Dear All, here is something I decided to share with You. I hope You find FSC criteria interesting. At least it is a step forward in discussion of ecologically sustainable forestry. Matti Ikonen Finnish Association for Nature Protection > =============================================== > FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL > > PRINCIPLES AND CRITERIA FOR NATURAL FOREST MANAGEMENT > Board Approved Version > June 1994 > Oaxaca, Mexico > > INTRODUCTION > It is widely accepted that forest resources and associated lands > should be managed to meet the social, economic, ecological, > cultural and spiritual needs of present and future generations. > Furthermore, growing public awareness of forest destruction and > degradation has led consumers to demand that their purchases of > wood and other forest products will not contribute to this > destruction but rather help to secure forest resources for the > future. In response to these demands, certification and > self-certification programs of wood products have proliferated in > the marketplace. > > The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international body > which accredits certification organizations in order to guarantee the > authenticity of their claims. In all cases the process of > certification will be initiated voluntarily by forest owners and > managers who request the services of a certification organization. > The goal of the FSC is to promote environmentally responsible, > socially beneficial and economically viable management of the > world's forests, by establishing a worldwide standard of > recognized and respected Principles of Forest Management. > > The FSC's Principles and Criteria (P&C) apply to all tropical, > temperate and boreal forests, as addressed in Principle #9 and the > accompanying glossary. Many of these P&C apply also to > plantations and partially replanted forests. More detailed standards for > these and other vegetation types may be prepared at national and local > levels. The P&C are to be incorporated into the evaluation > systems and standards of all certification organizations seeking > accreditation by the FSC. While the P&C are mainly designed for > forests managed for the production of wood products, they are also > relevant, to varying degrees, to forests managed for non-timber > products and other services. The P&C are a complete package to be > considered as a whole, and their sequence does not represent an > ordering of priority. This document shall be used in conjunction > with the FSC's Statutes, Procedures for Accreditation and > Guidelines for Certifiers. > > FSC and FSC-accredited certification organizations will not insist > on perfection in satisfying the P&C. However, major failures in > any individual Principles will normally disqualify a candidate > from certification, or will lead to decertification. These decisions > will be taken by individual certifiers, and guided by the extent > to which each Criterion is satisfied, and by the importance and > consequences of failures. Some flexibility will be allowed to > cope with local circumstances. > > The scale and intensity of forest management operations, the > uniqueness of the affected resources, and the relative ecological > fragility of the forest will be considered in all certification > assessments. Differences and difficulties of interpretation of > the P&C will be addressed in national and local forest management > standards. These standards are to be developed in each country or > region involved, and will be evaluated for purposes of > certification, by certifiers and other involved and affected > parties on a case by case basis. If necessary, FSC dispute > resolution mechanisms may also be called upon during the course of > assessment. More information and guidance about the certification > and accreditation process is included in the FSC Statutes, > Accreditation Procedures, and Guideertifiers. > > The FSC P&C should be used in conjunction with national and > international laws and regulations. FSC intends to complement, not > supplant, other initiatives that support responsible forest > management worldwide. > > The FSC will conduct educational activities to increase public > awareness of the importance of the following: > > * improving forest management; > * incorporating the full costs of management and production into > the price of forest products; > * promoting the highest and best use of forest resources; > * reducing damage and waste; and > * avoiding over-consumption and over-harvesting. > > FSC will also provide guidance to policy makers on these issues, > including improving forest management legislation and policies. > > > PRINCIPLE #1: COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND FSC PRINCIPLES > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > FOREST MANAGEMENT SHALL RESPECT ALL APPLICABLE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY > IN WHICH THEY OCCUR, AND INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AND AGREEMENTS