Management Industry

Defining FSC product groups

2009-02-11T19:00:00.000-08:00

FSC product groups are the basic unit in the FSC chain of custody standart. An FSC product group is a product or line of products whics shares the same set of input materials in approximately the same proportions.

Companies need to list all the FSC product groups they produce with a detailed description of the materials in each product group.

Examples of FSC product groups :
• a line of pine fencing
• a line of glue laminated lumber
• a line of yellow balau window frames
• a line of multiple layer flooring
• a line of oriented strand board (OSB)
• a single paper item or quality
• a line of spruce sawn timber
• a set of garden furniture (one table and four chairs)

Specific requirements for product groups

Accepted
• Products made with a mixture of components or species.
• Several product lines having the same species mixture, quality and value in one FSC product group.

Not Accepted
• Distinct product lines (different species, quality and or value) with one FSC product group.
• Exchanging species of different quality and or value within a FSC product line. These need to be classed as separate FSC product groups.

Example 1.
An FSC product group could consist of a set of garden furniture (a table and 4 chairs).
• The chair legs could be made of eucalyptus and the chair seat made of teak.
• However, the chair legs must always be eucalyptus and the chair seat must always be teak (the same component of each table / chair must always be the same species, quality and or value).

Example 2.
Two garden chair lines made with FSC certified eucalyptus and teak.
• One FSC product group would be the line of eucalyptus garden char.
• The second FSC product group would be the line of teak garden chairs.
• However, an FSC product group could not be a line of teak garden chairs whic is then interchanged with eucalyptus (cannot exchange species).
• Similarly, the same grade of teak must always be used in the FSC product group. A higher or lower grade of teak cannot be substituted.

Example 3.
In a paper mill, the same machine is producing two different kinds in alternating squences of a few hours. One paper contains 5% fiber from fresh timber and 95% from post-consumer paper. The other kind of paper contains 20% fiber from fresh timber and 80% from post-consumer material.
• There are two products of different quality, so there are two FSC product groups, one for each paper type.

Example 4.
A bed made of fiberboard with an FSC certified veneer face. The fiberboard component is not FSC certified.
• The product group would consist of the whole product (bed) including all the components.

Production Control and Records

2009-02-11T18:55:00.000-08:00

Companies need to keep following montly records of their FSC production :

1. Quantity (volume / weight) material received and used in the manufacture of each FSC product group.
2. Quantity (volume / weight) product sold as FSC Pure / Mixed / Recycled
3. Batch number
4. Average content of FSC material for each product group
5. FSC claim period (usually 12 months) for calculating the everage content of FSC material in a product group.

Invoice, Sales and Shipping Documentation FSC

2009-02-11T18:52:00.000-08:00

Accurate and complete documentation ensures the chain of custody is maintained from one company to the next. Companies need to include the following information on their sales invoices and shipping documentation for FSC certified material or products :

Sales invoices :
• Name and address of buyer
• Date of issue
• Description of product, including if product is FSC Pure, FSC Mixed or FSC Recycled
• Quantity of products
• Chain of custody certificate registration number from certification body (e.g. CB-COC-0100)
• FSC product group
• Threshold percentage or statement : ’FSC credit material’.

Shipping documentation :
• Name an address of buyer
• Date of issue
• Description of product
• Quantity of products
• Reference to sales invoice
• FSC chain of custody certificate registration number from certificate body
• Percentage of FSC certified material claimed for the product group, if applicable.

Receiving and storing material FSC CoC

2009-02-11T18:51:00.000-08:00

Companies need to ceck that the material is identifiable and is accompanied by the correct information.

FSC Pure material :
• Shipping documents with correct and valid FSC chain of custody or joint forest management / chain of custody certificate.
• Identiable and / or stored separately.

FSC Mixed material :
• Shipping documents with corect and valid FSC chain of custody or joint forest mnagement / chain of custody certificate.
• Identifiable and / or stored separately from uncontrolled materials.
Post-consumer reclaimed :
• Shipping documents with valid registration code or equivalent identification as post-consumer reclaimed.
• Identifiable and / or stored separately from uncontrolled materials.

Other reclaimed :
• Identifiable as ’other reclaimed material’
• Identifiable and / or stored separately from uncontrolled materials.
Controlled wood :
• Identifiable and / or stored separately from uncontrolled materials.
• See FSC controlled wood standarts (FSC-STD-40-005 and FSC-STD-30-010)

Uncontrolled :
• Material does not meet FSC requirements for one of the five acceptable FSC product group materials.
• Identifiable as ’uncontrolled’ and / or stored separately from FSC product group materials.

FSC CoC Quality System Requirements

2009-02-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

Chain of custody quality system requirements cover the company’s internal procedures, staff training and recorr-keeping. They also cover the certificate scope-the groups of products and product lines that are include in the FSC chain of custody certificate.

Companies need to :
• Have an person / position responsible for overall chain of custody for the company.
• Ensure all key personnel (employees and contractors understand their role in the chain of custody-company identifies, provides and documents necessary training for staff.
• Have documented procedures for all elements of company chain of custody.
• Keep records and reports accurate, complete and up-to-date.
• Define and maintain an up-to-date list of all product groups included in the FSC chain of custody certificate.
• Specify each product group as FSC Pure, FSC Mixed or FSC Recycled.

FSC Mixed : Using the FSC credit and threshold system

2009-02-11T18:48:00.001-08:00

The proportion of a product group that can be identified and labelled as FSC Mixed is calculated according to either the "FSC credit system" or the "threshold system".

Specifying and buying material for FSC products

2009-02-11T18:47:00.000-08:00

Companies need to ensure the following when specifying materials for FSC product groups :

FSC Pure and FSC Mixed material :
• The supplying company has valid FSC chain of custody certificate or a joint forest management / chain of custody (FM / CoC) certificate.
• The material is FSC Pure or FSC Mixed.
• Transportation documents and invoices quote the supplying company’s FSC certificate number and confirm the material is FSC certified.

Post-consumer reclaimed / recycled wood and other reclaimed material :
• A clear description of post-consumer reclaimed material, based on FSC definitions.
• Evidence of independent verification of the post-consumer reclaimed material, along with the supplying company’s registration code or equivalent.

Controlled wood :
• Companies buying non-FSC certified wood for mixing into FSC product groups should refer to FSC’s controlled wood standart (FSC-STD-40-005)
• Forest enterprises wanting to supply controlled wood should refer to FSC’s controlled wood standart for forest managers (FSC-STD-30-010).

FSC Chain of Custody Requirements

2009-02-11T18:43:00.000-08:00

The main objective of chain of custody certification is to ensure that FSC certified material is tracked through the production process. In this way, end customers are able to select FSC certified products knowing there is a system in place to verify the sourcing of the wood.

