standards

SFI Objectives or Standards l Performance Measures –Core SFI Indicators –Other SFI Indicators

l Ensuring Sustainable Forests l Reforestation l Water Quality l Wildlife Habitat l Forest Aesthetics l Protect Special Sites l Slash Disposal and Utilization l Contractor/Owner Support l Public Reporting l Community Participation l Continuous Improvement

Example Forest Aesthetics: manage visual impact l specified in plans & programs l clearcut size < 120 acres l green up 3-yr-old or 5’ l age classes and harvest units l promote landscape diversity

Example l specified in plans & programs –written policy –aesthetic considerations are incorporated into activities –aesthetic BMPs are followed –landscape design system –train foresters and loggers –terrain and computer models

American Tree Farm System oldest most wide spread system in the US

Certified Tree Farmers l 65,000 individuals l 25 million acres l 7,000 Inspectors

10 principles Trained Inspectors Used 3 rd Party Audit Underway

l Sustainable Forests l Reforestation l Water Quality l Wildlife Habitat l Use of Chemicals l Forest Aesthetics l Protect Special Sites l Biodiversity l Slash Utilization l Forestry Contractor Use

Ensure Sustainable Forests l written and active forest management plan –wood and fiber production –wildlife habitat –water quality –recreational opportunities Examples

Reforestation l adequate stocking of regeneration in 5 years regeneration in 5 years –natural seeding and sprouting –direct seeding and seedlings Water Quality l state Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) Practices (BMPs)Examples

Forest Stewardship Council global green or eco-label

l 8 ½ million acres in US l 60 million acres globally l 392 chain-of-custody in US

10 Global Principles l 56 Criteria – 138 Indicators: national and regional – Verifiers: regional

l Comply with Laws l Tenure and Use Rights l Indigenous Peoples’ Rights l Relations and Workers Rights l Benefits from Forest l Environmental Impact l Management Plan l Monitoring l High Conservation Forests l Plantations

l Comply with Laws l Tenure and Use Rights l Indigenous Peoples’ Rights l Relations and Workers Rights l Benefits from Forest l Environmental Impact l Management Plan l Monitoring l High Conservation Forests l Plantations

Example Environmental Impact l Assessment l Safeguards for Rare Species l Ecological Functions Maintained l Samples of Ecosystem ProtectedWater and Soil Protection l Promote Nonchemical Methods l Bio. Controls Monitored no GMOs l Exotic Species Controlled l Conversion to Plantations not Allowed

How Certification Works l Application l Scoping l Certifier –(SmartWood or Scientific Certification Services) l Data Collection, Interviews, etc. l Peer Review of Certification l Final Certification Decision

FSC and NIPF Owners l individual l group or cooperative l resource managers (individual owners are certified through the resource manager and costs are distributed among his clients)

FSC Potential l easier in natural hardwood forests than southern pine l high quality sawlog/veneer production more certification friendly l resource manager certification

Contrast Clearcuts l 120 acres maximum, greater for natural disturbances l no complete clearcuts in natural stands l retention to mimic natural disturbance l 40 acres in plantations SFIFSC

Contrast Chemicals l follow label l certain chemicals banned l show prudent use and reduction in chemical use SFIFSC

Contrast Plantations l any amount l prudent use of pesticides l GMO’s allowed l no new conversions l old plantations before 1994 OK l restricted pesticides l local sources SFIFSC

SFI Options

FSC Options

SFI – FSC Comparison Meridian Institute

Initial Costs? l FSC –individual: $5,000 to $10,000 –resource manager: < $5,000 –time required to prepare –periodic review: > $1,000

Initial Costs? l Tree Farm –nominal assessment fees

Tree Farm FSCStewardship Green Tag SFI entry level group or manager entry level NIPF certification industry licensee Systems and NIPF Owners