Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010

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Stakeholder Dialogue

Revision of PEFCRequirements forForest Certification

Systems26 May 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland


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Dear PEFC Members and Stakeholders

The PEFC Stakeholder Dialogue that took place on 26 th May in Geneva was focused on the revision

of PEFCs core documentation and requirements for sustainable forest management and forest

certification schemes.

You may be aware that this is the second time in its ten year history that PEFC has embarked upon

a comprehensive revision of its documentation governing the Sustainability Benchmark

requirements for certification systems seeking endorsement by PEFC. As a service provider, PEFC

is constantly mindful of the wider social, environmental and economic debates on the challenges

facing society in terms of sustainability, and in particular sustainable forest management practices.

As the world's largest forest certification system and the certification system of choice for hundreds

of thousands of small- and family-forest owners, it is our collective responsibility to integrate best

practice, new scientific knowledge, stakeholder and customer expectations, as well as practical

experiences on the ground into standards that are globally relevant and locally applicable.

Therefore, PEFC is comprehensively reviewing and revising its benchmarks, and to do this most

effectively stakeholder engagement and input is essential.

This stakeholder dialogue built on the work of a multi-stakeholder working group comprising

representatives from a broad range of sectors including forest owners, industry, customers, the

scientific community, environmental groups and trade unions.

Their work has been complemented by a serious of workshops, in which specialists in topics

including labour rights, free and prior informed consent, biodiversity conservation, pesticide use and

GMOs participated by contributing expert knowledge to the revisions process. I would also like to

use this opportunity to thank all those individuals who have so generously volunteered their time andexpertise.

After many months of hard work by many stakeholders we now have first enquiry drafts which are

undergoing a global public consultation process.


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The event provided an ideal opportunity for stakeholders to meet one another and share views,

opinions and suggestions on critical issues such as how to:

Make sure there is balanced stakeholder participation in developing national standards;

ensuring the recognition of indigenous peoples rights relating to forest resources;

guarantee basic labour, health and safety standards in all forestry operations; and

stop forest conversions, and what approach is best to limit the use of herbicides.

PEFCs continuing success in delivering certified sustainable forest management globally depends

upon stakeholders continuing participation, and the resultant requirements will apply to over two

thirds of the worlds certified forest area.

I look forward to welcoming you to future Stakeholder Dialogues, the next of which is in Rio de

Janeiro Brazil, in November.

Yours sincerely

Ben Gunneberg

PEFC International Secretary General


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Agenda

PEFC Stakeholder DialogueLa Maison des Associations, Geneva, Switzerland

26 May 2010, 0900 - 1700

Plenary session - Chaired by Hans Drielsma, PEFC International Board Member and Chairman of theRevision Working Group

Welcome - Bill Street, PEFC International Chairman

Global challenges in PEFC certification - Ben Gunneberg, PEFC International SecretaryGeneral

Introduction to the revision process - Hans Drielsma

Draft requirements for standard setting - Sarah Price, PEFC International Head ofDevelopment

Draft requirements for group forest certification - Ben Gunneberg

Draft requirements for sustainable forest management -Jaroslav Tymrak, PEFC

International Head of Technical Unit

Roundtables

Standard setting

Group forest certification

Sustainable forest management

Plenary session - Chaired by Hans Drielsma

Presentation of roundtables results

Discussion


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Summary of Roundtables

Standard Setting Roundtable (PEFC ST 1001:20XX, ED)

Summary

Roundtable discussions focused on the four critical issues identified in the Standard revision

process (PEFC ST 1001:20XX, ED):

scope of standard;

ensuring balanced representation in the process;

incorporating disadvantaged & key stakeholders; and

requirements for building consensus and decision making.

In general, participants suggested that the requirements presented in the enquiry draft would

encourage a robust, inclusive standard setting process.

Specific suggestions for improvement put forward by participants included:

incorporating a work flow diagram to graphically explain the different stages of the

process (with reference to the relevant requirements in the Standard),

reference to the nine major groups identified in Agenda 21 to provide additional

guidance for balanced representation from Civil society in the process, and

finally, to streamline text recommending specific methodologies towards building

consensus and decision making to ensure we dont unintentionally limit the methods that

can be effectively utilised.

Group Certification (PEFC ST 1002:20XX, ED)

Summary

The roundtable on group forest certification discussed the enquiry draft (PEFC ST 1002:20xx,ED). Participants highlighted a number of issues that the PEFC Standards Revision working

group should consider in finalising the document, amongst them

the link between the requirements for group organization and requirements for

certification bodies and their auditing methodology for group forest certification;

the term regional certification should be used throughout the document as it has

an important communication value for forestry community;

involvement of contractors in group forest certification; and

overlaps of different certified groups operating on the same territory.