FSC chain of custody requirements cover five areas :
1. Quality system requirements
2. Wood sourcing requiements
3. Production controls and record keeping requirements
4. FSC product and label requirements
5. Documentation requirements

This guide presents the key concepts for each of these five areas.
Full chain of custody requirements are described in the FSC chain of custody standart for companies supplying and manufacturing FSC certified products (FSC-STD-40-004). This brochure is not a substitute for the complete standart. Interested companies and the general public can obtain this standart at www.fsc.org, or by contacting an FSC accredited certification body.

The requirements described in this guide are for manufacturers and suppliers of forest products
This include :
• Companies producing sawn wood (e.g. beams and planks);
• Companies producing chip and fiber products (e.g. pulp, paper, chip board);
• Companies producing assembled products (e.g. furniture, plywood, fiberboard with a veneer face);
• Companies producing non-timber forest products (e.g. Brazil nuts).

Trader, agents, printers, publishers and others are covered by FSC policies and standarts.

New concepts
Several new concepts are introduced in the FSC chain of custody standart :
• FSC Product group
• FSC Pure material
• FSC Mixed material
• Controlled wood
• FSC Credit system

These concepts are described in more detail in this guide. Technical definitions of these and other terms are provided in the chain of custody standart FSC-STD-40-004.

FSC Products and Labels

2009-02-11T18:37:00.000-08:00

Through the FSC label, chain of custody certified companies can show that their products support responsible forest practices. There are three categories of FSC product types and labels, based on the materials used in the FSC product group.

Companies need to meet the requirements in the FSC on-product labelling standart (FSC-STD-40-201) and the FSC Labelling Guide when applying labels to FSC certified product. These documents are available on the FSC website www.fsc.org or from FSC accredited certification bodies.

FSC Pure Label
This FSC product group contains 100% FSC certified material.

FSC Recycled Label
This FSC product group contains 100% post-consumer reclaimed material.

FSC Mixed Label
This FSC product group contains a mixture of FSC certified material, reclaimed material and other controlled sources.

There are five mixed label option. The labels allow for five different product content descriptions and the option to use a recognized recycling symbol with the FSC trademark.

Recycling symbols can be used by companies who wish to identity the recycled content in the product group. Companies who do not wish to emphasize the recycled content may use the FSC Mixed label without a recycling symbol.
For labelling with the FSC Mixed label, companies may use either a threshold system or an FSC credit system for the FSC product group.

FSC CoC Wood and fiber Sourcing Requirements

2009-02-11T18:35:00.000-08:00

Identifying the wood and fiber that goes into an FSC product is a fundamental component of chain of custody. Material sourcing requirements describe which materials can be include in FSC certified products, what the company’s written specifications for those materials need to contain, and the requirements for receiving and storing these materials.

Material used for FSC certified products must be either :
• FSC Pure
• FSC Mixed
• Post-consumer reclaimed / recycled
• Other reclaimed
• Controlled

All other material (such a glass, metal, plastics, non-wood fiber that comes from outside a forest matrix (such as bagasse or hemp), mineral fillers and chemicals) is not considered.

Categories of FSC material :
FSC Pure : material is 100% FSC material from an FSC certified forest. It has been sold and / or processed by an FSC chain of custody certified company, and has been identified as FSC Pure.
FSC Mixed : material contains a mixture of FSC certified material, reclaimed (recycled) material and or controlled wood. It has been processes by an FSC chain of custody certified company, and has been identified as FSC Mixed. this category replaces the old ’percentage’ category of FSC material.

Non-FSC certified wood can be included in FSC certified products only if it is reclaimed wood or controlled wood.
Post-Consumer Reclaimed : material includes wood ad / or wood fiber has been reclaimed from a product after that product has been used for its intended end-used purpose by individuals or businesses.
Other Reclaimed : material includes wood and / or wood fiber that has been reclaimed from a product, by-product or co-product during or after manufacture. It is reclaimed before the product reaches the end-consumer.

Controlled Wood : is not FSC certified, but is controlled by the company to exclude :
1. Wood from forest areas where traditional or civil rights are violated;
2. Wood from forest where high conservation values are threatened;
3. Wood from genetically modified (GM) trees;
4. Illegally harvested wood;
5. Wood from natural forest which have been harvested for the purpose of converting the land to plantations or other non-forest use.

FSC Chain of Custody

2009-02-11T18:33:00.000-08:00

FSC Chain of Custody

The FSC chain of custody (CoC) system connects responsible forest management practices and products with consumer. Throught FSC chain of custody, companies can demonstrate their commitment and label their products with the FSC trademarks.
FSC chain of custody certification is for companies that process, transform or trade FSC certified forest products. It enables companies to :

• Identify and control their sources of FSC certified and reclaimed / recycled material;
• Show their customert hat they meet FSC requirements for the control of non-FSC certified wood and fiber;
• Use the FSC trademarks and labels to promote their products in the marketplace.

FSC chain of custody certification can also be used to demonstrate compliance with some goverment or private procurement policies and specification such as the EU Ecolabel scheme for furniture, or the U.S Green Building Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

A tecnical guide for forest product manufacturers and suppliers
This guide is for companies seeking technical information on FSC chain of custody certification. It presents key concepts and technical requirements from the FSC chain of custody standart for forest product manufacturers and suppliers (FSC-STD-40-004).

Companies interested in becoming FSC certified should contact one FSC’s accredited certification bodies for the full requirements and details on the certification process. Certification body contact details are available at www.fsc.org.

Get FSC Certification

2009-02-11T01:23:00.000-08:00

1. INTRODUCTION
These Terms and Conditions have been structured in accordance with the requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) whose accreditation BM TRADA Certification holds though its TRADA-TRAK Chain of Custody programme.

2. SCOPE
BM TRADA Certification provides assessment and certification of chains-of-custody to confirm that firms, companies or organisations (“Clients”) are operating mechanisms by which sale to the customer of wood products from well-managed sources can be verified. The services of BM TRADA Certification may, at its absolute discretion, be fulfilled by BM TRADA Certification itself by its own employees or by assigning them to a BM TRADA Certification associated organisation.

3. CONFIDENTIALITY
BM TRADA Certification maintains confidentiality at all levels of its organisation concerning information obtained in the course of its business. No information will be disclosed to any third party unless in response to legal process or required by an accreditation body after providing the Client with a copy of such process or requirement.

4. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
A copy of the organisation chart of BM TRADA Certification, showing the responsibility and reporting structure of the organisation, and documentation identifying the legal status of BM TRADA Certification are available on request.