TO > WHICH THE COUNTRY IS A SIGNATORY, AND COMPLY WITH ALL FSC > PRINCIPLES AND CRITERIA. > > 1.1 Forest management shall respect all national and local laws > > and administrative requirements. > > 1.2 All applicable and legally prescribed fees, royalties, taxes > and other charges shall be paid. > > 1.3 In signatory countries, the provisions of all binding > international agreements such as CITES, ILO Conventions, ITTA, and > Convention on Biological Diversity, shall be respected. > > 1.4 Conflicts between laws, regulations and the FSC Principles > and Criteria shall be evaluated for the purposes of certification, on > a case by case basis, by the certifiers and the involved or > affected parties. > > 1.5 Forest management areas should be protected from illegal > harvesting, settlement and other unauthorized activities. > > 1.6 Forest managers shall demonstrate a long-term commitment to > adhere to the FSC Principles and Criteria. > > > PRINCIPLE #2: TENURE AND USE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > LONG-TERM TENURE AND USE RIGHTS TO THE LAND AND FOREST RESOURCES > SHALL BE CLEARLY DEFINED, DOCUMENTED AND LEGALLY ESTABLISHED. > > 2.1 Clear evidence of long-term forest use rights to the land > (e.g. land title, customary rights, or lease agreements) shall be > demonstrated. > > 2.2 Local communities with legal or customary tenure or use > rights shall maintain control, to the extent necessary to protect their > rights or resources, over forest operations unless they > delegate control with free and informed consent to other agencies. > > > 2.3 Appropriate mechanisms shall be employed to resolve disputes > over tenure claims and use rights. The circumstances and status > of any outstanding disputes will be explicitly considered in the > certification evaluation. Disputes of substantial magnitude > involving a significant number of interests will normally > disqualify an operation from being certified. > > > PRINCIPLE #3: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' RIGHTS > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > THE LEGAL AND CUSTOMARY RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO OWN, USE > AND MANAGE THEIR LANDS, TERRITORIES, AND RESOURCES SHALL BE > RECOGNIZED AND RESPECTED. > > 3.1 Indigenous peoples shall control forest management on their > lands and territories unless they delegate control with free and > informed consent to other agencies. > > 3.2 Forest management shall not threaten or diminish, either > directly or indirectly, the resources or tenure rights of > indigenous peoples. > > 3.3 Sites of special cultural, ecological, economic or religious > significance to indigenous peoples shall be clearly identified in > cooperation with such peoples, and recognized and protected by > forest managers. > > 3.4 Indigenous peoples shall be compensated for the application > of their traditional knowledge regarding the use of forest species or > management systems in forest operations. This compensation shall > be formally agreed upon with their free and informed consent > before forest operations commence. > > > PRINCIPLE #4: COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND WORKER'S RIGHTS > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > FOREST MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS SHALL MAINTAIN OR ENHANCE THE LONG- > TERM SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF FOREST WORKERS AND LOCAL > COMMUNITIES. > > 4.1 The communities within, or adjacent to, the forest management > area should be given opportunities for employment, training, and > other services. > > 4.2 Forest management should meet or exceed all applicable laws > and/or regulations covering health and safety of employees and > their families. > > > 4.3 The rights of workers to organize and voluntarily negotiate > with their employers shall be guaranteed as outlined in > > Conventions 87 and 98 of the International Labour Organisation > (ILO). > > 4.4 Management planning and operations shall incorporate the > results of evaluations of social impact. Consultations shall be > maintained with people and groups directly affected by management > operations. > > 4.5 Appropriate mechanisms shall be employed for resolving > grievances and for providing fair compensation in the case of loss > or damage affecting the legal or customary rights, property, > resources, or livelihoods of local peoples. Measures shall be > taken to avoid such loss or damage. > > > > > PRINCIPLE # 5: BENEFITS FROM THE FOREST > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > FOREST MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS SHALL ENCOURAGE THE EFFICIENT USE OF > THE FOREST'S MULTIPLE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO ENSURE ECONOMIC > VIABILITY AND A WIDE RANGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS. > > 5.1 Forest management should strive toward economic viability, > while taking into account the full environmental, social, and > operational costs of production, and