Forest Club model projects and sites

Issue 20, April 2002

WOnly recently, at the end of millenium, the mankind have become aware of the urgency of solution of rational nature management problems. On the base of the world movement "Roman Club", the green movement, World Nature Charter, and the decisions of UN General Assembly on Environmental Protection the new world-wide paradigm of mankind was found. It is the paradigm of the "Sustainable Development of the World". The general line of the new strategy is the change-over of civilization from numerical growth to qualitative development.

The undoubted necessity is the upend of the attitude towards nature, life support resources including forests. Even in north remote settlements it became clear to man: exhausting exploitation of the nature leads to trouble. It became obvious that the time of extensive managing by Northern forests is over. The active measures a necessary to maintain the resource potential and to establish order in forestry. Since forest growing is the long process that lasts several decades, it is necessary to think about forest renewal long before their intensive logging.

For development of ideas of Sustainable World, supported by the Russian President and Government, the Forest headquarters of Russia also accepts in 1997 the declaration on "Sustainable Forest Management in Russian Federation". Forestry specialists proclaim such guiding lines for the future as non-exhausting use, extended reproduction, and securing of ecological functions of the forests. The proclaimed imperatives are quite severe and are significant. They are absolutely conform with world tendencies. The course, that was proclaimed to environmental sanitation of forestry production, on perfecting of use of forests and effective regeneration of forest resources is confirmed with publication of "The Criteria and Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management". This document removes all doubts of the purposes and problems modern of forestry. The completely legible guiding lines are stated: for reliable providing of high-quality reforestation, increase of forests productivity, keeping of ecological functions of forests, the importance of solution of social problems.

Many people are guarded, whether it instead just another dreamy inactivity. In the Soviet times and more impracticable projects were developed, for example the plan of building of communism. But still it makes a big difference. Radical economic reforms, the market business relations that actively invaded in our actuality - all that convinces that the situation has changed. The is with the policy of common sense, the reasons of a global economic expediency. The ideas that were proclaimed have the world scale. The mankind simply has no alternative. The world capitalist practice has accumulated the wide experience of putting into practice of serious projects of rearrangement of the economic systems, economic policy. The excellent mechanism of solution of similar global social, economic and environmental problems is mastered. This mechanism is the certification of all industries and sections of production, in the given case - of all the sections in all branches of forestry.

The certification in a broad sense is interpreted as a set of measures, bringing all the quality parameters of producing and effected production or provided services to certain most rational generally accepted parameters. The words "certificated production" mean production of high-quality. The major advantage of certification is that it links and balances of economic concerns of all parts of the production process, provides the interest in the work of high quality of all the participants of forest trade. The certification that has been correctly carried out makes economically and morally unprofitable poor work on any production line, and in any production cycle.

To cross the T's, the forestry industrialist will be really interested to sell more valuable high-quality stands of trees, to bar form environmental and forestry damage caused by inefficient forest exploitation. The better wood will give forest operator more profits, on the processing stage it will be worked into plank timber, paper, etc. of better quality. Produced materials stuffs will be sold at higher price. As a result, the enterprises that control forest industry will assign more money from the profits to the communal fund of reforestation and forest regeneration. Thus, all the participants of the production line made their profit.

It is obvious, that the idea of certification was apprehended with enthusiasm by the forestry specialists and scientists. At last there is the real opportunity to leave from idle talks and to undertake the real and effective steps for error recovery, which were accumulated for decades. At last it became possible by common efforts of all interested parts of forestry to develop the long-term strategy of forest management, that would be advisable economically, socially and environmentally. Its major purposes: overall profitability, stability, sustainable development on never-ending prospects, solution of social and environmental as well as economic problems.

Since the quality of wood in any branch of forestry and also the solution of environmental problems are immediately connected with natural characteristics of forest, the key role in solution of the problems stated in the region has regulating of forest management. In the field of forest management such problems should be solved, as definition of the function of forests in a region, definition of the general line in all the forest branch, substantiation of proportions and setting of kinds of use, providing of non-exhausting use and extended reproduction of trees, maintaining of forests as a landscape organizing and environment stabilizing factor. It is more reasonably to begin certification of forestry from certification of forest management.

Among the urgent problems of forest production, that is possible to solve by means of certification of forestry, the most urgent are:

• putting in order the forest exploitation;
• providing of effective reforestation;
• prevention of catastrophic drop of forest productivity and change of species;
• prevention of decrease of commodity qualities of the stands of trees;
• conservation of environment stabilizing functions of forests.