5. GENERAL CONDITIONS
In order to obtain and retain registration, the Client shall comply with the following procedures and rules:

(a) The client shall make available to BM TRADA Certification all documents, samples or products, drawings, specifications and other information required by BM TRADA Certification to complete the assessment programme and shall appoint a designated person who is authorised to maintain contact with BM TRADA Certification.
(b) BM TRADA Certification, if not satisfied that all registration requirements are met, shall inform the Client of those aspects in which the application has failed;
(c) when the Client can show that remedial action has been taken by it, within the time limit specified by BM TRADA Certification, to meet all the requirements, BM TRADA Certification will arrange, at additional cost to the Client, to repeat only the necessary parts of the assessment;
(d) if the Client fails to take acceptable remedial action within the specified time limit it may be necessary for BM TRADA Certification, at additional cost, to repeat the assessment in full;
(e) Identification of conformity shall refer only to the sites assessed as specified in the Certificate and Assessment Schedule or other attachments that may accompany the Certificate.

Application Certification

2009-02-11T01:22:00.000-08:00

6. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION
On receipt of a completed questionnaire, a proposal shall be sent to the Client outlining the scope and costs of the services together with a Proposal Acceptance Form. Once the application is returned, the project will be allocated to an auditor who will be responsible for ensuring that the services are carried out in accordance with the procedures of BM TRADA Certification. The name and CV of the proposed assessor will be submitted to the client who will can raise an objection to the choice of assessor. If the objection is deemed reasonable another assessor will be appointed.

7. CERTIFICATION
When BM TRADA Certification is satisfied that the Client meets all the registration requirements, it will inform the Client and issue a Certificate. The Certificate shall remain the property of BM TRADA Certification and may only be copied or reproduced for the benefit of a third party if the word “copy” is marked thereon. The Certificate will normally remain valid for a period of five (5) years unless surveillance reveals that the management system, products or manufacturing process of the Client no longer meet the FSC standards.

8. CERTIFICATION MARKS
Upon issue of a Certificate BM TRADA Certification shall authorize the Client to use a designated certification mark and the FSC trademark. A Client’s right to use any such mark shall be contingent on its maintaining a valid Certificate in respect of the certified management system and/or products and of complying with the licence agreement relating thereto. Improper use of a certification mark shall be a major non-conformance.

Surveillance and Renewal Certificate

2009-02-11T01:21:00.000-08:00

9. SURVEILLANCE
Periodic surveillances shall be carried out and shall cover aspects of the management systems, documentation, manufacturing and distributing processes and products at the discretion of the nominated auditor. The Client shall give access to all sites or products for surveillance purposes whenever deemed necessary and BM TRADA Certification shall reserve the right to make unannounced visits as required.

The Client shall maintain a register recording all complaints from customers or other interested parties, and environment and safety related incidents reported by an enforcing authority or users relating to those covered by the Certificate and make this available to BM TRADA Certification on request.
The Client shall be informed of the results of each surveillance visit.
The Client shall be granted a period of 12 months to implement any changes arising from amendments to the TRADA-TRAK programme, changes to the generic FSC requirements, or the publication of a national FSC standard.

10. CERTIFICATE RENEWAL
In order to renew its Certificate at the end of every five-year cycle, the Client shall be required to repeat the application procedure set out in Clause 6. The Client will normally be informed of the requirement for Certificate renewal during the pre-renewal visit which is the last surveillance visit of each cycle, but sole responsibility for timely filing the renewal application shall be with the Client.

Certification

2009-02-11T01:20:00.000-08:00

11. EXTENSION OF CERTIFICATION
In order to extend the scope of a Certificate to cover additional sites or products, the Client will be required to complete a new Questionnaire. The application procedure outlined in Clause 6 will be followed and an assessment will be carried out on those areas not previously covered. The cost of extending the scope of registration will be based on the nature and programme of work.

Following a successful assessment an amended Assessment Schedule will be issued covering those aspects covered by the extended Certificate. Although the original Certificate will normally remain in force it may be necessary in some instances to issue a new Certificate. In such cases the Client must return the superseded Certificate to BM TRADA Certification.

12. SYSTEM/PRODUCT MODIFICATION
The Client shall inform BM TRADA Certification, in writing of any intended modification to the management system, products or manufacturing process which may affect compliance with the FSC standards. BM TRADA Certification will determine whether the notified changes require additional assessment. Failure to notify BM TRADA Certification of any intended modification may result in suspension of the Certificate.

13. PUBLICITY BY CLIENT
At all times the use of the FSC logo for publicity purposes and/or product labelling must be strictly in accordance with the requirements of the FSC logo Guide 1 “ Regulations and Guidelines for use of the FSC logo”.

14. MISUSE OF CERTIFICATE AND CERTIFICATION MARK
BM TRADA Certification shall take suitable action, at the expense of the Client, to deal with incorrect or misleading references to certification or use of Certificates and certification marks. These include suspension or withdrawal of Certificate, legal action and/or publication of the transgression.

Suspension of Certificate

2009-02-11T01:18:00.000-08:00

15. SUSPENSION OF CERTIFICATE
A Certificate may be suspended by the BM TRADA Certification for a limited period in cases such as the following :

(a) if a Corrective Action Request has not been satisfactorily complied with within the designated time limit;
(b) if a case of misuse as described in Clause 14 is not corrected by suitable retractions or other appropriate remedial measures by the Client;
(c) if there has been any contravention of the Proposal, Application for Certification, General Conditions for Certification Services or Codes of Practice;
(d) if products are being placed on the market in non-conforming condition: or
(e) if there is a change in the Client’s management such that continued compliance with the Programme Requirements is uncertain.
The Client shall not identify itself as certified and shall not use any certification mark on any products that have been offered under a suspended Certificate.
BM TRADA Certification will confirm in writing to the Client the suspension of a Certificate. At the same time, BM TRADA Certification shall indicate under which conditions the suspension will be removed. At the end of the suspension period, an investigation will be carried out to determine whether the indicated conditions for reinstating the Certificate have been fulfilled. On fulfilment of these conditions the suspension shall be lifted and the Client notified of the Certificate reinstatement. If the conditions are not fulfilled the Certificate shall be withdrawn.
All costs incurred by BM TRADA Certification in suspending and reinstating a Certificate will be charged to the Client.

Withdrawal, Cancellation and Complain

2009-02-11T01:14:00.000-08:00

16. WITHDRAWAL OF CERTIFICATE
A certificate may be withdrawn if (i) the Client takes inadequate measures in case of suspension or goes out of business; or (ii) the Client terminates its contract with BM TRADA Certification. In either case, BM TRADA Certification has the right to withdraw the Certificate by informing the Client in writing.
The Client may give notice of appeal (see Clause 18). In cases of withdrawal no reimbursement of assessment fees shall be given and withdrawal of the Certificate shall be published by BM TRADA Certification and notified to the FSC.

