Presentation to the West Island Woodlands Advisory Group from: Sustainable Forest Initiative Forest Stewardship Council

Transcription

1 Island Timberland Limited Partnership Certification Information Session January 22, 2009 Advisory Group Members and Guests: Harold Carlson Barbra Baker Rick Avis Judy Carlson Jim Creighton Neil Malbon Ken McRae Jane Morden Stephan Ochman Libby Avis Robert Jennifer Dyson Makenzie Leine Keith Moore Karen Brandt Introduction Growing environmental awareness and consumer demand for more socially responsible businesses helped third-party forest certification emerge in the 1990s as a credible tool for communicating the environmental and social performance of forest operations. With forest certification, an independent organization develops standards of good forest management, independent auditors issue certificates to forest operations that comply with those standards. Certification generally verifies that forests are managed as defined by a particular standard. This rise of certification led to the emergence of several different systems throughout the world. As a result, there is no single accepted forest management standard worldwide, and each system takes a somewhat different approach in defining standards for sustainable forest management. Third-party forest certification is an important tool for those seeking to ensure that the paper and wood products they purchase and use come from forests that are wellmanaged and legally harvested. Presentation to the West Island Woodlands Advisory Group from: Sustainable Forest Initiative Forest Stewardship Council The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Karen Brandt, VP Market Affairs What Forest Certification Delivers Social, economic and environmental representation in decision-making Avoidance of illegal timber Page 1

2 Identification of special biological, cultural, heritage sites Management strategies to protect species at risk Management strategies to maintain wildlife habitat Sustainable harvest levels Prompt regeneration 3 rd party accredited certification audits Audit reports public available with corrective action clearly highlighted. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative A Single North American Assurance o 1 Standard for all of North America o Fully Independent Non-Profit Charitable 501c3 o 3 Chamber Board: Social - Environmental Economic o 230 program participants In North America 62 million hectares (17.5 million ha in BC) BC SFI 96% public lands Canada SFI 93% public NA SFI 68% public SFI: Biodiversity/Sustainability & Legality (objectives 1-7) Conservation of biological diversity Protected areas and maintenance of special sites/values Sustainable harvests Prompt regeneration Legality of wood supply SFI: Protect water quality (objective 3) Program participants are required to: Program to address management and protection of streams, lakes and other water bodies and riparian zones Mapping of these water bodies Implementation of plans to protect or manage these water bodies SFI: Wildlife & Conservation (objective 4) Program participants are required to: Have a program in place to protect threatened and endangered species Plans to locate and protect known sites associated with critically imperiled and imperiled species and communities. Programs to conserve old-growth forests SFI: Public Outreach/Social Values (Objectives 8, 10, 11 and 12) Respect Aboriginal traditional knowledge and special sites Public involvement Workers rights Logger training -- $45million investment in logger training, 100,000+loggers trained to date 37 regional implementation committees Legal and Regulatory Compliance (objective 11) Page 2

3 Commitment and compliance with applicable federal, provincial and local laws and regulations Indicators: written policy demonstrating commitment to comply with social laws including civil rights, anti-discrimination, workers compensation, indigenous peoples rights, workers and communities right to know, occupational health and safety Public and Landowner Involvement (Objective 12) To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry by encouraging the public and forestry community to participate 12.1 support and promote efforts by consulting foresters, provincial and federal agencies, local groups to apply the principles of SFM 12.2 support and promote mechanism for public outreach, education and involvement Participate in the development of public land planning processes with government and the public Contact with local stakeholders over forest management issues through state, provincial federal or independent collaboration Western Canada SFI Implementation Committee Performs local outreach and education activities to promote SFM Establish criteria and identify mechanism for logger and forester training Establish and maintain protocols to address inconsistent practices Focus on landowner outreach External Panel Review 15 external experts from environmental groups, professional/ academic groups and public agencies Ensures public input is adequately reflected in Standard development process Claims by SFI and its program participants are backed by on-the-ground performance Reviews and approves SFI s annual progress report Investigates claims of non-conformance and provides findings and recommended actions. Revisions process The SFI standard is revised every five years Revision Process for Standard launched in June Update to reflect latest science, information, market needs. 1st public input period complete 2nd draft released end of January 7 regional workshops, including Vancouver, facilitated by Keystone Center Previous reviews have led to changes, including provisions to: Conserve old-growth forests Address invasive exotic species Performance measures and indicators specific to public lands Confer with affected indigenous peoples Page 3

