scholarly journals The Canadian commercial forestry perspective on certification: National survey results

2001 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bill Wilson ◽  
Takuya Takahashi ◽  
Ilan Vertinsky

Certification has rather quickly emerged to become an important element within the response amalgam to public concerns about the sustainability of commercial forestry. This paper presents the results of a national survey designed to examine the attitudes of Canadian forest companies toward the various certification vehicles and the underlying basis for those attitudes. Included are the ISO 14001, CSA, FSC and FORESTCARE vehicles. The results, which include responses from 117 companies, confirm a recognized need to achieve forest certification and that the appropriate certification vehicle remains unsettled. It is also clear that the forest industry does not expect a price premium to accrue from any of the vehicles. Instead, the main reason for certification is to secure continued access to public forest lands through improved public acceptance of forest management and reduced pressure from environmental groups. Key words: forest certification, sustainable forest management, criteria and indicators

1998 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Lapointe

In 1994, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) was asked by a coalition of twenty-three Canadian forest industry associations to undertake development of standards for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM). CSA agreed with the proposal and, for this purpose, formed a Technical Committee with representation from a wide variety of interested parties, including producers, woodlot owners, professionals and scientists, public and environmental groups, and governments. The open process, which was entirely that of CSA, was completed in two years, with the draft standards being approved by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as National Standards of Canada in September 1996. Verification that the standards have been achieved is accomplished through an independent audit conducted by a Registrar (certifying organization) accredited by the SCC. Certification is voluntary.The Standards framework consists of an environmental management system which is consistent with that of ISO 14001; however, requirements also include a public participation component, field performance measures, and the use of national SFM Criteria and Indicators developed by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, which in turn are based on results of the international Montreal process.


1970 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pem N Kandel

In early 2005, 10,045 ha Community Forests (CFs) were certified in Bajhang and Dolakha districts of Nepal by using the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification scheme. After two years of forest certification, subsequent questions are being asked such as: What benefits have certification brought for the Forest Users Groups (FUGs)? What tangible differences are there in forest management system because of forest certification? and What lessons have been learnt from the certified forests? In an attempt to answer these questions, a study was carried out in April 2007 in Dolakha district where 11 (2,182 ha) community managed forests were certified in 2005. On the basis of field study from two certified forests (Vitteripakha and Suspa) of the district, this paper analyzes the effects of forest certification and its implications for enhancing Sustainable Community Forestry (SCF) in Nepal. Key words: Sustainable forest management, forest certification, community forestry Banko Janakari: A journal of forestry information for Nepal Vol.17(1) 2007 pp.11-16


1999 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 811-820
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Carpenter ◽  
Winifred B. Kessler

Forest certification programs establish standards for sustainable forest management (SFM), and processes for evaluating the practices of companies relative to those standards. FORESTCARE is a volunteer, provincial-level certification program initiated by the Alberta Forest Products Association, its members, and stakeholders. Using a participating woodlands operation in northern Alberta as a test case, we examined how SFM criteria are applied in the FORESTCARE program, and whether measurable progress is evident. We also compared the FORESTCARE audit process with corporate and government audits performed in the same year. The test case revealed specific, measurable changes in management that represent actual or potential progress toward SFM. However, the improvements could not be directly attributed to the FORESTCARE Program. Recommendations are provided for strengthening FORESTCARE processes and practices. Key words: Alberta forestry, ecosystem management, FORESTCARE, forest certification, forest planning, public participation, sustainable forest management


2007 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Bourgeois ◽  
Daniel Kneeshaw ◽  
Louis Imbeau ◽  
Nicolas Bélanger ◽  
Stephen Yamasaki ◽  
...  