17. CANCELLATION OF CERTIFICATE
A Certificate will be cancelled if the Client advises BM TRADA Certification in writing that it does not wish to renew the Certificate or no longer offers the products or the Client does not commence application for renewal on time. In cases of cancellation no reimbursement of assessment fees shall be given and cancellation of the Certificate shall be published by BM TRADA Certification and notified to the appropriate accreditation body, if any.

18. APPEALS
If, for any reason, notification is given which may result in a Certificate not being issued, suspended or being withdrawn, the Client has the right to appeal. The Appeal must be submitted in writing to the Managing Director of BM TRADA Certification. The procedure for conducting of Appeals is identified in BM TRADA Certification’s Operating procedure OP08 “Appeals”, a copy of which will be made available on request

19. COMPLAINTS
If a Client has cause to complain regarding the performance or service of the BM TRADA Certification TRADA-TRAK programme, the complaint shall be made In writing, without delay, and addressed to the Forest Certification Scheme Manager of BM TRADA Certification. If the complaint is made against the Forest Certification Scheme Manager, the letter of complaint shall be addressed to the Managing Director of BM TRADA Certification.
The procedure for handling complaints is identified in BM TRADA Certification’s Operating Procedure OP09 “Complaints”, a copy of which will be made on request.

NTFP(10) : Plantations

2009-02-10T02:08:00.000-08:00

PRINCIPLE # 10:PLANTATIONS

Plantations shall be planned and managed in accordance with Principles and Criteria 1 - 9, and Principle 10 and its Criteria. While plantations can provide an array of social and economic benefits, and can contribute to satisfying the world’s needs for forest products, they should complement the management of, reduce pressures on, and promote the restoration and conservation of natural forests.

The production of NTFPs in plantations may range from purely agricultural settings to forestry settings. Regional forest standards and consultations with experts will help in determining when to treat certain NTFPs as forest or agricultural products.

NTFPs plantations in forestry settings may be created through sowing, planting, intensive silvicultural treatments or intensive understory clearing in natural forests or timber plantations. NTFP plantations that exhibit few or none of the characteristics and key elements of native ecosystems, and are not established on lands committed to long-term forest cover, will normally be disqualified from certification.In addition, extensive cultivation of exotic understory plants not found in local ecosystems will normally be excluded from certification.Such crops may be better addressed by agroforestry, organic or fair trade initiatives that primarily focus on pesticide use, fair wages and working conditions and actions that seek to mitigate biodiversity losses due to intensive agricultural production.In the case of forest gardens that retain some of the characteristics and key elements of native forests, SmartWood may work in tandem with other initiatives to provide certification on a case by case basis.

NTFP production can balance management objectives and outputs for some plantation systems, and as such should be encouraged, particularly if production of the NTFP in question from natural forests is endangered or otherwise controversial.NTFPs provide potentially additional challenges to the plantation principle because

many products are understory plants that are not well covered by existing FSC criteria.

10.1 The management objectives of the plantation, including natural forest conservation and restoration objectives, shall be explicitly stated in the management plan, and clearly demonstrated in the implementation of the plan.

The NTFP plantation management plan articulates objectives for NTFP production.

10.2 The design and layout of plantations should promote the protection, restoration and conservation of natural forests, and not increase pressures on natural forests.Wildlife corridors, streamside zones and a mosaic of stands of different ages and rotation periods, shall be used in the layout of the plantation, consistent with the scale of the operation.The scale and layout of plantation blocs shall be consistent with the patterns of forest stands found within the natural landscape.

Intensive management, enrichment planting, or cultivation of understory NTFPs in natural forests does not adversely impact the overstory or understory diversity across the forest landscape.

10.3 Diversity in the composition of plantations is preferred, so as to enhance economic, ecological and social stability. Such diversity may include the size and spatial distribution of management units within the landscape, number and genetic composition of species, age classes and structures.

10.4 The selection of species for planting shall be based on their overall suitability for the site and their appropriateness to the management objectives. In order to enhance the conservation of biological diversity, native species are preferred over exotic species in the establishment of plantations and the restoration of degraded ecosystems.Exotic species, which shall be used only when their performance is greater than that of native species, shall be carefully monitored to detect unusual mortality, disease, or insect outbreaks and adverse ecological impacts.

10.5 A proportion of the overall forest management area, appropriate to the scale of the plantation and to be determined in regional standards, shall be managed so as to restore the site to a natural forest cover.

10.6 Measures shall be taken to maintain or improve soil structure, fertility, and biological activity. The techniques and rate of harvesting, road and trail construction and maintenance, and the choice of species shall not result in long-term soil degradation or adverse impacts on water quality, quantity or substantial deviation from stream course drainage patterns.

Intensive management or cultivation of understory NTFPs in natural forests does not cause erosion, reduce water quality or adversely impact soil structure or fertility.

10.7 Measures shall be taken to prevent and minimize outbreaks of pests, diseases, fire and invasive plant introductions.Integrated pest management shall form an essential part of the management plan, with primary reliance on prevention and biological control methods rather than chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Plantation management should make every effort to move away from chemical pesticides and fertilizers, including their use in nurseries.The use of chemicals is also covered in Criteria 6.6 and 6.7.

10.8 Appropriate to the scale and diversity of the operation, monitoring of plantations shall include regular assessment of potential on-site and off-site ecological and social impacts, (e.g. natural regeneration, effects on water resources and soil fertility, and impacts on local welfare and social well being), in addition to those elements addressed in principles 8, 6 and 4.No species should be planted on a large scale until local trials and/or experience have shown that they are ecologically well-adapted to the site, are not invasive, and do not have significant negative ecological impacts on other ecosystems. Special attention will be paid to social issues of land acquisition for plantations, especially the protection of local rights of ownership, use or access.

Establishment of NTFP plantations does not adversely impact resources or rights of local communities or local people.

NTFP plantations must not contribute to reducing the value of the environmental, social and economic functions of similar NTFPs in natural forests.

NTFP(9) : Maintenance of high conservation value forest

2009-02-10T02:07:00.000-08:00

PRINCIPLE 9:MAINTENANCE OF HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE FORESTS

Management activities in high conservation value forests shall maintain or enhance the attributes, which define such forests.Decisions regarding high conservation value forests shall always be considered in the context of a precautionary approach.

NTFP management may contribute to the maintenance of high conservation value forests (HCVF).FSC definitions require consultation to determine the status of HCVFs, including social consultations.Current definitions allow forests to be considered HCVFs if they provide basic needs for local communities, either for

subsistence use or for maintenance of cultural identity.In such cases, NTFPs may play a large role in determining if forests are to be considered HCVFs from a social perspective.

9.1 Assessment to determine the presence of the attributes consistent with High Conservation Value Forests will be completed, appropriate to scale and intensity of forest management.

