National Forest Stewardship Standards Process and Status. National General Assembly. FSC Russia. 11/04/2016. Fon. Gordian Fanso (MSc./ING.) Policy Manager FSC National Forest Stewardship Standards FSC F000100 FSC A.C. All rights reserved
Content: PSU assessment of National Forest Stewardship Standards (NFSS) Experience with the first set of National Forest Stewardship Standard 1
Key bodies and their tasks during NFSS process and assessments The Policy and Standards Unit (PSU) that registers the standards development process, conducts pre-approval assessments and presents the National Forest Stewardship Standard to the Policy and Standards Committee () for decision. Standard Development Groups (SDG) that develop the National Forest Stewardship Standard. PSU regional policy officers (since 2015) that provide guidance and advice to SDGs during the process and also serve as liaison between PSU and SDGs. Forest Network (since 2015) that provide a peer review of the standard before or after submission to the PSU. Policy and Standards Committee; a 3 chamber balanced committee by the FSC Board of Directors that makes the decision on National Forest Stewardship Standard. 2
Assessment of the standard setting process Based on FSC document, Process requirements for the development and maintenance of National Forest Stewardship Standards' FSC-STD-60-006 AND the document, Development and Transfer of National Forest Stewardship Standards to the FSC Principles and Criteria Version 5-1. FSC-PRO-60-006 V2-0 EN. Section 2 on how to use the IGI in NFSS process Section 3 on how to transfer existing NFSS to revised P&C Section 5 on how to address SIR Section 6 on Ecosystem services and Section 7 on how to deal with international documents that the process of developing them is not yet finalized FSC-STD-60-006 has been converted into an excel based checklist which contains summarily, following topics: The official announcement of the standard development process - PSU staff checks: Which communications media was used? Was the standard announced to all key stakeholders in the country? If this is not done it could result in lack of credibility and little or no support for the NFSS. 3
Assessment of the standard setting process Setting up of the SDG - PSU staff checks that: The group is divided into the three chambers of Social, Environmental and Economic, The members meet the given qualifications. There has to be at least 2 persons per chamber all through the process. When a regional process is proposed, the PSU staff member checks that each nation within the region has at least one representative in each chamber of the regional SDG. Setting up of a consultative forum: PSU staff checks that a consultative forum has been set up, ensuring that all stakeholders had the opportunity to comment formally during the standard development process. Working in consensus: PSU staff checks that every draft that has been sent for public consultation or for approval to PSU has been approved in consensus, as verified by signatures of the SDG members. 4
Assessment of the standard setting process Public consultations: PSU staff checks that: Public consultation is conducted in the official language of the country, All formally prepared comments are acknowledged and addressed. Forest Testing of the standard: PSU staff checks that: Before standards are submitted to PSU, they have been forest tested by an accredited Certification Body (CB), The test covers all new indicators, Issues that came up during the test and flagged by the CB are documented and taken into account by the SDG. It is envisaged that the pre-approval assessment of the standard setting process will be conducted by the regional PSU officers in Asia, Africa and Latin America during the transfer process. In Europe, some network partners will be trained to help conducting the task. 5
Checking the structure and the standard content of NFSS The structure and content of NFSS are defined in the Structure and Content of National Forest Stewardship Standards, FSC-STD-60-002 The International Generic Indicators (IGI) FSC-STD-60-004 V1-0EN, contains a set of generic indicators that are to be used by SDGs as the starting point for developing NFSS. This document is also used by PSU staff to check for content by comparing indicators in the IGI standard with those in the NFSS. The SDGs are expected to conduct a self-appraisal using a complete checklist FSC-CHK-60-002 Structure and Content of National Forest Stewardship Standards before the standard is submitted to PSU. 6
Checking the structure and the standard content of NFSS Assessment of the structure and content of NFSS includes the following key topics: Structure: PSU staff checks that: The standard is written in the following hierarchical order: Principles Criteria Indicators Verifiers Norms (optional) Guidance (optional) Glossary Mandatory Annexes (see section 3.5 of FSC-STD-60-002) List of the national and local forest laws and administrative requirements which apply in the country or region in which the standard is to be used, List of the multilateral environmental agreements and conventions that the country has ratified and the ILO Conventions listed in FSC-POL-30-401 FSC and the ILO Conventions which must be complied with in all FSC certified forests, List of or reference to official lists of, endangered species in the country or region in which the standard is to be used. 7
Checking the structure and the standard content of NFSS Introduction with obligatory elements FSC glossary of terms Reference list of FSC documents Scope definition Unmodified set of P&C Set of indicators to every FSC criterion. The indicators cover all elements of each criterion. Indicators identify requirements or restrictions and not visions. Verifiers are appropriate (Not Obligatory) The indicators are numbered as required Indicators should not allow management activities that may be common practice in the region, but which will lead to unsustainable forest management, for example loss of biological diversity Indicators should not be too broadly stated, or unclear what particular result is required Indicators should not be redundant (= should not be repeated). Indicators should add clarity or regional specificity to the global idea that is presented in the P&C. Indicators should be placed under the right criterion. If indicator does not address the requirement of the criterion, it should be moved to another location in the standard or modified to directly address the criterion - or deleted. 8
Checking the structure and the standard content of NFSS Indicators are Specific; meaning each indicator refers to a single aspect of performance to be evaluated. Indicators are Measurable: meaning that indicators specify outcomes or levels (i.e. thresholds) of performance that are measurable at the audit. Indicators are Achievable: Indicators should not go beyond the intention of the FSC P&C Indicators are Relevant to the criterion: Indicators are developed to include only elements that contribute achieving the targets of the criterion; Some of the most common shortages in the indicators is that they: Do not cover the full scope of their different criteria, Contain wrong language, Dilute the contents of criterion, Are not auditable Indicators are Tangible; they are written using a clear and consistent vocabulary, free from subjective elements. The use of such phrases as ordinarily, substantial, proactive, appropriate to, minimize, wherever possible, or thorough are not expected to be used in the standard. 9
Assessment tools + Documentation Assessment Tool Checklist Transfer matrix Document control 10
Role of Peer Review + Forest Network NFSS proposal submitted to PSU evaluation NFSS development/transfer process NFSS approval process Approval Experience sharing and harmonization through Forest Network activities Peer Review by 2+ FN members PSU evaluation 11
Policy and Standards Committee decision making Standard Operating Procedure post National Forest Stewardship Standard decision meeting. The Policy and Standard Committee () approves National Forest Stewardship Standard without conditions OR The approves the NFSS with minor amendments OR The defers decision on NFSS to the FSC Board of Directors. After minor amendments have been satisfactorily addressed, the effective date of standard is assigned by the Policy Director
Recently approved National Forest Stewardship Standard of the Portuguese Republic.