In order to receive forest certification and to respond to societal desires, many forest companies are attempting to demonstrate that their forest activities are «sustainable». The main objective of this paper is to qualitatively evaluate the ways in which forestry-related provincial regulations in the three provinces (Alberta, Ontario and Quebec) that contain most of the Canadian boreal forest help forest companies achieve certification with respect to ecological criteria. In the process of continually evolving towards sustainable forest management, we evaluate how these provincial regulations governing forest operations can be helpful in maintaining three criteria: biodiversity, the aquatic environment and soils. This study shows that the regulations evaluated have varied in their approach and thus have different strengths that must be underlined: (1) Ontario's approach is the strongest in terms of biodiversity, (2) Alberta and Ontario provide measures to abandon roads after harvesting, (3) Quebec provides the greatest specific measures for protecting waterways and aquatic species, (4) Alberta shows the greatest consideration for maintaining the most soil properties and functions. Better links between different regulations are necessary in all jurisdictions. The continual improvement of Canadian forest rules is often slow and advances at a different pace depending on regulators but it should be supported in all provinces. Key words: sustainable forest management, biodiversity, aquatic environment, soils, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun-Yen Lee ◽  
Ching-Hsing Chang

Forest certification plays a notable role in promoting sustainability. This certification shows that forestland holders have adopted innovative practices toward realizing sustainable business models. Relatively little analysis has been devoted to identifying the efforts of transforming a conventional business model into a sustainable version through the application of forest certification. This paper examines the elements of a sustainable business model: value proposition, value creation and delivery, and value capture in certified forestland holders’ business operations. Empirical results have confirmed that certification signifies a successful sustainability transformation within adopting firms. However, these small organizations struggle with obtaining know-how regarding sustainable forest management. There needs to be adequate external support, such as government consultants or academic researchers, in order to successfully adopt third-party forest certification. However, while practicing sustainable forest management activities will not guarantee premium prices, the certification has, in some rare cases, helped to develop a new niche market. Good communication with stakeholders has improved firms’ relationships with local residents, but more channels of communication are still needed to activate green consumers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawkat Alam ◽  
Tuti Herawati ◽  
Herman Hidayat ◽  
Stephen Wyatt

For developing countries like Indonesia, the advantages enjoyed by developed countries – of political stability and highly regulated systems of land tenure and ownership – are elusive, leading to a situation in which state intervention in forest governance is met with resistance and faces significant hurdles. Recognizing the challenges facing implementation of Indonesia's current systems of certification, and the failure thus far of government efforts to stem illegal forestry activity, this article examines the influence of certification on sustainable forest management (SFM) in Indonesia. In particular, the question of how certification requirements interact with both the domestic regulatory framework and expectations for community participation and engagement is considered. The article begins by reviewing Indonesian efforts to implement SFM, as well as the basis of certification systems; before examining Indonesian experience with forest certification, drawing both upon previously published studies and field research by the authors. Finally, the article considers complementarity in government, private and community initiatives in SFM and how regulatory reform in support of a more participatory approach could contribute to achieving these goals. The development of the Indonesian voluntary forestry certification process shows that both certification schemes and government regulation provide advantages and disadvantages in improving the sustainability of forest management and in controlling illegal activities. An increased role for communities, small-scale producers and traditional forest users appears important in the Indonesian context, providing additional options and capacity for sustainable forest management.


1999 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 961-965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc-André Côté ◽  
Luc Bouthillier

Supporters of sustainable forest management and forest certification are seeking to improve worldwide forest practices. Groups involved in the forest sector will have to adapt themselves to respect new environmental regulations, standards, and agreements linked to these two new concepts. Some forest stakeholders will lose several of their long-time privileges under the pressure of new actors involved in sustainable forest management. Forest managers will have to consider more social values in their planning than they used before. Sustainable forest management and forest certification thus have the potential to resolve, through public participation processes, old conflicts between stakeholders involved in forest management. However, these same processes could be the source of new conflicts. This article analyzes the ways in which relationships between forest stakeholders could be affected by new sustainable forest management rules. Key words: sustainable forest management, certification, forest stakeholder, public participation


1996 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Rotherham

Increasing demand for forest products and other forest benefits, coupled with widespread public concern about the management of diminishing forest resources are leading governments to move in the direction of a convention on forests, and the private sector to consider the benefits of sustainable forest management certification. Canada is developing a national standard based on ISO 14001 EMS. Several countries support the development of an internationally applicable standard through ISO.


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