Consultations to determine the status of a HCVF specifically include NTFPs as an element of the social analysis section covering forest importance to local communities (as per definition “d” of HCVF provided by FSC).

9.2 The consultative portion of the certification process must place emphasis on the identified conservation attributes, and options for the maintenance thereof.

9.3 The management plan shall include and implement specific measures that ensure the maintenance and/or enhancement of the applicable conservation attributes consistent with the precautionary approach. These measures shall be specifically included in the publicly available management plan summary.

9.4 Annual monitoring shall be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the measures employed to maintain or enhance the applicable conservation attributes.

NTFP(8) : Monitoring and Assesment

2009-02-10T02:05:00.000-08:00

PRINCIPLE #8:MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT

Monitoring shall be conducted -- appropriate to the scale and intensity of forest management -- to assess the condition of the forest, yields of forest products, chain of custody, management activities and their social and environmental impacts.

Internal monitoring systems are crucial in order to provide quality control for forest management operations, identify social, ecological, economic and operational challenges, and report on the success or failure of management interventions to resolve problems.In some NTFP management operations, monitoring may be

adequate but extremely informal.Assessors may need to move some operations toward more formal and documented monitoring systems, which in the end can serve to improve management quality and effectiveness.

8.1The frequency and intensity of monitoring should be determined by the scale and intensity of forest management operations as well as the relative complexity and fragility of the affected environment. Monitoring procedures should be consistent and replicable over time to allow comparison of results and assessment of change.

8.2Forest management should include the research and data collection needed to monitor, at a minimum, the following indicators:

a) Yield of all forest products harvested.

b) Growth rates, regeneration and condition of the forest.

c)Composition and observed changes in the flora and fauna.

d) Environmental and social impacts of harvesting and other operations.

e)Costs, productivity, and efficiency of forest management.

The monitoring plan includes the observed changes in conditions related to:

–NTFP populations (impact of harvest, growth rates, loss or vigor or decline, recruitment);

–Any outstanding environmental changes from NTFP management affecting flora, fauna, soil and water resources.

–Socioeconomic aspects of NTFP use and harvest (changes in community and worker relations or conditions, changes in NTFP use or demand, etc.)

8.3Documentation shall be provided by the forest manager to enable monitoring and certifying organisations to trace each forest product from its origin, a process known as the "chain of custody."

Volume and source data on loads of NTFPs is available in the forest, in transport, and at processing and distribution centers controlled by the FMO or NTFP harvester(s).

8.4The results of monitoring shall be incorporated into the implementation and revision of the management plan.

8.5While respecting the confidentiality of information, forest managers shall make publicly available a summary of the results of monitoring indicators, including those listed in Criterion 8.2.

NTFP(7) : Management Plan

2009-02-10T02:04:00.000-08:00

PRINCIPLE #7: MANAGEMENT PLAN

A management plan -- appropriate to the scale and intensity of the operations -- shall be written, implemented, and kept up to date. The long-term objectives of management, and the means of achieving them, shall be clearly stated.

Management plans should specifically incorporate NTFPs destined for commercial sale and enumerate management objectives, and harvest areas, rates and techniques for target NTFPs, whether these are harvested by FMOs or third parties. Harvest levels and methods should be rationalized through published literature, site-specific data and/or local knowledge.Poorly trained NTFP harvesters can cause great damage to forest resources.Forest worker training is central to realizing good management planning and implementation of proper harvesting techniques in the field.

7.1 The management plan and supporting documents shall provide:

a) Management objectives.

b). Description of the forest resources to be managed, environmental limitations, land use and ownership status, socio-economic conditions, and a profile of adjacent lands.

c) Description of silvicultural and/or other management system, based on the ecology of the forest in question and information gathered through resource inventories.

d) Rationale for rate of annual harvest and species selection.

e) Provisions for monitoring of forest growth and dynamics.

f) Environmental safeguards based on environmental assessments.

g) Plans for the identification and protection of rare, threatened and endangered species.

h) Maps describing the forest resource base including protected areas, planned management activities and land ownership.

i) Description and justification of harvesting techniques and equipment to be used.

The management plan, or appendices to the plan, specifically addresses and incorporates commercially-managed NTFPs, including:

–Management objectives,

–Resource use rights and socio-economic conditions of harvesters;

–Harvest areas (described in a map, if possible);

–Rate, timing, and quantity of NTFPs to be harvested, based upon plant part used (exudate, reproductive propagule, vegetative structure) and established best management practices for each NTFP;

–Description of and justification for the amount of each NTFP harvested, the implemented harvesting technique and the equipment used;

–Sources of information that sustain the rationale behind NTFP management activities, (i.e., based on site-specific field data, local knowledge or published regional forest research and government requirements).

7.2 The management plan shall be periodically revised to incorporate the results of monitoring or new scientific and technical information, as well as to respond to changing environmental, social and economic circumstances.

7.3 Forest workers shall receive adequate training and supervision to ensure proper implementation of the management plan.

NTFP harvesters receive information, training and/or supervision to ensure the management plan is implemented in the field.

7.4 While respecting the confidentiality of information, forest managers shall make publicly available a summary of the primary elements of the management plan, including those listed in Criterion 7.1.

NTFP(6) : Environmental Impact

2009-02-10T02:03:00.000-08:00

PRINCIPLE #6: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Forest management shall conserve biological diversity and its associated values, water resources, soils, and unique and fragile ecosystems and landscapes, and, by so doing, maintain the ecological functions and the integrity of the forest.

NTFP management, if properly handled, may enhance overall forest integrity.However, NTFP management may result in forest simplification in some cases.Such simplification may be off-set by the temporal or operational scale of the NTFP management activity, or the relatively reduced destruction to forest integrity by

NTFP harvest when compared to timber harvest.Still, harvest of many NTFPs can be destructive to forest resources due to poor technique, inadequate equipment or disregard for an individual plant’s long-term survival (for example, felling a tree to collect its fruits).Proper harvest techniques, tailored to the individual target

species and incorporating the impact of NTFPs removal on population structure, can insure long-term NTFP population viability.Exudates, reproductive propagules and vegetative structures all entail differing harvest regimes and impacts, and management activities should reflect such differences.

6.1 Assessment of environmental impacts shall be completed -- appropriate to the scale, intensity of forest management and the uniqueness of the affected resources -- and adequately integrated into management systems.Assessments shall include landscape level considerations as well as the impacts of on-site processing facilities.Environmental impacts shall be assessed prior to commencement of site-disturbing operations.

Environmental assessments include the impacts resulting from commercial harvesting of NTFPs.

