Forest Certification & Communities in the U.S. For ENVS 295 & FOR/NR 285 Community-based Forestry Cecilia Danks, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Environmental Policy The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont

Roles for Communities: in certification process As a Certificate holder As a Certificate holder As a Stakeholder As a Stakeholder Varies by System! Varies by Type of Operation!

Certification Systems in the US Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Since 1993, 26 million acres in US Since 1993, 26 million acres in US Globally: 113 million acres Globally: 113 million acres 10 Principles & 56 Criteria 10 Principles & 56 Criteria 3 chamber governance with strong environmental support 3 chamber governance with strong environmental support Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Since 1994, 3 rd party 38 million acres in US Since 1994, 3 rd party 38 million acres in US US + Canada: 93 million acres US + Canada: 93 million acres 6 Principles, 11 Objectives 6 Principles, 11 Objectives Initiated by industry (American Forest & Paper Assn) now separate SF Board Initiated by industry (American Forest & Paper Assn) now separate SF Board

Other forestry “standards” systems Other International Other International E.g. PEFC – European; CSA- Canadian E.g. PEFC – European; CSA- Canadian ISO for Environmental Management Systems ISO for Environmental Management Systems American Tree Farm System American Tree Farm System Since 1941, 26 million acres in US Since 1941, 26 million acres in US Recognized by SFI as a wood source Recognized by SFI as a wood source Independent standards & labels Independent standards & labels Often 1 st party Often 1 st party Often localized, e.g. Vermont Family Forest Often localized, e.g. Vermont Family Forest

So… a number of systems, a few major ones. But, not as systematic as one might hope. Will focus on FSC & SFI in US …

Types of Operations Certified Forest Management Operations (the land!) Forest Management Operations (the land!) Private, for-profit Private, for-profit Corporate, Large & Small Private landowners Corporate, Large & Small Private landowners Public Public Local, State, Federal (not Forest Service/BLM) Local, State, Federal (not Forest Service/BLM) Other Other E.g. University, Tribal, Communal, Non profits professional Resource Managers E.g. University, Tribal, Communal, Non profits professional Resource Managers Chain-of-custody operations (sawmills, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers) Chain-of-custody operations (sawmills, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers)

Chain of Authority and Information in Forest Certification Standard Setting Organization e.g. FSC, SFI Certifying Body e.g. Smartwood Private Forest Landowner Corporate Forest Unit Chain of Custody Manufacturer, Wholesaler, Retailer Certifying Body e.g. SCS Public Forest University, Tribal, Communal Resource Manager Small Land owner Small Land owner

How FSC & SFI Address Socioeconomic Issues Standards Standards Forest Management Operations CoC / Procurement Monitoring Required Monitoring Required Assessment Assessment Public Information Public Information

How FSC & SFI Address Socioeconomic Issues “One key difference between … FSC and SFI is the extent to which social and economic issues are emphasized.” --- Yale U. Program on Forest Certification 2002 Due in large part to: Governance Due in large part to: GovernanceMission Geographic scope

FSC examines Social impacts, esp. relationships and rights Social impacts, esp. relationships and rights Economic viability Economic viability SFI assumes “fundamental premise” that social issues addressed by US laws & regulations “fundamental premise” that social issues addressed by US laws & regulations Market is most appropriate mechanism to address economic viability Market is most appropriate mechanism to address economic viability

FSC Socioeconomic Standards About half of P’s are “social” standards: Principles 1-4, much of 5 and some of 7-10 Principles 1-4, much of 5 and some of 7-10 P 1: Legal compliance P 1: Legal compliance P 2: Tenure Rights – of owners, community P 2: Tenure Rights – of owners, community P 3: Indigenous People’s Rights P 3: Indigenous People’s Rights P 4: Community Relations and Workers’ Rights P 4: Community Relations and Workers’ Rights P 5: Benefits, incl. local processing & reinvestment P 5: Benefits, incl. local processing & reinvestment P 7: Management Plan, incl. describe SE conditions P 7: Management Plan, incl. describe SE conditions P 8: Monitoring, incl SE impacts P 8: Monitoring, incl SE impacts

FSC Principle 4: Community & Workers P.4: FMOs “shall maintain or enhance the long-term social well-being of forest workers and local communities.” 4.1 Employment & training for local communities Indicators: Compensation meets or exceeds local norms Compensation meets or exceeds local norms Procure goods and services locally Procure goods and services locally Give preference to qualified local workers Give preference to qualified local workers Participate in civic activities & education Participate in civic activities & education Provide training opportunities to workers Provide training opportunities to workers

More of P. 4 Criteria 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 …” Consultations shall be maintained with people and groups directly affected …” 4.5 Employ mechanism for resolving grievances

FSC SE Monitoring requirements Principle 8: Monitoring and Assessment “Monitoring shall be conducted -- appropriate to the scale and intensity of forest management – to the scale and intensity of forest management – to assess the condition of the forest, yields of forest assess the condition of the forest, yields of forest products, chain of custody, management activities products, chain of custody, management activities and their social and environmental impacts.” and their social and environmental impacts.”

Applicability Note for Principle 8: “On small and medium sized forests, an informal, qualitative assessment could be appropriate. On large forests and intensively managed forests, formal, quantitative monitoring is probably required.” my italics

Principle 8: Monitoring US Indicators: 2.5 pages specifying biophysical & management data SE Data to be collected: 8.2.d. Environmental and social impacts of harvesting and other operations. 8.2.d.3. Employment generation, creation or maintenance of local jobs, and public responses to management activities are monitored. 8.2.e. Cost, productivity, and efficiency of forest management.”

