The Forest Stewardship Council Setting the Standard for

The Forest Stewardship Council Setting the Standard for Responsible Forestry certification and potential links with climate change mitigation Liviu Amariei Senior Accreditation Advisor Accreditation Business Unit 6 December 2003 FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

v International Forest Management Standards-Setting & Accreditation Body v Founded in 1993 v Non-Profit Membership Organization v 600 Members from more than 60 Countries FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

The mission statement The Forest Stewardship Council A. C. (FSC) shall promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

Forest Certification is: v Assessment of on-theground forest practices against a negotiated set of standards FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

ACCREDITATION BODY Accreditation standards CERTIFICATION BODY (independent, third party) Forest stewardship standards FORESTRY OPERATION FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

Main activities q. Standardization (P&C, other International, National and Regional Standards) q. Accreditation (12 accredited certification bodies, 3 applicants) q. Policy guidance and assistance q. Educational activities FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

v Balanced, Multi-Stakeholder Participation v Representation of environmental, economic, and social interests v Participation of industry, environmental groups, community groups, governments FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

Australia Austria Belgium Belize Bolivia Brazil Canada China Costa Rica Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Guatemala Honduras Indonesia Ireland Italy Japan Latvia Malaysia Mexico Namibia Netherlands New Zealand Panama Papua New Guinea Philippines Poland Russia Singapore Solomon Islands South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Thailand United Kingdom United States Vietnam Zambia Zimbabwe FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 Certification to FSC standards is expanding: v 40, 000 ha v 560 forests and 2600 manufacturing companies in 66 countries v 8000+ products labeled with FSC “checkmark & tree” logo CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

Embraced by Leading Retailers: FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

Adopted by Forest Products Companies FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

Supported by Responsible Companies & Institutions FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

Endorsed by Recognized Environmental Organizations üWWF üGreenpeace üFriends of the Earth üThe Wilderness Society üNatural Resources Defense Council üSierra Club üWorld Resources Institute FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

“In our opinion, FSC sets the highest standard. ” Suzanne Apple Vice President Community Affairs & Environment The Home Depot Forest Certification to FSC standards is the global “gold standard” forest management. The most important asset: the CREDIBILITY Values: üparticipation ümulti-stakeholder übalance ütransparency üaccountability ütruth in labeling FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

Forests as carbon sinks: important issues to consider Political implications: qhow individual countries honor international commitments Social aspects: qplantations, access for local communities, labor issues Environmental impacts: qbiodiversity, conversion, pesticide use FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

Forestry certification and climate change The 1 st link Forestry Carbon projects should: ü Ensure not only carbon sequestration, but also measurable social, environmental and economic benefits ü Operate according to an internationally recognized forestry standard such as the FSC Principles and Criteria forest management FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

The FSC forestry standard: 10 Principles and 56 Criteria for responsible forest management representing an international frame standard for the development of national or regional performance-based standards. 1. 2. 3. 4. Compliance with laws Tenure and use rights Indigenous people’s rights Community relations and workers rights 5. Benefits from the forests FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 6. 7. 8. 9. Environmental impact Management plans Monitoring and Assessment Maintenance of High Conservation Value forests 10. Plantations CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

Forestry certification and climate change The 2 nd link Measurement of carbon sinks In addition to the management standard forestry carbon projects, certification could be applied as an effective mechanism for the verification of claims and commitments related to carbon sequestration in forests. FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

An international standard forestry carbon projects? Some pre-requisites: üa widely accepted methodology for measuring carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems üforestry accepted by a wide range of stakeholder groups as a valid means for the mitigation of climate change üavailability of funds for standards development work FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

Subject to the availability of a widely accepted methodology for measuring carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems, as an international standardization body FSC could participate in the development of a comprehensive standard forestry carbon projects, considering not only management aspects, but also criteria and norms for verifying claims and commitments related to carbon sequestration in forests. FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan

FSC Trademark 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A. C. FSC-SECR-0002 CDM Climate talk COP 9 Milan