All these problems are consequences underestimation of natural regularity of reforestation processes at in forest exploitation. Hence, it is necessary in forestry to certificate first of all such branches as: "forest exploitation - reforestation", "the dynamics of structure of forest resources", " dynamics of productivity of plantations", "environmental potential of forests".

As always good ideas have to be realized with many difficulties. In the Arkhangelsk region the idea of certification of forestry is hardly develops, with setbacks at every step. There is a lot of difficulties in this process. Every participant of timber market holds his own. The abstract "common interest" is not their business. Every of them has enough to worry about. Not everyone realize the urgency of current problems. Not everyone understand that Russia loses the international market, that wood production without certificated will have no demand. On several plants that work for export the management, realizing forthcoming complications, have begun certification from solution of problems of production quality: perfection of production standards. According to their words, the environmental quality of raw material does not influence upon the conjuncture the market yet. Therefore they do not see need for carrying out of certification of forests.

The majority of enterprises, not wishing to take upon incur a burden of common cares, simply wait now, guided by Russian "somehow and other". Is thought, nevertheless this time it will not be so easy. Market will force not today but tomorrow to reconstruct all the economic system, to raise production efficiency, in production quality to follow the world standards. It is obvious, that all the participants of forest market are to solve the problem of radical turn in quality and efficiency of forestry production. It is clear, that each participant of the forest market will carry only the part of the costs, which concerns immediately his work. But certification of forests management, however, concerns all the participants, although in different extent. The absence of reliable scientific basis for balance of economic relations in forestry is the serious stand in the way of development of this branch. The forest economy and the Forest Code of Russia are still reformed. The new bills on forests are not ready yet, there is no regional forest legislation. There ate lot of complications, but it necessary to begin work.

The major criterion of sustainable forest management is the providing of effective forest exploitation. If applied to practice, this criterion should be regarded as a turning-point to effective control of loggings order, to absolute securing of effective reforestation of high-quality. For that it is obligatory to perform the requirements of the Rules of loggings, instructions and manuals of forestry.

It is known, however, that performance of these instructions and rules seriously complicates the economic parameters of forest exploitation, rises timber cutting in price. It is necessary to change the technologies, to improve the interest of consumers in production of high-quality. Consequently, to receive the certificate the forest manager should undertake several efforts: to regulate wood producing, to provide reforestation, to spent additional money.

It is complicated with that the requirements stated in the old documents, that regulate wood-cuttings, are ineffecient today. The cutting resources, the technologies and the machines on timber cuttings has been changed. The most essential change is that "the price of reforestation" has increased both in the production process of forest regeneration, and in cost of timber commodity. Consequently, new criteria are necessary at the expert assessment of reforestation providing at forest logging. Criteria brought from Mexico or Italy are not suitable here. Certification of reforestation should be realized according to local modern criteria.

On the seminar on forest certification problems, that was held November 2001, the public and the specialists of the Arkhangelsk region were acquainted with the first experience of certification of timber-harvesting production in the forests of "Dammers" company. The specialists - foresters, who are familiar with complications of the similar actions, who know the price of required changes, were shocked with that ease this firm got the international certificate. The experts worked only 1,5 years, and the audit engaged from Italy or Canada has recognized that work of timber enterprise meets the requirements of sustainable forest management.

It is not necessary to be the leading economic expert to see evident profanation in this action. It is obvious wishful thinking. It is clear, that no one of the indicators of effective managing (effective reforestation, prevention of species change, conservation of ecological qualities of the lands) not reached a demanded level in the work of two timber enterprises, which were certified.

To the shame of scientific community, the outstanding in the region scientists - foresters were involved in the above-mentioned forgery. We'd like to hope, that it was only a mistake, though serious, but nevertheless only an error; that the scientists conducting such accountable work failed to take into account the changed situation in forestry and economy, and they estimated the ecological effectiveness of logging on for archaic and formalistic approaches. They obviously have neglected preliminary development of local criteria of assessment of timber enterprises. Obviously, that conducting the certification of timber producing cycle, it was necessary to rise to the required level also previous parts of timber production. The measures of certification of dynamics of forest resources, dynamics of productivity, of species structure were necessary. The check of principles and practice of forming of wood-cutting area also requires close attention.

Actually, that was the brute discrediting of the very significant field of activity. It raises anxiety that some specialists after such beginning will get unfounded confidence. It turns out to be, that visual changes in production process are enough to get the certificate? But, what for to realize such certification? In that way it doesn't solve any of urgent problems of forestry.