ensuring the investments > necessary to maintain the ecological productivity of the forest. > > 5.2 Forest management and marketing operations should encourage > the optimal use and local processing of the forest's diversity of > products. > > 5.3 Forest management should minimize waste associated with > harvesting and on-site processing operations and avoid damage to > other forest resources. > > 5.4 Forest management should strive to strengthen and diversify > the local economy, avoiding dependence on a single forest product. > > 5.5 Forest management operations shall recognize, maintain, and, > where appropriate, enhance the value of forest services and > resources such as watersheds and fisheries. > > 5.6 The rate of harvest of forest products shall not exceed > levels which can be permanently sustained. > > > PRINCIPLE #6: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > FOREST MANAGEMENT SHALL CONSERVE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND ITS > ASSOCIATED VALUES, WATER RESOURCES, SOILS, AND UNIQUE AND FRAGILE > ECOSYSTEMS AND LANDSCAPES, AND, BY SO DOING, MAINTAIN THE > ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE FOREST. > > 6.1 Assessment of environmental impacts shall be completed -- > appropriate to the scale, intensity of forest management and the > > uniqueness of the affected resources -- and adequately integrated > into management systems. Assessments shall include landscape > level considerations as well as the impacts of on-site processing > facilities. Environmental impacts shall be assessed prior to > > commencement of site-disturbing operations. > > 6.2 Safeguards shall exist which protect rare, threatened and > endangered species and their habitats (e.g., nesting and feeding > areas). Conservation zones and protection areas shall be > established, appropriate to the scale and intensity of forest > management and the uniqueness of the affected resources. > Inappropriate hunting, fishing, trapping and collecting shall be > controlled. > > 6.3 Ecological functions and values shall be maintained intact, > enhanced, or restored, including: > > a) Forest regeneration and succession. > b) Genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. > c) Natural cycles that affect the productivity of the forest > ecosystem. > > 6.4 Representative samples of existing ecosystems within the > landscape shall be protected in their natural state and recorded > on maps, appropriate to the scale and intensity of operations and the > uniqueness of the affected resources. > > > 6.5 Written guidelines shall be prepared and implemented to: > control erosion; minimize forest damage during harvesting, road > construction, and all other mechanical disturbances; and protect > water resources. > > > 6.6 Management systems shall promote the development and adoption > of environmentally friendly non-chemical methods of pest > management and strive to avoid the use of chemical pesticides. World Healt > h > Organization Type 1A and 1B and chlorinated hydrocarbon > pesticides; pesticides that are persistant, toxic or whose derivatives rema > in > biologically active and accumulate in the food chain beyond their > intented use; as well as any pesticides banned by international > agreement, shall be prohibited. If chemicals are used, proper > equipment and training shall be provided to minimize health and > environmental risks. > > > 6.7 Chemicals, containers, liquid and solid non-organic wastes > including fuel and oil shall be disposed of in an > environmentally appropriate manner at off-site locations. > > 6.8 Use of biological control agents shall be documented, > minimized, monitored and strictly controlled in accordance with > national laws and internationally accepted scientific protocols. > Use of genetically modified organisms shall be prohibited. > > 6.9 The use of exotic species shall be carefully controlled and > actively monitored to avoid adverse ecological impacts. > > > PRINCIPLE #7: MANAGEMENT PLAN > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > A MANAGEMENT PLAN -- APPROPRIATE TO THE SCALE AND INTENSITY OF THE > OPERATIONS -- SHALL BE WRITTEN, IMPLEMENTED, AND KEPT UP TO DATE. > THE LONG TERM OBJECTIVES OF MANAGEMENT, AND THE MEANS OF ACHIEVING > THEM, SHALL BE CLEARLY STATED. > > 7.1 The management plan and supporting documents shall provide: > a) Management objectives. > b) Description of the forest resources to be managed, > environmental limitations, land use and ownership status, socio-economic > conditions, and a profile of adjacent lands. > c) Description of silvicultural and/or other management system, > based on the ecology of the forest in question and information > gathered through resource inventories. > d) Rationale for rate of annual harvest and species selection. > e) Provisions for monitoring of forest growth and dynamics. > f) Environmental safeguards based on environmental assessments. > g) Plans for the identification and protection of rare, threatened > and endangered species. > h) Maps