Partnership. For Living Forests. Five joint projects in between Sveaskog and WWF

Transcription

1 Partnership For Living Forests Five joint projects in between Sveaskog and WWF

2 Sveaskog and WWF share a common vision of sustainable forestry both in Sweden and globally. Sveaskog is the largest owner of forest land in Sweden and aims to lead the way in promoting and cultivating forest values. Acting on a mandate from its owners, the Swedish state, Sveaskog has set itself ambitious targets with respect to production, the environment and nature conservation to ensure that both economic and ecological values are preserved for future generations. The company is to be at the forefront of sustainable forest management. WWF for its part has a thorough knowledge and wide experience of responsible forest management, both in Sweden and globally, and has far-reaching ambitions in this sphere. The organization enjoys broad public trust and maintains a global network that makes it one of the most influential NGOs in the world as lobbyist and shapers of opinion. Together, Sveaskog and WWF represent a powerful voice, speaking out on the importance of forests for all life, both today and tomorrow. It is therefore natural for the two of us to engage in a partnership centring on the long-term projects briefly described in this folder. 2

3 A powerful voice for living forests. WWF and Sveaskog. 3

4 1Project Effect 20 Omberg Ecopark Ural owl Håckren Ecopark Hornslandet Ecopark 4

5 Balancing environment and production In Sweden, the Riksdag has decided to accord the environment goal and the production goal in Swedish forest policy equal status, i.e. the same priority. But how is this balance to be struck? How are we to care for the natural environment and preserve the forest s biodiversity while at the same time pursuing efficient forest management that is economically viable in the long term? In Sweden, we set aside national parks, nature reserves and voluntarily protected forests for nature conservation purposes. We also take nature into consideration on land by adapting forest management practices to the ecological conditions present in each forest area, in accordance with the Swedish model. A 20 per cent environment target Research shows that 20 per cent of forest land must be set aside if we are to preserve biodiversity in our forests. Under Sveaskog s environment policy, 20 per cent of productive forest land in each forest region will be used for nature conservation and environment protection purposes. The conservation measures will vary, ranging from saving individual trees or areas during logging time to setting aside extensive landscapes, such as ecoparks. Ecoparks are large, contiguous forest landscapes in which nature conservation is the prime concern and yield demands are adapted to the specific ecological and cultural values present there. What effect will conservation have? Sveaskog has ambitious aims as regards nature conservation. But what impact will its work in this field have? This is the pivotal question in the WWF/Sveaskog joint project, Effect 20, which is a pioneering initiative focusing on natural values from a landscape perspective. The project will mainly be concerned with monitoring birdlife in forest areas, using a method developed in a previous WWF project. Sveaskog is funding the project and running it jointly with WWF. 20 per cent of forest land needs to be under conservation management to preserve biodiversity. 5

6 2 Project Sweden Forest & Trade Network Timber trade under consumer influence Consumer power can decide the way a market behaves. Companies that frequently buy large quantities of timber wield the same kind of influence. By making explicit demands, they can help promote responsible forestry. WWF has set up a global network of 400 member companies, the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN), to combat illegal logging and trade and to improve the management of threatened and valuable forest. The network aims to encourage market demand for certified forest products, through buyer groups, and also works with producer groups, helping forest managers to achieve credible certification in their holdings. In Sweden, the network is represented by the Sweden Forest & Trade Network, which has 14 member companies. The Swedish network disseminates information about responsible forestry, about the responsible purchasing of forest products and about how companies can introduce special purchasing policies and environmental reporting. Not caring where you buy your paper or wood products can damage your company image. The network s vision and tools The aim of this project is to inform major buyers, such as the wood and pulp industry, the construction industry and the general public, about the responsible purchasing opportunities available to them and the connection with credible certification in forestry. 6

7 This boosts the demand for such products. The new GFTN rules are more comprehensive and new instruments have been developed. The Swedish network will be proactive in applying and disseminating them and in making them more widely known. One instrument that the network is currently working with is the GFTN s step by step process for how companies can go about achieving responsible purchasing and forest management. A Swedish manual has been produced as a practical guide, primarily targeting large and medium-sized companies that buy wood and paper products. Sveaskog is the project s chief sponsor. In addition, member companies in the network pay a membership fee. Not caring where you buy your paper or wood products can damage your company image. 7

8 3 Project Responsible Timber Trade with the Baltic States 8

9 Step by step towards responsible forestry For the Baltic states, forests are a vital source of export income. Four trees in ten harvested in Latvia find their way to Sweden s pulp factories and are turned into carrier bags, paper and other products. In the Baltic states, legislation, monitoring and awareness of responsible forestry have not developed at the same rapid pace as changes in society. This means that forests representing high natural values are not always getting the protection they need. Harvesting of forests in the Baltic region has increased dramatically, and economic crime is found in the forest sector. Offences include money laundering and illegal logging. Tracing timber to its source The Swedish forest industry can help the Baltic states develop responsible forestry, e.g. by ensuring that the timber does not come from controversial sources. This can be done by increasing the presence of systems that follow FSC-certified products and separate them from non-certified products. Sveaskog s imports from Latvia come mainly from its own subsidiary, SIA Sveaskog Baltfor Ltd, which holds an FSC Chain-of- Custody (CoC). Where Sveaskog buys timber from other countries, the company always seeks to check and ensure traceability. Opinion-making and dialogue for change Project 3, Responsible Timber Trade with the Baltic States, involves WWF and its partner organizations in the region acting as opinionmakers, promoting responsible forestry, monitoring developments and proactively combating the illegal timber trade. Roundtable discussions in Estonia and Latvia will be attended by a range of actors, including the public authorities, the forest sector, environmental organizations and banks. Sveaskog is playing an active role in the project, both as a financier and as a participant in the roundtable talks and in networking. Harvesting of forests in the Baltic region has increased dramatically, and economic crime is found in the forest sector. 9