Actually, it was the resolution for a further exhaustion of forest resources under the pretence of certification. There is the danger that the wave of eye-wash can be repeated: bad habits are contagious. In our opinion, it is necessary for the State Committee Natural Resources to realize an independent expert assessment of the certification that was carried out, and to stop the profanation.

THE KOMI GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED THE PARAMETERS OF RECOGNIZING OF OLD-GROWTH FORESTS The government of Republic of Komi (north-west of Russia) has approved of the list of old-growth forests, discharged on the territory of the model forest "Priluzye" and has approved the order and the procedure of carrying out of special inspections for the purpose of allocation of the old-growth forests and to consider them as especially protected areas on the territory of the republic. The measures on conservation and sustainable management by the old-growth forests of Komi will be financed from the funds of budget of the republic. The control of realization of these measures is assigned to the Ministry of nature resources of the Republic of Komi. From the information of the working group of the "Priluzye" model forest THE EXPERTS MET IN HELSINKI TO CONFIRM THE NECESSITY OF HARMONIZATION OF METHODS WITHIN FSC In Helsinki the seminar on forest certification in the countries of Northern Europe was held in September. It was organized by Taiga Rescue Network. In the seminar the representatives of environmental NGOs, auditor companies and experts took part. During the meeting the methods of revelation, management and conservation of environmentally valuable forests within the framework of the certification Principle N 9 of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) were discussed, which are used in the countries of Northern Europe, Baltic and Russia. The meeting was the result of the international discussion concerning interpretation of the Principle N 9 and necessity of harmonisation of the approaches to the these problems in the national methods of certification in neighbour countries. The representatives of Biodiversity Center and International Socio-ecological Union have introduced the approaches used in Russian frame standards of FSC. Now these standards have been approving in Klin timber enterprise (Moscow region). The separate section on the seminar was dedicated to development of the system of FSC certification in Russia. In particular, it was considered, how it is possible to make more universal the procedures of taking into account during certification of the opinion of all the stakeholders and different auditor companies. Representatives of well-known companies realizing certification in Russia (SGS, Soil Association, Smartwood, IMO) told of the procedures they use. The Biodiversity Center has demonstrated on the concrete examples, what complications the companies - auditors can face in cirrent Russian conditions. In conclusion the non-governmental organizations have discussed the problems and tendencies in mutual relations of the certification systems of FSC and PEFC (Pan-European System of Certification). Mikhail Karpachevsky, Biodiversity Center, forest@bcc.seu.ru RUSSIAN NATIONAL STANDARDS OF FSC APPROVED IN MOSCOW REGION September, 2001 the project of Russian national frame standards of voluntary forest certification developed by the National working group was approved in Klin timber enterprise (Moscow region) together with German auditing firm GFA Terra Systems GmbH. The members of the commission, having simulated real certification, have considered the text of the standards point by point: they have studied the accounting and technical documentation of the timber enterprise, went to the forest and checked performance of all forestry norms. As a result, the text of the standards was simplified, in particular several indicators. For example, one of the standards demanded from the experts of commission to check out all the accounting documentation. During the process of approbation it was found out, that this is too much confusing, then it was decided simply to require the documents confirming accountability of an enterprise to tax, auditing and other state institutions. Also there were positive sides of the standard were appreciated; for example one of the requirements to the form of wood-cutting area calculation, there was the requirement on protection of especially valuable and old-growth forests. The text was approved as a whole, and after small additional work it was sent to FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) for approval. For further information: Vladimir Chuprov, fscrussia@online.ru UPM KYMMENE GROUP TRACES AN ORIGIN OF RUSSIAN WOOD On the website of UPM-Kymmene Group the information about the system of tracing of an origin of wood from Russia was published. This project is carried out together with publishing houses Axel Springer Verlag, Otto Versand, North-Western Forest Management Enterprise and Greenpeace Russia. These information arises keen interest in many consumers, buying the production of this company. Their interest is connected with their wish not to buy illegal wood, and also the wood from the forests, using which they can face the conflict with nature conservation NGOs and public. Some other large western companies (for example, Stora-Enso) already have similar systems, but rather detailed information on its work was published for the first time. Now many western timber companies consider an opportunity of creation of similar systems of tracing. For further information: http://w3.tracingimports.upm-kymmene.com/ MARKET IS AT WAR WITH ECOLOGY The new rules proposed by EU for the control of social government contractual works can serious embarrass the environmental control for the governments of some countries and for local authorities. It would be difficult for them to require use of wood from competently managed forests, ecologically clean food, "green" electricity and non-polluting transport at the conclusion of government contracts in public sector. It means that the proposed rules will not allow to take into account the processes and methods of producing, for example, at government timber purchase. In case they were approved, the systems of environmental certification, which actively