Module Forest Certification: Issues, Opportunities and Challenges for Sus Dev’t Frontiers in Forest Centenary Conference St Anne’s College, Oxford December 6, 2005 Ishmael Dodoo Project Manager, ProForest

Module Introduction What is forest certification? Where did the idea come from? Existing certification schemes Case study: origin of FSC Risks, opportunities and challenges Key issues for consideration

Module What is Forest Management Certification? A process in which an independent organisation verifies that a forest holding is being managed in accordance with a specified standard. A means of informing customers and consumers about the origins of raw materials used in products.

Module What does it mean? It’s about a lot more than just timber production –Sustainable production of timber and non- timber forest products –Conservation and enhancement of landscape –Conservation and enhancement of biodiversity

Module What does it mean? –Conservation of archaeological and cultural heritage –Access and recreation –Protection of water resources –Supporting rural development

Module Where has the idea come from? Growing awareness of the importance of forests for sustainable development Concern about the destruction and misuse of global forest resources Growing demand to broaden forest and forestry industry values to include social and environmental as well as economic values

Module Genesis Environmental concerns of consumers Failure of governments to address deforestation Failure of boycotts of tropical timber to stop deforestation Environmental competitiveness in marketing mix

Module Some certification initiatives FSC –Belgium –Denmark –Germany –Ireland –Netherlands –Poland –Sweden –Switzerland –United Kingdom PEFC –Austria –Finland –France –Germany –Ireland –Latvia –Norway –Portugal –Spain –Sweden –Switzerland Europe

Module FSC –Canada –USA –Mexico –Colombia –Bolivia –Brazil –Chile –Nicaragua Others –Canada (CSA) –USA (SFI) –Chile –Brazil (Cerflor) –Malaysia (MTCC) –Indonesia (LEI) Americas & Asia Some certification initiatives

Module Existing certification schemes Sustainable Forestry Initiative (AF&PA,USA) Canadian Standards Association Pan European Forest Certification Scheme Forest Stewardship Council Finnish Forest Certification System

Module Certified Forests in the World by Scheme ( July 2003)

Autor: Tasso Azevedo / / p991151e Case: Origin of FSC Governmental initiatives failed Campaigns to boycott forest products did not have the expected effect Certification is an alternative Proliferation of labels Source: GTZ

Module Different interest groups Retailers: want to sell products and protect brand name Forest products industry: want to sell timber and paper products ENGOs: want to protect forests Forest owners and managers: want to make a living

Module The Solution = Certification Produce an acceptable definition of good forest management - a standard; Develop a credible system to assess which forests meet the standard - certification; Source products from certified forests.

Module Market of a given region prioritizes the non-certified product Risks of Certification Costs of adapting to improved management may not be absorbed Not receiving approval in the assessment and remaining exposed to criticism Not being able to maintain the certificate Source: GTZ

Module Opportunities in the context of Sus Dev’t Enhances of multiple forest benefits in environmental, social and economic terms Improves corporate social responsibility performance Improves resource governance and participatory forest management

Module Challenges in the context of Sus Dev’t Lack of adequate capacity to understand and implement certification Certification is very expensive and does not always guarantee sustainability Understanding of Sus. Dev’t is not fully developed; linkages with certification is not always clear Forest managers do not always think Sus. Dev’t

Module Key Issues How do we improve understanding of certification among information providers? How do we package certification/SFM info to make them relevant and useable by practitioners? How do we identify key thematic certification/ SFM issues for policy debate?

Module Thank You!