6.2 Safeguards shall exist which protect rare, threatened and endangered species and their habitats (e.g., nesting and feeding areas).Conservation zones and protection areas shall be established, appropriate to the scale and intensity of forest management and the uniqueness of the affected resources.

Inappropriate hunting, fishing, trapping and collecting shall be controlled.

NTFPs on either local and/or international endangered or threatened species lists (e.g., CITES Appendix 1, “critically endangered” IUCN list, national lists, etc.) are not being harvested.

6.3 Ecological functions and values shall be maintained intact, enhanced, or restored, including:

a)Forest regeneration and succession.

Genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.

c)Natural cycles that affect the productivity of the forest ecosystem.

NTFP harvest and management minimizes impacts to forest composition and structure and soil structure and fertility.

NTFP harvest and management takes into account the ecological role and requirements of the target NTFP and other associated species, e.g. food for frugivorous birds and mammals, animal dispersal of seeds, maintenance of specific ecological interdependencies, etc.

Measures are taken to maintain the natural composition and structure of NTFP populations (e.g management of natural regeneration, enrichment planting, selection and protection of seed trees.

Severe forest simplification arising from NTFP management is allowed only when it: is temporally or spatially bound, provides a limited impact on the overall forest management unit, maintains high conservation value forest attributes or provides secure, outstanding conservation benefits to local communities or forest protection efforts.

6.4 Representative samples of existing ecosystems within the landscape shall be protected in their natural state and recorded on maps, appropriate to the scale and intensity of operations and the uniqueness of the affected resources.

6.5 Written guidelines shall be prepared and implemented to: control erosion; minimise forest damage during harvesting, road construction, and all other mechanical disturbances; and protect water resources.

Impacts of NTFP harvest and management on soil and water resources, especially access trails and roads, are minimized.

6.6 Management systems shall promote the development and adoption of environmentally friendly non-chemical methods of pest management and strive to avoid the use of chemical pesticides.World Health Organisation Type 1A and 1B and chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides; pesticides that are persistent, toxic or whose derivatives remain biologically active and accumulate in the food chain beyond their intended use; as well as any pesticides banned by international agreement, shall be prohibited.If chemicals are used, proper equipment and training shall be provided to minimise health and environmental risks.

6.7 Chemicals, containers, liquid and solid non-organic wastes including fuel and oil shall be disposed of in an environmentally appropriate manner at off-site locations.

6.8 Use of biological control agents shall be documented, minimised, monitored and strictly controlled in accordance with national laws and internationally accepted scientific protocols.Use of genetically modified organisms shall be prohibited.

6.9 The use of exotic species shall be carefully controlled and actively monitored to avoid adverse ecological impacts.

6.10 Forest conversion to plantations or non-forest land uses shall not occur, except in circumstances where conversion:

a) Entails a very limited portion of the forest management unit; and

b) Does not occur on high conservation value forest areas; and

c) Will enable clear, substantial, additional, secure, long-term conservation benefits across the forest management unit.

NTFP(5) : Benefits from the Forest

2009-02-10T02:02:00.001-08:00

PRINCIPLE # 5: BENEFITS FROM THE FOREST

Forest management operations shall encourage the efficient use of the forest’s multiple products and services to ensure economic viability and a wide range of environmental and social benefits.

NTFPs can provide a range of social and economic benefits at the local, regional and international levels and have the potential to diversify income sources for forest operations.The intent of NTFP certification is to optimize the socio-economic potential of certain marketable species, in order to provide a larger economic return

from a given forest area for local communities and forest managers, without negatively impacting local use of these or other NTFP species.Some NTFPs may favorably compete with timber revenues on an acre per acre basis.Many other NTFPs do not compete well with timber revenues, but serve important local needs.Other NTFPs go through economic boom and bust cycles.Like timber extraction, NTFP commercialization should follow rational marketing plans and have sound financial investments to ensure long-term viability, forest conservation and stability of local communities.

5.1 Forest management should strive toward economic viability, while taking into account the full environmental, social, and operational costs of production, and ensuring the investments necessary to maintain the ecological productivity of the forest.

Where NTFPs are being commercially harvested by third parties, compensation made to the FMO (cash, services or products) is at or above the norm, and is perceived by the FMO as an incentive to encourage long-term forest management.

Efficient harvesting and processing equipment and methods should be used in order to minimize ecological impacts and maximize the economic viability of the NTFP harvest operation. FMOs balance the introduction of new technologies and practices with respect for traditional cultural practices.

In the case of externally supported NTFP harvest operations, a plan exists to reduce the level of dependency on external support and to maximize levels of self-sufficiency and control.

5.2 Forest management and marketing operations should encourage the optimal use and local processing of the forest’s diversity of products.

Utilization of lesser-known species does not compromise local NTFP needs (e.g. for fruits, medicines, game-attracting species, etc.) and does not negatively impact forest diversity.

When feasible and applicable, the FMO applies multiple certification systems (e.g. FSC, organic, fair trade) to NTFP resources.

5.3 Forest management should minimise waste associated with harvesting and on-site processing operations and avoid damage to other forest resources.

The FMO or NTFP harvester(s) explores options to utilize or commercialize NTFP processing waste, when feasible and appropriate.

5.4 Forest management should strive to strengthen and diversify the local economy, avoiding dependence on a single forest product.

5.5 Forest management operations shall recognise, maintain, and, where appropriate, enhance the value of forest services and resources such as watersheds and fisheries.

5.6 The rate of harvest of forest products shall not exceed levels which can be permanently sustained.

The intensity, frequency and seasonality of NTFP harvest, by area and volume, is based on a combination of scientific study and/or long-term local experience and knowledge and does not exceed sustainable levels.

NTFP harvest rates, cultural techniques and harvest methods are appropriate for the particular plant part used (exudate, reproductive propagule, vegetative structure) and management activities maintain viable populations of target NTFPs.¹

Appropriate NTFP harvest prescriptions are being implemented in the field.

See Criterion 8.2 for monitoring.

NTFP(4) : Community Relations and Worker's Right

2009-02-10T02:02:00.000-08:00

PRINCIPLE #4: COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND WORKER’S RIGHTS

Forest management operations shall maintain or enhance the long-term social and economic well being of forest workers and local communities.

Workers involved in NTFP harvest operations may be linked to the FMO (employees, forest owner/manager and relatives) or they may be third parties (local communities, enterprises, individuals). When the scope of the certification assessment covers the NTFP products harvested by these workers, compliance must be

demonstrated with all criteria under Principle 4. SmartWood expects candidate operations to make every effort to ensure that working conditions are safe and well paid (compared to local norms). Workers from local communities are expected to be preferred in hiring. Where appropriate, worker access to living quarters and

forest resources such as timber, fibers, game and subsistence NTFPs should be agreed upon with the FMO.