develop now, will lose significance, and the development of the environmentally sensitive markets will be seriously hampered. For example, requirement to use the FSC-certificated wood will be the infringement of the European legislation. The municipalities that will require use of certified timber would risk to receive subpoena from the European Commission. The same restrictions are planned to impose on use of "organic" food in state restaurants, use of "green" energy, and non-polluting public transport. Now only of the proposed rules are informed in detail only the narrow circles of the experts on the internal European markets. European environmental organizations have called the community to achieve from the governments change of these rules, to make them environmentally and socially acceptable. For further information see the website: www.fern.org FOREST CERTIFICATION IN SWEDEN: DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE Now there is the conflict situation in Sweden in the field of forest certification between the basic companies of timber industry, which conduct certification according to FSC system, and the regional associations of forest owners, which work with PEFC (Pan-European Forest Certification) scheme of certification. The unofficial group, which includes the Swedish Society of Nature Conservation (SSNC), WWF of Sweden, Swedish Federation of Timber Industry and the representatives of the associations of forest owners, had been studied since beginning of the year the opportunities of the exit from this impasse. Similarity of these two concepts in Sweden is more significant than in many other European countries, as the basic elements of the systems have much in common (the type of certification - certification of conformity; the voluntary obligations through the group certification; etc.). The standards accepted in Southern Sweden show obvious similarity of the two schemes. In addition, there is steady wish of at least several associations of forest owners (such, for example, as the largest one - SODRA), to get recognition of their activity from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The group has done large work on realization of the technical analysis of existing now differences between the two standards of forest management - FSC and PEFC - in Sweden. The elaboration of the proposals on finding way out from the situation is carried out now. It should demonstrate, how it is possible to perform the necessary technical requirements. Then this document will be handed over to the FSC working group of Sweden for analysis and making of the official decision. The discussions held in Sweden should not be regarded as the process of mutual recognition of the two systems, or as if non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were accept the PEFC system. It is rather an attempt to reduce incomprehension and to solve at least some problems in national controversy on forest certification, paying special attention to the technical aspects of difference of the national certification standards. WWF of Sweden hopes that this process will help and encourage many forest owners, who work now with PEFC, to carry out certification on FSC system too. The source of information: www.taigarescue.org THE REFERENCE BOOK ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOREST MANAGEMENT STANDARDS IS PUBLISHED "Taiga Rescue Network" (TRN) has issued the new publication "Development of The Forest Management Standards: The Manual on Survival". It is the practical reference book for all the stakeholders involved in development of FSC standards all over the world. The sections on the national initiatives of certification, FSC working groups, representatives, financing, development of the standards project, consultations, field approbation and regional interaction are included in the manual. The separate chapter is devoted to the potential problems, which it is possible to face while introducing the standards of certification. From the "Forest Sertification" information and analytical journal, by Elena Khramova, staip@mail.natm.ru TENNESSEE (USA) CARRIES OUT INDEPENDENT CERTIFICATION OF THE FORESTS USA. State Tennessee became the first of the southern states carrying out the independent certification of forests (60 thousand hectares). In that way it has joined Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania. The certification in Tennessee is to be carried out according to the system of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and also to the system of the American Forest and Paper Association. As 80 percents of forests on the territory of the state belong to the individual owners, the authorities would support the independent certification of these plantations. The additional economic encouragement for forest to carry out certification owners becomes the decision of the largest trade networks Home Depot and Lowe to sell only environmentally certified wood production. At the same time several environmental organizations criticize effectiveness of the voluntary environmental certification, and insist on administrative restrictions of logging. From the "Forest News" electronic newsletter, N 76 THE MOST PART OF THE AUSTRIAN FORESTS IS CERTIFICATED Four more regions of Austria were certified according to the national PEFC (Pan-European Forest Certification) system in 2001. As a whole, more than three quarters of the Austrian forests, which general area is more than 3 millions of hectares, were officially certified. One of the bases of the PEFC certification program is the monitoring, which is carried out by the independent third party. The companies OQS and SGS take an active part in forest certification on the territory of Austria. Both certifying organizations are international. In particular important contribution of national and international experience of forest certification is made by the company SGS-ICS. It realizes the certification according to the standards of FSC for several years, and also it carries out the inspections of the forests of Sweden and of the line "manufacturer - consumer" used here by timber companies, according to the PEFC system. The source of information: PEFC Newsletter, December 2001 From the information and analytical magazine "Forest Certification", Elena Khramova, staip@mail.natm.ru