scholarly journals The role of voluntary certification in maintaining the ecologically unequal exchange of wood pulp: the Forest Stewardship Council's certification of industrial tree plantations in Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jutta Kill
Keyword(s):  
Economic Cost ◽  
Pulp And Paper ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Tree Plantations ◽  
Forest Stewardship Council ◽  
Certification Scheme ◽  
Unequal Exchange ◽  
Voluntary Certification ◽  
Forest Stewardship

Voluntary certification schemes have grown in popularity since the late 1980s. Today, a large number of consumer items from coffee and chocolate to oil palm and soya products carry labels that supposedly attest their contribution to promoting fair trade or a reduction of negative environmental impacts. Many printed books, magazines and other paper products carry a label promising 'environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable' management of the tree plantations that deliver the raw material for the pulp and paper from which these products are made. This article explores the role that one such voluntary certification scheme used by the pulp and paper sector plays in maintaining ecologically unequal exchange. Would ecologically unequal exchange in a certified product cease to exist if the voluntary certification schemes available for pulp and paper products were to become the norm, instead of just catering to a niche market? If the answer to that hypothetical question is 'no' – which it is – then the question that arises is: what role does the voluntary certification scheme play in upholding ecologically unequal exchange? This article explores the role of one particular voluntary certification scheme – by the Forest Stewardship Council – in maintaining ecologically unequal exchange in the trade of pulp products between industrialised countries with a relatively high per-capital consumption of pulp and paper products and the global South, in this case Brazil. It shows how, from the perspective of communities who bear the ecological, social and economic cost of industrial tree plantations and who oppose further expansion of these plantations, voluntary certification schemes have (inadvertently?) helped tilt the balance of power even further in favour of corporate interests for expansion. An unacknowledged imbalance of power between corporations and the certification schemes, on the one hand, and communities and their allies, on the other, has become manifest and aids further expansion of industrial tree plantations for production of pulp for export, thus contributing to maintaining ecologically unequal exchange.Key words: certification; commodity chains; conflicts; consumption; ecologically unequal exchange; environmental justice; Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), industrial tree plantations; pulp and paper; resistance struggles

scholarly journals Voluntary Sustainability Certification and State Regulations: Paths to Promote the Conservation of Ecosystem Services? Experiences in Indonesia

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 503
Author(s):  
Intan Kurniati Ningsih ◽  
Verina Ingram ◽  
Sini Savilaakso
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Forest Stewardship Council ◽  
State Regulations ◽  
Certification Standard ◽  
Voluntary Certification ◽  
Market Driven ◽  
Forest Stewardship ◽  
The Impact

The Forest Stewardship Council initiated a Forest Certification for Ecosystem Services (ForCES) project from 2011 to 2017 to improve and promote sustainable forest management addressing a range of ecosystem services. Three sites in Indonesia were included in the pilot. Whilst the development of the certification standard was largely the result of a partnership between the certification standard organization, civil society and research organizations, implementation and monitoring of the impact of this sustainability standard will entail interactions with state regulations. This study examined how voluntary certification, other market-based approaches and state regulations concerning ecosystem services in Indonesia interplay, particularly in the agenda setting and negotiation stage. Using the conceptual lenses of transition theory and state and non-state market-based governance, interrelationships between ecosystem services certification and regulations were found to be complementary and antagonistic. The majority of interrelations were complementary and supporting. However, antagonism exists where regulations do not address multiple land uses and when there are contradictions in how state regulations define ecosystem services. There was limited state involvement in developing the ecosystem services certification standard, with no substitution between the voluntary standard and regulations occurring. To scale and transition this innovatory standard from a niche to a sociotechnical regime level, it is recommended that market-driven governance arrangements at farm, forest concession and landscape level are developed in collaboration with national and local governments. Collaboration can create synergies to incentivize the acceptance, adoption and effectiveness of non-state market driven instruments to positively enhance the conservation of ecosystem services.

scholarly journals The role of FSC certification to maintain sustainability: the case of Precious Woods Amazon Company

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debora Ramos Santiago
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Forest Stewardship Council ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Market Expansion ◽  
Forest Stewardship

The objective of this study is to analyze the role of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for the maintenance of sustainability in the Amazon, considering the specific case of the timber Precious Woods Amazon (PWA), trying to understand the fundamental aspects of this certification program, the environmental benefits generated and the challenges for the conservation and promotion of sustainable development of the Amazon. As base of information, essentially was used the sources of data of the Forest Stewardship Council data (FSC), the Institute of Agricultural and Forest Management and Certification (IMAFLORA) and Precious Woods Amazon (PWA). The FSC certification has been considered an important instrument for the conservation of global sustainability, through their strict principles and criteria that enable forest management occurs in an environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable. In this perspective, the PWA has contributed significantly to the conservation of the Amazon, making it a world reference in sustainable use of forests. Despite the harsh criticism existing on the veracity of their practices, the available data revealed to be unquestionable the importance of PWA promoting sustainable development in the region, because since its inception the protected areas have been expanded, in addition, the company generates decent jobs, clean energy and income for these isolated areas in the interior of Amazon, also fostering productive traditional practices in the communities that surround them. Many are the challenges to market expansion certificate in the Amazon, requiring efficient actions to foster it, promoting the spread of information, supervision and implementation of beneficial policies directed to local conditions, so that forest certification become a reality in the market, not only internationally, but also location. Environmental certification is a green and responsible development, becoming a worldwide trend at recent times.