4.1 The communities within, or adjacent to, the forest management area should be given opportunities for employment, training, and other services.

Local communities are given preference to NTFP resources in the forest management area before other third parties.

4.2 Forest management should meet or exceed all applicable laws and/or regulations covering health and safety of employees and their families.

Wages and other benefits (health, retirement, workers’ compensation, housing, food) for workers involved in NTFP harvest operations are consistent with (not lower than) prevailing local standards.

NTFP harvest and processing methods and facilities are safe and sanitary for both workers and end consumers.

4.3 The rights of workers to organise and voluntarily negotiate with their employers shall be guaranteed as outlined in Conventions 87 and 98 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

4.4 Management planning and operations shall incorporate the results of evaluations of social impact. Consultations shall be maintained with people and groups directly affected by management operations.

Social impacts of NTFP harvest and commercialization by the FMO or third parties on local communities are addressed and incorporated into management planning, particularly respecting subsistence NTFP users.

Detrimental social and cultural changes resulting from the influx of NTFP harvesters or commercialization of NTFPs is minimized.

Social impact evaluations must consider the perspective of NTFP harvesters and local users.

4.5 Appropriate mechanisms shall be employed for resolving grievances and for providing fair compensation in the case of loss or damage affecting the legal or customary rights, property, resources, or livelihoods of local peoples. Measures shall be taken to avoid such loss or damage.

NTFP(3) : Indigenous Peoples' Rights

2009-02-10T02:01:00.000-08:00

PRINCIPLE #3: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS

The legal and customary rights of indigenous peoples to own, use and manage their lands, territories, and resources shall be recognised and respected.

The rights of indigenous peoples to use NTFPs for subsistence needs must be protected.NTFPs play central roles in cultural and religious ceremonies for indigenous communities and their protection may promote cultural survival and positive relations between stakeholders.Certification should seek to minimize any potentially

negative impacts of market forces on traditional local use and management of forests and forest products. Certification should also avoid creating dependency relationships that may disrupt cultural balance, integrity, and belief systems, and that exploit indigenous-related knowledge and image.

3.1 Indigenous peoples shall control forest management on their lands and territories unless they delegate control with free and informed consent to other agencies.

3.2 Forest management shall not threaten or diminish, either directly or indirectly, the resources or tenure rights of indigenous peoples.

3.3 Sites of special cultural, ecological, economic or religious significance to indigenous peoples shall be clearly identified in co-operation with such peoples, and recognised and protected by forest managers.

Culturally and religiously significant sites, groves, plants and animals of cultural or religious importance are identified and protected from NTFP harvesting activities.

3.4 Indigenous peoples shall be compensated for the application of their traditional knowledge regarding the use of forest species or management systems in forest operations.This compensation shall be formally agreed upon with their free and informed consent before forest operations commence.

Indigenous communities receive fair and adequate benefits for any use of their name or image in marketing of NTFPs.

When indigenous knowledge is the basis of an NTFP-related patent, informed consent is obtained and the affected community receives fair and adequate benefits.

NTFP(2) : Tenure and Use Right and Responsibilities

2009-02-10T02:00:00.000-08:00

PRINCIPLE #2: TENURE AND USE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Long-term tenure and use rights to the land and forest resources shall be clearly defined, documented and legally established.

Non-timber forest products are important resources for rural, and even urban, populations worldwide.Forest managers shall demonstrate sensitivity to the dependence of local individuals and communities on NTFPs, as long as such NTFP usage does not threaten forest integrity.Forest managers may take proactive steps to improve community relations by improving understanding of NTFP usage, permitting continued access to such resources and by being mindful of maintaining NTFP resources in management planning.However, increased market demand, higher prices for particular NTFPs or new settlement may increase pressures on NTFPs.In such instances, management may need to restrict NTFP access to those with traditional rights, or in drastic cases, temporarily curtail access to protect resources.

2.1 Clear evidence of long-term forest use rights to the land (e.g. land title, customary rights, or lease agreements) shall be demonstrated.

Agreements are made between the FMO and third party commercial NTFP harvesters and are preferably outlined in writing (e.g. a lease contract or other agreement outlining harvest area, species collected, estimated extracted volume, etc.).

2.2 Local communities with legal or customary tenure or use rights shall maintain control, to the extent necessary to protect their rights or resources, over forest operations unless they delegate control with free and informed consent to other agencies.

Local communities receive fair and adequate benefits for any use of their name or image in marketing of NTFPs.

When local knowledge is the basis of an NTFP-related patent, informed consent is obtained and the affected community receives fair and adequate benefits.

2.3 Appropriate mechanisms shall be employed to resolve disputes over tenure claims and use rights.

The circumstances and status of any outstanding disputes will be explicitly considered in the certification evaluation.Disputes of substantial magnitude involving a significant number of interests will normally disqualify an operation from being certified.

Commercialization and large-scale harvesting of NTFPs is described in advance to affected communities, by means which are appropriate to the local reality, when the harvest of such products has the potential to impact local subsistence use.

NTFP(1) : Compliance With Laws and FSC

2009-02-10T01:59:00.000-08:00

PRINCIPLE #1: COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND FSC PRINCIPLES

Forest management shall respect all applicable laws of the country in which they occur, and international treaties and agreements to which the country is a signatory, and comply with all FSC Principles and Criteria.

Non-timber forest product harvest shall take place within the ethical and legal framework of international environmental and human rights law and policy, and national, state/provincial, and local laws in the country where forest management takes place.NTFP harvest and processing may involve laws and regulations not normally covered under a typical SmartWood assessment.Laws touching on NTFP harvest and use may fall under the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), national tenure and usufruct rights laws, and national forest management legislation.Collection of some NTFPs requires legal permits or licenses.

Furthermore, for comestible products, a variety of laws may govern quality control, transport, packaging and labeling requirements.Assessors must check with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to verify that an operation is dealing with legal requirements for NTFP management, harvest, processing and sale in a responsible fashion.

1.1 Forest management shall respect all national and local laws and administrative requirements.

1.2 All applicable and legally prescribed fees, royalties, taxes and other charges shall be paid.

The FMO or NTFP harvester(s) maintains up-to-date harvesting permits, collecting licenses, collecting contracts or cultivation permits and duly pays any fees, leases, royalties etc.

1.3 In signatory countries, the provisions of all binding international agreements such as CITES, ILO Conventions, ITTA, and Convention on Biological Diversity, shall be respected.

NTFPs on CITES Appendix 1 are not being harvested.

1.4 Conflicts between laws, regulations and the FSC Principles and Criteria shall be evaluated for the purposes of certification, on a case by case basis, by the certifiers and the involved or affected parties.