Process: NFSS OF THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC Process backed by a three chamber Standard Development Group SDG; Widely consulted process with more than 300 organizational and individual stakeholders actively taking part in the process; Participation at SDG deliberation was opened to any interested stakeholder; One field test that focused mainly on the new indicators for game hunting Frequent communication with PSU staff to update on the process Process followed the requirements of FSC-STD-60-006 to the later Main issue that came up related to documentation, but this was addressed during PSU assessment.
NFSS OF THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC Content: Content assessed using the IGIs with the following out come: With 73% of the IGIs either adopted directly or adapted. IGI standard is meant to be adapted, adopted and in some cases dropped as long as they fit local reality, IGI standard would therefore not be an ideal reflection of forest management unless it has the backing of national stakeholders as was the case with Portugal. The requirements on structure and content outlined in FSC-STD-60-002 Structure and content of forest stewardship standards was followed as required for most of its parts.
Current use of IGI standards in NFSS Use of IGI standard in the NFSS of Portugal. Total dropped ; 10% Total new ; 17% Total adopted Total Adapted Total dropped Total new Total adopted ; 53% Total Adapted ; 20%
Current use of IGI standards in NFSS Use of IGI standard in the NFSS of China. 0% 11% Total adopted Total Adapted Total dropped Total new 45% 44%
Current use of IGI standards in NFSS Use of IGI standard in the NFSS of Metropolitan France. 16% 7% IGIs adopted IGI adapted IGI dropped 18% New Indicators 59%
Next standards for prepared for decision in June Policy and Standards Committee Vancouver meeting : Metropolitan France NFSS People s Republic of China NFSS Republic of Uganda NFSS (Not confirmed)
NFSS Transfer +Development Process Calendar 2016 about 38 NFSS submitted to PSU 2017 about 22 2018 about 2 Assessment + Approval schedule Approval depends on PSU + SDG resource Availability and how often meets Depending on the above by end of 2017 most NFSS would have been approved.
Jan 2016 NFSS Transfer +Development Process Calendar Feb 2016 Mar 2016 Apr 2016 Ma 2016 Jun 2016 Jul 2016 Aug 2016 Sep 2016 Oct 2016 Nov 2016 Dec 2016-Jan 2017 Vietn, China, France Uruguay, Brazil, Bulgaria, UK, Spain Netherlands, South Africa, Rep Congo, Australia, Tanzania, Russia, Romania, Germany, Canada, Cameroon, Central America, Denmark Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, India, Nepal, Italy PSU Assessm t Peru, Gabon, Papua New Guinea Meet Meet Meet Meet
NFSS Transfer +Development Process Calendar Jan 2017 Feb 2017 Mar 2017 Apr 2017 Ma 2017 Jun 2017 Jul 2017 Aug 2017 Sep 2017 Oct 2017 Nov 2017 Dec 2017 PSU Assessm t Indonesia, Colombia Dem Rep of Congo, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina United States, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herz, Japan, Ukrain Belarus Meets Meets Meets Meets Meets Meets
NFSS Transfer +Development Process Calendar Jan 2018 Feb 2018 Mar 2018 Apr 2018 Ma 2018 Jun 2018 Jul 2018 Aug 2018 Sep 2018 Oct 2018 Nov 2018 Dec 2018 PSU Assessm t Finland Czech Republic Meets Meets Meets Meets Meets Meets
Большое спасибо Forest Stewardship Council FSC International Center Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 5 53113 Bonn, Germany T +49 (0) 228 367 66-0 F +49 (0) 228 367 66-30 FSC F000100 - FSC A.C. All rights reserved ic.fsc.org 24 FSC F000100 FSC A.C. All rights reserved