July 2003 Certification 1 Forest Certification Why Bother?

July 2003 Certification 2 Why Certification?  different types of certifications for different purposes. E.g. organic food is certified for health and environment, hair dryers and cars for consumer safety.  for forests, the market demand comes from environmental and social concerns about status quo logging, so a worthwhile certification system has to address those concerns or it will be meaningless in the long term.

July 2003 Certification 3 Why Certification? A Solution to ongoing Environmental and Social Concerns  Protection of Endangered Species Habitat  Protection of Riparian Forests and Water Bodies  Chemical Pesticide Use  Protection of Endangered Forests  Responsible Harvesting Practices and Maintaining Natural Forests  Accommodation of Indigenous Peoples’ Interests.

July 2003 Certification 4 Choices The 3 forest certification systems in BC are:  Canadian Standards Association (CSA)  Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)  Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) *ISO is not a certification of standards, it is a registration of systems. BUT…

July 2003 Certification 5 Why FSC? Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the only certification accepted by BC’s major environmental groups. Why?

July 2003 Certification 6 Why FSC? Example: Sierra Club BC Forest Policy Objectives Conserve BC’s rich natural heritage. Manage logging activities according to precautionary, ecological principles and values. Do more with less. Utilize resources sustainably. Give communities and First Nations greater control in forest management Diversify community economies. (entire forest policy at

July 2003 Certification 7 These TimberWest private lands were SFI certified shortly after photo taken. Cowichan Valley, summer Photo by Garth Lenz.

July 2003 Certification 8 This controversial public land logging by Weyerhaeuser in the Walbran Valley is CSA certified. Walbran Valley, May Photo by Mark Unrau

July 2003 Certification 9 Al Hopwood’s FSC certified woodlot. Comox Valley. Photo by Silva Forest Foundation