describing the forest resource base including protected > areas, planned management activities and land ownership. > i) Description and justification of harvesting techniques and > equipment to be used. > > 7.2 The management plan shall be periodically revised to > incorporate the results of monitoring or new scientific and > technical information, as well as to respond to changing > environmental, social and economic circumstances. > > 7.3 Forest workers shall receive adequate training and > supervision to ensure proper implementation of the management plan. > > 7.4 While respecting the confidentiality of information, forest > managers shall make publicly available a summary of the primary > elements of the management plan, including those listed in > Criterion 7.1. > > > > PRINCIPLE #8: MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > MONITORING SHALL BE CONDUCTED -- APPROPRIATE TO THE SCALE AND > INTENSITY OF FOREST MANAGEMENT -- TO ASSESS THE CONDITION OF THE > FOREST, YIELDS OF FOREST PRODUCTS, CHAIN OF CUSTODY, MANAGEMENT > ACTIVITIES AND THEIR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. > > 8.1 The frequency and intensity of monitoring should be > determined by the scale and intensity of forest management operations as we > ll > as the relative complexity and fragility of the affected > environment. Monitoring procedures should be consistent and > replicable over time to allow comparison of results and assessment > of change. > > 8.2 Forest management should include the research and data > collection needed to monitor, at a minimum, the following > indicators: > > a) Yield of all forest products harvested. > b) Growth rates, regeneration and condition of the forest. > c) Composition and observed changes in the flora and fauna. > d) Environmental and social impacts of harvesting and other > operations. > e) Costs, productivity, and efficiency of forest management. > > 8.3 Documentation shall be provided by the forest manager to > enable monitoring and certifying organizations to trace each > forest > product from its origin, a process known as the "chain of > custody." > > 8.4 The results of monitoring shall be incorporated into the > implementation and revision of the management plan. > > 8.5 While respecting the confidentiality of information, forest > managers shall make publicly available a summary of the results of > monitoring indicators, including those listed in Criterion 8.2. > > PRINCIPLE # 9: MAINTENANCE OF NATURAL FORESTS > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > PRIMARY FORESTS, WELL-DEVELOPED SECONDARY FORESTS AND SITES OF > MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL OR CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE SHALL BE > CONSERVED. SUCH AREAS SHALL NOT BE REPLACED BY TREE PLANTATIONS > OR OTHER LAND USES. > > 9.1 Trees planted in natural forests may supplement natural > regeneration, fill gaps or contribute to the conservation of > genetic resources. Such plantings shall not replace or > significantly alter the natural ecosystem. > > 9.2 The use of replanting as a technique for regenerating stands > of certain natural forest types may be appropriate under certain > circumstances. Guidelines on the acceptable intensity and spatial > extent of tree planting will be addressed in national and regional > forest management standards to be approved by the FSC. In the > absence of such national or regional standards, guidelines > developed by the certifier and approved by the FSC will prevail. > > > > > > > > **************************************************************** > PRINCIPLE #10 IS SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW ONLY. IT IS NOT TO BE > CONSIDERED FOR RATIFICATION AT THIS TIME. AFTER CONDUCTING > FURTHER CONSULTATION, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL SUBMIT A FINAL VERSION > OF PRINCIPLE #10 FOR RATIFICATION WITHIN SIX MONTHS. > **************************************************************** > > PRINCIPLE #10: PLANTATIONS > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > PLANTATIONS SHALL COMPLEMENT, NOT REPLACE, NATURAL FORESTS. > PLANTATIONS SHOULD REDUCE PRESSURES ON NATURAL FORESTS. > > 10.1 Plantations should promote the protection and conservation of > natural forests in the landscape, both in terms of their layout > and management. Natural corridors and a mosaic of different aged > stands shall be used in the siting of plantations. > > 10.2 Introduced species should not be planted on a large scale > until trials have shown that they are well adapted to the site. > The use of exotic species in forest plantings shall be carefully > controlled to minimize adverse ecological impacts, such as > spontaneous or uncontrolled regeneration. > > 10.3 Plantations of mixed species are preferred. > > 10.4 Degraded ecosystems should be restored with significant > > proportions of native species, according to the scale and > intensity of forest management. > > 10.5 Safeguards should be incorporated to avoid outbreaks of pests > and