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Dr. Hans Drielsma,

Chairman of the Stakeholder Dialogue Working Group

SFM Roundtable (PEFC ST 1003:20XX, ED)

Summary

The roundtable on sustainable forest management discussed the enquiry draft (PEFC ST

1003:20xx,ED), and due to time restrictions prioritized those issues of the most importance for

the stakeholders present:

Forest conversions, prohibition as well as recognition of situations where small scale

conversions might be justifiable;

Indigenous peoples, identification, clarification, and respect to legal, traditional, and

customary rights;

Climate change; SFM was considered to play an important role in climate change

mitigation as well as climate change adaptation; the climate change issue was seen as

an important consideration for defining the number of requirements relating to SFM;

Public availability of information, especially in relation to small scale forestry and the

definition of confidential and personal information; and

GMOs, various positions and opinions relating to the use of GMOs in forestry were

presented articulating potential benefits as well as risks relating to the use of GMOs.


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PresentationsGlobal Challenges for CertificationBen Gunneberg, PEFC International Secretary General


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Revision of PEFC Requirements for Forest Certification Systems:

the Process

Hans Drielsma, PEFC International Board Member and Chairman of the Revision WorkingGroup


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PEFC Standard Setting - RequirementsSarah Price, PEFC International Head of Projects & Development


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Group Forest Management Certification Requirements (PEFC ST

1002:200x (ED1.0))Ben Gunneberg, PEFC International Secretary General


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Draft Requirements for Sustainable Forest ManagementJaroslav Tymrak, PEFC International Head of Technical Unit


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Revised Standard - Critical Changes

Forest conversions: Forest conversions are implicitly prohibited in the current standard, e.g. in

PEOLG 1.1a, which requires that forest management planning shall aim to [...] enhance the quality

of the economic, ecological, cultural and social values of forest resources [...] or PEOLG 1.2.a,

which requires that forest management practices shall safeguard the quantity and quality of the

forest resources [...].

The revised draft standard explicitly prohibits conversions in 1.2.a: Conversion of forests to other

types of land use, including timber plantations, shall not occur [...]

Chemicals: The current standard stipulates that chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides be

substituted by natural alternatives or minimized. In addition to this, the revised draft standard

prohibits the use of WHO Type 1A and 1B pesticides and other highly toxic pesticides (2.2.c).

GMOs: According to current requirements, GMOs cannot be considered as part of PEFC certified

material. The revised draft criteria clarify this point further and specify that Genetically modified

trees shall not be used. (4.2.b)

Rights of indigenous people and local populations: The draft revised standard has been further

strengthened especially on social issues.

For example, in addition to requiring that forest management activities shall be conducted in

recognition of the established framework of legal, customary and traditional rights, which shall not be

infringed upon without the free and informed consent of the holders of the rights (6.1.b), the revised

draft standard requires consultation with local people and stakeholders and mechanisms for

complaints and dispute resolution

This is in addition to existing mechanisms provided by the certification and accreditation procedures:

Forest management shall provide for effective communication and consultation with local people

and other stakeholders relating to the sustainable forest management and shall provide appropriate

mechanisms for resolving complaints and disputes relating to forest management between forest

operators and local people (6.2.a)

Labour rights, health and safety: While PEFC remains the only global certification system that

requires that the fundamental ILO conventions are respected, the revised draft standard in

addition requires that forest management complies ILO conventions 155 (Occupational Safety and

Health Convention), 161 (Occupational Health Services Convention), and 184 (Safety and Health in

Agriculture Convention) (6.2.b)


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Protected areas, special biotopes and set-aside areas: Again, this is an area where PEFC has

further clarified and strengthened its requirements in the revised draft standards.

In addition to the requirement that Forest management planning shall aim to maintain, conserveand enhance biodiversity on ecosystem, species and genetic level and, where appropriate, diversity

at landscape level (4.1.a), the revised draft standard requires that Forest management planning

and terrestrial inventory and mapping of forest resources shall identify and protect ecologically

important forest biotopes (6.2.b) and that The forest management shall provide for conservation of

the key ecosystems or habitats in their natural state (6.2.b).

These requirements are different from the currently valid standard in so far as they explicitly charge

the forest owner/manager with the identification, protection, and conservation of key ecosystems

and biotopes, which is only implicitly included in the current standard.

Further information:

Download the draft revised standards and comment online: http://consultations.pefc.org
http://consultations.pefc.org/http://consultations.pefc.org/http://consultations.pefc.org/


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PEFC InternationalWorld Trade Centre10 Route de lAroport1215 GenevaSwitzerland

t +41 22 799 45 40f+41 22 799 45 50e [email protected]

Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010

Documents

Transcript of Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010