10 4 Project Living Forest Waters Our aim is to create both better conditions for biodiversity in aquatic forest environments and better water quality in efficiently managed forests. 10

11 Water means life Forests are not only green. They are blue, too. The blue parts of the landscape are forest waters: marsh, bogs, streams, rivers and lakes. Thousands of water-based plant and animal species enrich the forest s biodiversity. They are also of considerable value as they perform ecological services in the environment. Microorganisms living in water and wetlands break down organic matter, absorb superfluous nitrogen and then become food themselves for many water organisms. Thus forest wetlands act as nature s own purification plant, cleaning the water before it runs out into the sea via streams, rivers and lakes. Preserving and protecting forest waters, therefore, is a natural part of the conservation effort. Our vision We intend the Living Forest Waters project to heighten awareness about the importance of water-related issues for sustainable forestry. Our aim is to create both better conditions for biodiversity in aquatic forest environments and better water quality in efficiently managed forests. This would also contribute to the achievement both of Sweden s environmental quality objectives and of the goals outlined in the EU s Water Framework Directive. Small tools make a big difference The project involves developing simple tools for incorporating water-related issues into Sveaskog s forest and nature conservation planning. This would facilitate a broader perspective in which living forest waters are viewed as a self-evident component in all planning. Such tools could include appropriate indicators for the classification of aquatic forest environments. We demonstrate how such plans can be implemented in practice out in the forest, for instance through the creation of more natural aquatic environments in filled ditches. The expertise that we develop together in the process, through both planning and practical application, is passed on to other actors in Swedish forestry via reports, seminars, manuals and showcases. Networks and modules WWF is the project coordinator of Living Forest Waters. Sveaskog contributes financial resources and also takes an active part in the development work through employees skilled in sustainable forest management, soil conservation and water conservation. On Sveaskog land, the project ideas can be put into practice, tested and demonstrated. Otherwise, the project operates via a network. The partners are the forest sector, government agencies, researchers, stakeholder organizations and consultants responsible for the various modules that make up the project. The project also collaborates with the EU initiative, Forests for Water, for which the National Board of Forestry is responsible in Sweden. This collaboration means that the results of the Living Forest Waters project will be incorporated into the EU-LIFE project. 11

12 5 Project Policy Work in Europe 12

13 Presence and commitment where decisions are made Worldwide, the illegal trade in timber is worth a huge amount more than SEK 150 billion a year. Due to its magnitude, the problem has attracted growing interest among both politicians and the general public. A key process in the EU s work in this area is the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) action programme, containing a series of measures designed to combat illegal timber trade between the EU and timberproducing countries. Influencing international policymaking requires a committed effort and an ongoing presence in the forums where the decisions are made. WWF International uses extensive lobbying to influence the thinking processes and positions of governments and international organizations on key forest issues. An important forum in this respect is the EU. Besides common policies and action plans targeting European forests, a number of different EU policy areas exercise an impact, including trade and environment. Other priority forums are the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) in Warsaw and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in Geneva. The latter cooperates with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a body that also deals with forest issues. Climate and bioenergy high on the agenda Via the Policy Work in Europe project, and primarily through WWF s international organizations, we will work actively to influence policy issues of importance for the sustainable management of the world s forests. These include climate change, bioenergy and nature conservation, as well as illegal trade in wood products. The work will feature both lobbying and exchanges of experience with other countries. Influencing international policymaking requires a committed effort and an ongoing presence in the forums where the decisions are made 13

14 Brief glossary Sweden s overall environment goal and the environmental quality objectives: The Riksdag has adopted a number of environmental quality objectives describing a desirable future environment in Sweden in a number of different spheres. In pursuing these objectives, the overall goal of Swedish environmental policy is to be achieved: to pass on to the next generation a dynamic but sustainable society in which the major environmental problems have been solved. The production and environment goals of forest policy: Swedish forest policy has twin objectives of equal importance the production goal and the environment goal. This means that forests and forest land are to be managed efficiently and responsibly so as to ensure high, profitable yields while preserving natural forest assets. all water planning and water conservation measures in the EU. It applies to all waters except the open sea and is intended to preserve or improve both water quality and the aquatic environment. Forests for Water: This is a demonstration project funded by EU-LIFE aiming to show how European forests and forestry can help achieve the goals of the EU Water Directive. The project will run until The Swedish coordinator is the National Board of Forestry. Biodiversity: Biological diversity, or biodiversity, refers to the wide range of living species of all origins and to the ecological systems in which these organisms are found. The term applies to diversity within species, between species and in the range of ecosystems. The EU s Water Framework Directive: The EC Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) was adopted in December 2000 and is to be implemented by 2015 at the latest. The document provides a framework for FSC: The Forest Stewardship Council is an independent, international member organization that promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the 14

15 world s forests. FSC environmental certification signifies compliance with approved standards of responsible forest management. Chain-of- Custody (CoC) certification signifies that traceability of the forest product is guaranteed. FLEGT: This is short for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade, which is the name given to the EU process and action programme against illegal logging and trade. The programme was adopted in May MCPFE: The Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe. UNECE: The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. FAO: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which also deals with forest issues. 15

16 Sveaskog Contact: Linda Andersson, Director of Communications. WWF Contact: Siv Persson, Corporate Partnership. WWF International Production: Sveaskog and WWF in collaboration with Modern PR and Plädera Information. Printed in October 2005.