Green Grades

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Bullock
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Information Value ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Forest Stewardship Council ◽  
Original Dataset ◽  
Forest Stewardship

A debate has emerged recently about the role of information in environmental politics. Much of this debate has focused on the emergence and effectiveness of product eco-labels and corporate sustainability ratings as a new form of environmental governance. “Information optimists” believe that the provision of information can be an effective strategy to protect the environment, while “information pessimists” are concerned that information-based approaches serve as a distraction from more effective forms of governance that rely on the rule of law. This book advances a third position of “information realism,” which acknowledges both the contributions and limitations of information -based governance initiatives. It asserts that these initiatives must develop into more mature governance initiatives for them to overcome their current weaknesses and produce long-lasting and substantial environmental benefits. The book uses a series of in-depth case studies and an original dataset on 245 cases of environmental certifications and ratings to discuss their contributions and limitations and highlight their best and worst practices. These include programs such as ENERGY STAR and USDA Organic, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council, and LEED and Green Globes. Each chapter is organized around a different component of the information value chain that is at the heart of these initiatives, and applies concepts such as legitimacy, validity, and usability to analyze how they are both constructed and perceived. The book concludes with a set of recommendations for policymakers, designers and users of these initiatives that can improve their long-term effectiveness as a form of environmental governance.

scholarly journals Does Differentiation by Certified Raw Wood Change the Average Price at the Tama Roundwood Market Center in Tokyo, Japan?

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 264
Author(s):  
Shohei Kameyama ◽  
Katsuaki Sugiura
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Local Area ◽  
The Other ◽  
Forest Stewardship Council ◽  
Consumer Awareness ◽  
Certification Scheme ◽  
Metropolitan Government ◽  
Price Premiums ◽  
Forest Stewardship ◽  
Market Center

It is important to understand price premiums related to certified raw wood to predict the future of forest certifications from the perspective of forestry enterprises. We focused on identifying the trading roundwood market data in the economic center of power in Tokyo. This study aimed to clarify Tama-certified raw wood prices under the local area certification scheme, forest-certified raw wood prices, and the handling volumes at the Tama Roundwood Market Center in Tokyo. Sales details of the Tama Roundwood Market Center were used to identify the handling volumes, Tama-certified raw wood prices, and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or SGEC (Japan-specific Sustainable Green Ecosystem Council)-certified raw wood prices. The FSC and SGEC have operated from the center since 2016. Data were collected from the 2006–2018 fiscal years. Our results showed that the volume of raw wood handled increased due to the regeneration-cutting project conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. On the other hand, there was no price premium for Tama-certified raw wood under the local certification scheme or for FSC- or SGEC-certified raw wood. Price premiums for forest certifications are necessary for ongoing sustainable forest management. There is a need to increase consumer awareness of forest certifications and to differentiate quality certifications further, and these would likely create price premiums.

scholarly journals Public Opinion and the Legitimacy of Global Private Environmental Governance

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-81
Author(s):  
Fabian G. Neuner
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
International Organization ◽  
Democratic Deficit ◽  
Forest Stewardship Council ◽  
The Public ◽  
Collective Action Problems ◽  
Forest Stewardship ◽  
Public Opposition

The rise of global private environmental governance has inspired substantial research assessing whether organizations like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) are legitimate. These organizations address global challenges and help overcome collective action problems, but public opposition can severely curb their effectiveness. Yet, we do not know whether the public supports such organizations and perceives them as legitimate. This article draws on diverse political science literatures to outline why a focus on public opinion is important. The article tests two competing arguments explaining potential opposition toward organizations like the ISO and the FSC: accounts centered on the role of sincere preferences over the legitimate locus of authority and on the influence of domestic elite rhetoric. Results suggest that public opinion is generally positive and that elite rhetoric about a potential democratic deficit rather than simple information about the bodies’ governance structures decreases favorability.

scholarly journals Market based forest conservation opportunities

2019 ◽  
pp. 97-106
Author(s):  
A. V. Ptichnikov
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Forest Certification ◽  
Forest Stewardship Council ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
Forest Stewardship ◽  
Representative System