4 Protect forests with exceptional conservation value Conservation Supporters and Partners 26 Supporters and Partners across North America Conservation Research SFI participants have invested nearly $1 billion in research New project to collect examples of research and projects RISK Illegal Logging: A Growing Global Concern Working with conservation groups and NGOs to address common issues. Partnered with Forest Trends and other NGOs to host a forum on illegal logging, Feb 14, 2008 Working together to foster a constructive network of stakeholders interested in working on this issue. Will partner again in 2009 with Forest Trends. Labels & Claims - Transparency and Green Claims The Federal Trade Commission has increasing concern over green claims and are looking into use of the word sustainable and green building claims Competition Bureau of Canada and the CSA have issued a guide to help business make sure their green marketing is not misleading. Preferred approach for forest products is CSA, FSC, PEFC, or SFI. Terrachoice EcoMarkets Summary Report 2008 study shows 91% of 336 respondents feel that greenwashing is a problem that needs to be addressed. Solutions: better education of buyers, better enforcement and better use of ecolabels. Having a choice of eco-labels is important. 72% agree that eco-labels help purchasing decisions. Eco-labels are perceived as beneficial because: They act as a pre-screen Assurance of credibility Verification process already completed They make purchasing easier SFI label included in purchasers top ten most used eco-labels. SFI Tracks Certified Forest Content Must have 3rd party certification against SFI s COC or PEFC CoC standard which means it tracks the certified content in the fibre, and can also track the recycled content as well. Addressing the 90% North American Reality Only 10% of forests are certified In the USA, 60% and 30% in Eastern Canada of fibre supply is from small family forest owners Page 4

5 Less than 10% of those forests are certified. Use of qualified professionals Best management practices Identify and protect important habitat elements for wildlife including that for threatened and endangered species Verifiable monitoring system Addressing the 90% SFI Fibre Sourcing Off-shore Requirements Risk assessments are taken to prevent illegal wood fibre or from biodiversity hotspots from entering the product mix Risk assessments for procured wood in countries without effective laws addressing the following: a. workers health and safety; b. fair labor practices; c. indigenous peoples rights; d. antidiscrimination and anti-harassment measures; e. prevailing wages; and f. workers right to organize. SFI Certifications There are three SFI certification standards forest management; fibre sourcing, and chain of custody. All require third-party audits to maintain an internationally recognized and trusted standard of practice. Market Outreach Elevating the SFI brand throughout North America Snapshot of the Canadian Strategy 2009 will launch a market outreach strategy specifically for Canada. Key elements to include: New director hired, office in Montreal Customer & government outreach Trade advertising Out-of-home advertising Sponsoring awards in the graphic design & printing sectors Targeted tradeshows SFI Growth Dec 07 Dec 08 SFI is one of the fastest growing certification programs 700 organizations 2008 Roper/Yale Study indicates 19% familiarity with SFI among US consumers. This is higher than any other certification program Unique Features of the SFI Program Research to improve forest health and management Logger Training & Outreach External Review Panel 37 Regional Implementation committees PEFC endorsement Page 5

6 82% of all certified fibre in North America can go under the SFI label fibre sourcing requirements: on and off-shore The Path Forward Continue to be involved in the SFI program by: Providing input into the SFI Standard, attending workshop Working with SFI program participants through community workshops, meetings Supporting third party forest certification Forest Stewardship Council FSC Certification in BC - Keith Moore, RPF Overview of Certification Systems System based certification International Standards Organization ISO Performance based certification Canadian Standards Association Sustainable Forestry Initiative Forest Stewardship Council CSA SFI FSC Others Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification PEFC Why FSC? The broadest and highest standard The most rigorous and extensive auditing process Open process with public notice and reporting Credible with environmental and indigenous peoples organizations The only global standard Has a real presence in the market place a recognizable logo What is FSC An NGO with members around the world Balance of social, environmental, economic and respect for indigenous peoples A standard setting body 10 internationally agreed principles of good forest management A recognizable logo a brand Important points FSC controls the process for development of FSC standards Endorses standards Accredits and audits the certification bodies Controls and promotes the trademark - logo FSC does NOT do audits FSC does NOT award certificates Certification bodies DO SmartWood, KPMG, SGS, etc Certifies the forest, not the manager or products Page 6