Collection of forest resources (e.g. NTFPs, firewood, timber, game etc.) for commercial purposes by third party NTFP harvesters (e.g. local communities, individuals external to the FMO) throughout the forest management area is monitored, and if necessary, controlled.

1.5 Forest management areas should be protected from illegal harvesting, settlement and other unauthorised activities.

Non Timber Forest Product

2009-02-10T01:58:00.000-08:00

Non-Timber Forest Products Certification Standards Addendum

SmartWood, November 2002

Guidance Notes

Role of NTFPs in the forest management system

Forests can be managed for many different objectives and products, including non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as gums, resins, fruits, nuts, medicinal herbs, fungi and weaving/construction materials.NTFPs encompass a broad range of products.Some NTFPs are internationally traded while others are critical subsistence resources in many rural economies.NTFPs may come from natural forests, forest plantations or agroforestry systems.NTFPs require special management and monitoring considerations in order to ensure the long-term viability of species and to minimize adverse social and ecological impacts.

NTFP harvest may produce fewer negative impacts on forest ecosystems than timber harvesting and can provide an array of social and economic benefits, particularly to community forest operations. NTFPs may maintain or enhance carbon sequestration, watershed and soil conservation functions in select forest systems.NTFPs have the potential to diversify income opportunities from forests and often yield income benefits in shorter time frames than timber. NTFP harvest and management is

present in most forest management systems worldwide, for both commercial and subsistence purposes.

NTFP certification

Since 1998, the Forest Stewardship Council has permitted certification of NTFP management systems on a case-by-case basis, and is now reviving the process to define a detailed policy.The first FSC-approved NTFP certification, granted by SmartWood to a chicle operation in Mexico, occurred in 1999. Since then, others have followed including: açaí (Euterpe oleracea), maple syrup, medicinal plants, forest tea (certified by Soil Association), and venison (certified by SGS). Many others are in process, including erva mate, pine nuts, cork, rubber and brazil nuts. Whilst SmartWood has been the NTFP certification leader, other FSC-certification bodies are beginning to incorporate NTFPs into their assessments, and are designing and implementing the required internal systems.

There are also several regional initiatives to develop certification standards for specific NTFP management systems. The Peruvian and Bolivian standards for brazil nut forest management have been endorsed by the FSC. Other regional standards specific to NTFPs may emerge with time.

How to use the NTFP Addendum

The purpose of the NTFP Addendum is to provide guidance for assessing the management of NTFPs according to the FSC Principles and Criteria in forest systems where timber harvesting is the primary management objective. Some timber operations will also harvest NTFP resources on a commercial scale within the management area under assessment. The NTFP Addendum is applied where a forest management operation (FMO) whose principal objective is timber desires to incorporate a commercially harvested NTFP resource into the scope of the certification. This can apply to NTFPs that are harvested by the FMO itself, or by third parties, as long as it is within the forest management area. The NTFP Addendum may be used during the main certification assessment of the FMO, or during an annual audit should the NTFP be incorporated after the FMO has already been certified.

The NTFP Addendum must always be used as a complement to SmartWood’s “Generic Guidelines for Assessing Forest Management” or FSC regional standards. The document “Performance Indicators and Verifiers by Plant Part” may be consulted for additional guidance on sustainability issues related to NTFP harvest and management. The NTFP Addendum should always be interpreted according to the scale and intensity of the operations.

At present, the NTFP Addendum deals solely with plants and their parts, including reproductive propagules, plant exudates and vegetative structures such as roots and bark. Systems for incorporating harvest and management of animals and animal derivatives will be considered in the future.

Main considerations:

NTFP Addendum is applied to NTFPs in FMOs where timber production is the main

management objective.

NTFP Addendum is applied to NTFPs which are commercially harvested (by the FMO

or third parties) and where the FMO requests for the NTFP to be incorporated into the

scope of the certification.

NTFP Addendum is always used in complement with SmartWood’s “Generic

Guidelines for Assessing Forest Management” orSmartWood or FSC endorsed regional

standards.

Sustainable Forestry

2009-02-09T22:13:00.000-08:00

Indonesia’s Teak Farms : A Sulawesi Cooperative Supplies Certified Teak to the World Market

What started as a quiet rebellion, of sorts, by a group of disenfranchised villagers in indonesia has sprouted into an economically viable, environmentally sustainable teak business. In 1970, the Indonesian goverment appropriated large chunks of land from villages in South Konawe District in Southwest Sulawesi, and then hired local villagers to establish teak plantations on the very land that had just been taken from them. In response, the villagers stashed a few teak seeds in their pockets and brought them home to plant in their fields and gardens. Today, those homegrown trees, sprouted in private farm plots, are proving a highly effective tool to combat illegal logging on state lands while providing villagers with a reliable source of income.

Teak : A Global Commodity

Over the past thirty-five years global demand for teak has surged. Teak has always been highly valued for its unique properties. Its high oil content makes it extremely dense and virtually impervious to water. Its hold up under heat, cold, wind and rain. It resists disease, and has the extraordinary ability, when in contact with metal, ti prevent rust. The virtualy maintenancu-free qualities of take make it one of the most prized, high-quality building materials in the world, and a favorite of outdorr furniture makers and boat builders alike.

This demand for teak has put enormous pressure on the goverments’ plantations, tempting many of South sulawesi’s poor to venture into the plantations to log illegally. The gains have been few. Villagers who harvest and sell illegal teak find themselves at the mercy of middleman, who pay notoriously low prices. Illegal logging depletes the teak resource, removing long-term income potential. Without careful management, teak groves can quickly be degraded and the resources loses its value. When a tree is cut, many shoots grow up from the stump, but these my be crooked, less vigorous, full of low-branches and not suitable for sale as timber. In the mean time, communities around the forest are further impacted by erosion an subsequent siltation and the depletion of water resources as unsustainable numbers of trees are removed. Conversely, on a well-managed teak plantation the stumps are removed after harvest an the soil is replanted with seed. And because teak grows on 20 to 30 years cycles, replanting should be a continuous process, which doesn’t happen when trees are taken illegaly.

Certification Yields Economic and Environmental Benefits

Thanks to the farmers in South Konawe District, the trend of illegal teak harvesting is beginning to be reversed. The farmers have taken to managing their home teak plots so responsibly that they have merited certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The certificate was issued by the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program, an FSC-acredited certifying body. Whereas once these farmers might have earned supplemental income by risky illegal logging, SmartWood certification means they can now command premium high enough from their own teak plots to survive financially. The premiums for certified teak may be significantly higher than illegally logged teak because the demand is high. "Businesses on the tail end of the supply chain are warry of procuring illegal teak, and they want traceability of this resources, " explains SmartWood’s Asia Pasific regional manager Jeff Hayward. "Now farmers living in this region can acces markets previously unavailable to them."