Forests of Russia have global ecological significance. They include huge massive of boreal forests, almost a quarter of global area of intact forest landscapes. The global role of Russian forests in inhibition of aridization and land degradation is well known. Development of representative system of forest protection is one of the main tasks of Russian Federation in implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity obligations. The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 20112020 and the Aichi Strategic Goals plan protection of no less than 17% of terrestrial ecosystems area to the 2020, especially the sites of high significance for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The main forest protection mechanisms are protected natural areas (PNA), forests with protective functions, and protective sites (PS). PNA contains around 7% of forest covered area. Forests with protective functions make up around 16% of forest covered areas, but the management regimes of many types of such forests are not conforming to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Many of forests with protective functions are under lease for forest management. Since recently the significance of voluntary Forest Stewardship council (FSC) certification for biodiversity conservation is increasing. The standards of FSC certification require from forest companies to implement protection and appropriate use of high conservation value forests (HCVF). Totally there are 46 mln ha of FSC certified forests in Russia, from them around 56 mln ha of HCVF received additional protection from certification. One of the most important categories of HCVF are intact forest landscapes (IFLs). Around 1 mln ha of IFLs are protected as the result of forest certification, providing significant input into Convention on Biological Diversity. For 35 FSC certified companies the share of identified HCVFs with nature conservation regimes in their leased forests is comparable with the average share of PNAs (without certification) on the regional or district level. The main output of the research is that the role of voluntary forest certification for enhancing the system of forest protection in Russia is increasing, which receives worldwide recognition.

NGO Power in Global Social and Environmental Standard-Setting

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 36-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus Boström ◽  
Kristina Tamm Hallström
Keyword(s):  
Standard Setting ◽  
Forest Stewardship Council ◽  
Global Organizations ◽  
Responsible Behavior ◽  
Environmentally Responsible ◽  
Forest Stewardship ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
The Impact

We have seen a worldwide increase in new nonstate, multi-stakeholder organizations setting standards for socially and environmentally responsible behavior. These standard-setting arenas offer new channels for political participation for NGOs. Scholars have drawn attention to the rise and the role of NGOs in global politics, but there is less research on the power and long-term implications of NGO participation in transnational multi-stakeholder standard-setting. This article analyzes NGOs within three such global organizations: the Forest Stewardship Council, the Marine Stewardship Council, and the International Organization for Standardization on Social Responsibility. Using a power-based perspective, we demonstrate the impact that NGOs can have on multi-stakeholder work. In doing so, we analyze four types of NGO power: symbolic, cognitive, social, and monitoring power. The article further emphasizes institutional, structural, and discursive factors within multi-stakeholder organizations that create certain challenges to NGO power and participation in the longer term.

scholarly journals Rheological Characterization of a Concentrated Phosphate Slurry

Fluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 178
Author(s):  
Souhail Maazioui ◽  
Abderrahim Maazouz ◽  
Fayssal Benkhaldoun ◽  
Driss Ouazar ◽  
Khalid Lamnawar
Keyword(s):  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Rheological Characterization ◽  
Phosphate Ore ◽  
Insoluble Particles ◽  
Experimental Protocols ◽  
Solid Liquid

Phosphate ore slurry is a suspension of insoluble particles of phosphate rock, the primary raw material for fertilizer and phosphoric acid, in a continuous phase of water. This suspension has a non-Newtonian flow behavior and exhibits yield stress as the shear rate tends toward zero. The suspended particles in the present study were assumed to be noncolloidal. Various grades and phosphate ore concentrations were chosen for this rheological investigation. We created some experimental protocols to determine the main characteristics of these complex fluids and established relevant rheological models with a view to simulate the numerical flow in a cylindrical pipeline. Rheograms of these slurries were obtained using a rotational rheometer and were accurately modeled with commonly used yield-pseudoplastic models. The results show that the concentration of solids in a solid–liquid mixture could be increased while maintaining a desired apparent viscosity. Finally, the design equations for the laminar pipe flow of yield pseudoplastics were investigated to highlight the role of rheological studies in this context.

scholarly journals Contribution of Cyanotoxins to the Ecotoxicological Role of Lichens

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 321
Author(s):  
Dobri Ivanov ◽  
Galina Yaneva ◽  
Irina Potoroko ◽  
Diana G. Ivanova
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Modern Times ◽  
Effective Application ◽  
The World ◽  
The Common

The fascinating world of lichens draws the attention of the researchers because of the numerous properties of lichens used traditionally and, in modern times, as a raw material for medicines and in the perfumery industry, for food and spices, for fodder, as dyes, and for other various purposes all over the world. However, lichens being widespread symbiotic entities between fungi and photosynthetic partners may acquire toxic features due to either the fungi, algae, or cyano-procaryotes producing toxins. By this way, several common lichens acquire toxic features. In this survey, recent data about the ecology, phytogenetics, and biology of some lichens with respect to the associated toxin-producing cyanoprokaryotes in different habitats around the world are discussed. Special attention is paid to the common toxins, called microcystin and nodularin, produced mainly by the Nostoc species. The effective application of a series of modern research methods to approach the issue of lichen toxicity as contributed by the cyanophotobiont partner is emphasized.

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