7 FSC Globally Over 100 million ha Over 800 certified forests in 81 countries, 10,000 of Chain of custody certificates FSC offices in 36 countries Boreal, temperate and tropical forests $20 billion of sales of FSC products Growing rapidly In Canada 27 million ha 50 forests from Maritimes to BC 4 regional standards A national office Huge network of people In BC 9 forests almost 1.9 million ha 5 large industrial forests - 3 in Kootenays, 1 on Coast, 1 in Peace Several woodlots, 1 community forest Pieces are in place a completed standard group of experienced auditors experience with several tenures market pressure and interest In Ontario The dominant certification system 20 forests 19.5 million ha Expanding Recent government procurement policy Criteria 56 of them, global More detail about the principles Indicators Many, locally developed Developed in democratic local process Getting FSC Certified Means An applicant fully meets or is in a position to meet the FSC standards that apply to BC. Two important dimensions: Standards that apply to BC Compliance with those standards, determined in an independent audit Page 7

8 Does NOT require perfection or 100% conformance Requirement is certifiable performance For non-conformance, auditors issue Pre-Conditions met before certification OR CARS met in defined times following certification BC Standard Myths, Realities, Challenges Tenure - What types of licenses can meet the BC standard? First Nations - What does the standard require? Sustainable level of harvest AAC? Relationships with workers, and communities Environmental requirements Riparian High Conservation Value Forests Regional Standards Localize the International Principles and Criteria Developed in an FSC approved process 4 Regional Standards in Canada In BC The BC standard (October 2005) The BC Small Low Intensity Standard (SLIMF) National Boreal Standard (August 2004) Global standard - 10 FSC Principles 1. Compliance with local legislation 2. Long term tenure and use rights 3. Recognition and respect for Indigenous Peoples rights 4. Community relations and workers rights 5. Economic benefits and sustainability 6. Environmental assessment 7. Management planning 8. Monitoring 9. High Conservation Value Forests 10. Plantations Tenure Principle 2 Area-based No real issues Volume-based replaceable Require a defined area or participation of government Volume-based non-replaceable Definitely require government participation Very complicated, likely not certifiable Short-term Not certifiable Page 8

9 First Nations Principle 3 Relationship between licensee and First Nation Based on recognition and respect Defined by the parties Ideally a written protocol, but not necessarily Interaction on management plans and protection of significant sites, other matters of interest to the First Nation Rate of Harvest Principles 2 and 5 An analysis for area that is certified Harvest levels must reflect implementation of measures Can be done subsequent to certification Actual harvest no more than 25% above long-term No evidence of dramatic AAC reduction in future Workers and Communities Principle 4 and 5 Important part of standard Local procurement, worker safety, public participation, local processing, open decision-making Significant changes in final revision phase Environmental Principles 6 and 9 Requires analyses and management strategies RONV environmental base case Species at Risk Protected Reserves Protected reserves on the certified forest (6.4) Extent determined by surrounding landscapes Reserves not protected areas can be dynamic Not foreclosing options deferral areas Riparian requirements (6.5 bis) An integrated riparian assessment Management strategies and riparian budget Probably the most difficult part of the standard High Conservation Value Forests requirements (P9) A rigorous consultative HCV assessment Management strategies to protect attributes Deferrals Getting started An internal evaluation, then select a Certification Body A Pre-assessment Small team Focuses on barriers Short report with recommendations Before you start Whole organization needs to really want to do this Page 9

10 Takes management to a new level Not just Code-plus, or FRPA plus Will lead you into some new relationships Particularly in the interaction with interest groups and First Nations The future? Very significant interest in FSC at the moment Driven by the pulp and paper sector, value-added and environmental pressures Still not much pressure for FSC certified lumber, but growing RONA announcement CSA and ISO fading Some convergence with SFI especially in Chain of Custody and add-on certifications Revisions to BC Standard and National Boreal Standard More Info?? Summary FSC is an important and growing driver of improved forest management. Based on reward and recognition for those that want to be the best Growing in importance in the market place Lots of issues and lots of critics and opponents worldwide, and locally. Vigorous and robust debate. Page 10