FSC Chain of Custody Certifies ability to keep sources separate, analyzes “risk of contamination”, little about conditions of production Certifies ability to keep sources separate, analyzes “risk of contamination”, little about conditions of production Informally, egregious issues, e.g. child or slave labor Informally, egregious issues, e.g. child or slave labor Allows CoC to sell FSC products with FSC label

SFI Socioeconomic Standards For land ownerships: Provide recreation and educational opportunities Core #1. A written policy describing public recreation and education efforts, consistent with forest management objectives “Other”… expertise on staff, make presentations to local groups, develop recreational areas,

SFI Manufacturing Participants Allows companies to advertise themselves as a “Participant” and use SFI label on all products, regardless of certified SFI content. Certifies procurement system, not conditions of production Certifies procurement system, not conditions of production “This does not imply that any or all of the material originates from SFI- certified forests.”

SFI – Socioeconomic Standards For Manufacturing /Procurement Participants: Foster professionalism of wood producers Foster professionalism of wood producers Core #1 Written policy promoting professional training of wood producers Core #2 Support of SFI Implementation Committees which offer wood producer training courses in … e. logging safety; f. OSHA wage and hour rules; … Changing – 2005 standards may be quite different

Draft SFI 2005 standards “Principles for Sustainable Forestry Managed forests make a vital contribution to the world by providing economic, consumer, environmental and aesthetic social benefits indispensable to quality of life.” Managed forests make a vital contribution to the world by providing economic, consumer, environmental and aesthetic social benefits indispensable to quality of life.”

Socioeconomic Issues in Assessment FSC Typically 3 team members: forester, ecologist, and often a social scientist Typically 3 team members: forester, ecologist, and often a social scientist Mandatory stakeholder consultation Mandatory stakeholder consultation -- Smartwood Assessor Training SFI “At a minimum”expertise in wildlife ecology, silviculture, forest hydrology and operations “At a minimum”expertise in wildlife ecology, silviculture, forest hydrology and operations SFI Verification / Certification Principles and Procedures

SE issues that FSC assessors look at: Through self-reporting & stakeholder consultation: Relationships Relationships with employees with employees with neighbors with neighbors with community --A good corporate citizen with community --A good corporate citizen Dispute Resolution Process Dispute Resolution Process Contribution to local economy Contribution to local economy Economic viability of operation Economic viability of operation

SE Issues that SFI verifiers look at: Ask for documented policies about: Public access for recreation Public access for recreation Support of training programs for workers Support of training programs for workers Compliance with labor laws Compliance with labor laws Good corporate citizen Good corporate citizen Volunteer efforts, donations, scholarships Volunteer efforts, donations, scholarships Access for education and research Access for education and research Addressing impacts of operations on neighbors Addressing impacts of operations on neighbors

What data are made public? Public Summaries FSC Specifies much of content; varies by certifier Specifies much of content; varies by certifier About page documents About page documents Made public by certifier (on website) Made public by certifier (on website)SFI Content varies; considerable company discretion Content varies; considerable company discretion Made public by company Made public by company To date no central or easy access To date no central or easy access

SE info in FSC Public Summaries Includes: In general description include brief section “Environmental and Socioeconomic Conditions” In general description include brief section “Environmental and Socioeconomic Conditions” Strengths and Weaknesses by FSC Principle Strengths and Weaknesses by FSC Principle Stakeholders Stakeholders Varies by date, certifier and case

SE info in FSC Public Summaries Weakness: “XXX does not conduct any formal social impact assessments or social impact monitoring, e.g. changes in the # of jobs from changes in forest management activities.” Strength: “Although there is not formal social impact monitoring, XXX gains valuable feedback, informally through their involvement in the community.”

SE info in FSC Public Summaries In Description or Findings : “XXX is a major employer in the area.” “XXX is a major employer in the area.” “XXX’s employees play an important role in the economic health and social fabric of the region.” “XXX’s employees play an important role in the economic health and social fabric of the region.” “XXX’s mill employs approximately 200 people from the … area.” “XXX’s mill employs approximately 200 people from the … area.”

SE info in Public Summaries: General statements, little data “XXX purchases a majority of goods, equipment and services” from local businesses. “XXX purchases a majority of goods, equipment and services” from local businesses. “XXX is improving salaries to be commensurate with local standards.” “XXX is improving salaries to be commensurate with local standards.” “Employee compensation … meet or exceed prevailing local norms.” “Employee compensation … meet or exceed prevailing local norms.”

Chain of Authority and Information in Forest Certification Standard Setting Organization e.g. FSC, SFI Certifying Body e.g. Smartwood Private Forest Landowner Corporate Forest Unit Chain of Custody Manufacturer, Wholesaler, Retailer Certifying Body e.g. SCS Public Forest University, Tribal, Communal Resource Manager Small Land owner Small Land owner

Research: social requirements of FSC certification have positive social benefits Research: social requirements of FSC certification have positive social benefits Stakeholder consultations Stakeholder consultations Concern for relationships, esp. with community Concern for relationships, esp. with community See Molnar et al for others See Molnar et al for others

Thanks! Questions?