Public Dialogue on National Forest System Certification October 16, 2008 Washington, D.C. Robert J. Hrubes, Ph.D.

Certifier’s Charge Assess whether policies, plans, procedures and actions conform with FSC Standards Assess effectiveness and consistency of implementing management systems at the scale of National Forest units Anticipate/approximate/estimate possible special Indicators for National Forest management

Certification Process 1.Utilizing stakeholder consultation and professional expertise, articulate “additional considerations” 2.Review of documents & stakeholder consultation 3.Audit planning: site selections, meetings, etc. 4.On-site assessment/evidence gathering (interviews, field observations, document review, additional stakeholder consultation) 4.Deliberation and synthesis 5.Reporting

Example C.6.3.d Old Growth: Ecological functions and values shall be maintained intact, enhanced, or restored. 6.3.d.1 Type 1 stands are not harvested 6.3.d.3 Type 2 and Type 3- managed so there is no net decline

Unique Aspects of Pilot Tests Award of certification not a possible outcome First assessments on USDA National Forests FSC Federal Lands Policy Additional considerations Level of audit team expertise Stakeholder consultation—breadth/intensity

Notable Non-conformances C.5.1- Ongoing budget reductions = lack of support for long-term management and restoration C.5.6- Overstocked stands in areas designated for active timber management C Old growth forest management C Road management C. 8.2.C- Monitoring key wildlife spp. and habitat

Why Consider NFS Certification? Force and mechanism for change – To date, certification has had positive impacts on state, private, community, etc. forests – Would National Forests be an exception? Equitable access to certification – Possible non-conformance with FSC’s own policy b/c of current exclusion of an ownership class – Certification is increasingly important for forest managers and wood product companies to compete

Force for Change- Cert. Success Factors Stakeholder participation (standard development and evidence gathering) Strong market demand for FSC certified products Organizations where field staff are removed from policy and strategic direction setting Organizations with chronic underfunding Senior management and field staff view certification as a tool for improvement

Common Misperceptions There is a commercial mandate associated with FSC certification Certification is ill-suited to federal lands Certification clashes with the protection of public trust resources and values and would mandate logging Certification would endorse illegal behavior Certification amounts to ceding of authority to a third party