diseases. > > 10.6 Measures should be taken to maintain or improve soil > productivity. The rate of harvest and species selection should > not result in soil degradation. > > ***************************************************************** > GLOSSARY > ***************************************************************** > > Words in this document are used as defined in most standard > English language dictionaries. The precise meaning and local > interpretation of certain phrases (such as local communities) should be dec > ided > in the local context by forest managers and certifiers. In this > document, the words below are understood as follows: > > Biological diversity: The variability among living organisms from > all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other > aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are > a part; this includes diversity within species, between species > and of ecosystems. (see Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992) > > Biological diversity values: The intrinsic, ecological, genetic, > social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational > > and aesthetic values of biological diversity and its components. > (see Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992) > > Biological control agents: Living organisms used to eliminate or > regulate the population of other living organisms. > > Chain of custody: The channel through which products are > distributed from their origin in the forest to their end-use. > > Chemicals: The range of fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, > and hormones which are used in forest management. > > > Criterion (pl. Criteria): A means of judging whether or not a > Principle (of Forest Management) has been fulfilled. > > Customary rights: Rights which result from a long series of > habitual or customary actions, constantly repeated, which have, by > such repetition and by uninterrupted acquiescence, acquired the > force of a law within a geographical or sociological unit. > > Ecosystem: A community of all plants and animals and their > physical environment, functioning together as an interdependent > unit. > > Endangered species: Any species which is in danger of extinction > throughout all or a significant portion of its range. > > Exotic species: An introduced species not native or endemic to > the area in question. > > Forest integrity: The composition, dynamics, functions and > structural attributes of a natural forest. > > Forest management/manager: The people responsible for the > operational management of the forest resource and of the > enterprise, as well as the management system and structure, and > the planning and field operations. > > Genetically modified organisms: Biological organisms which > have been induced by various means to consist of genetic > structural changes. > > Indigenous lands and territories: The total environment of the > lands, air, water, sea, sea-ice, flora and fauna, and other > resources which indigenous peoples have traditionally owned or > otherwise occupied or used. (Draft Declaration of the Rights of > Indigenous Peoples: Part VI) > > Indigenous peoples: "The existing descendants of the peoples who > inhabited the present territory of a country wholly or partially > at the time when persons of a different culture or ethnic origin > arrived there from other parts of the world, overcame them and, by > conquest, settlement, or other means reduced them to a > non-dominant or colonial situation; who today live more in conformity with > their particular social, economic and cultural customs and traditions > > than with the institutions of the country of which they now form a > part, under State structure which incorporates mainly the > > national, social and cultural characteristics of other segments of the > population which are predominant." (Working definition adopted by > the UN Working Group on Indigenous Peoples). > > Landscape: A geographical mosaic composed of interacting > ecosystems resulting from the influence of geological, > topographical, soil, climatic, biotic and human interactions in a > given area. > > > Local laws: Includes all legal norms given by organisms of > government whose jurisdiction is less than the national level, > > such as departmental, municipal and customary norms. > > Long term: The time-scale of the forest owner or manager as > manifested by the objectives of the management plan, the rate of > harvesting, and the commitment to maintain permanent forest cover. > The length of time involved will vary according to the context and > ecological conditions, and will be a function of how long it takes > a given ecosystem to recover its natural structure and composition > following harvesting or disturbance, or to produce mature or > primary conditions. > > Native species: A species that occurs naturally in the region; > endemic to the area. > > Natural cycles: Nutrient and mineral cycling as a result of > interactions between soils, water, plants, and animals in forest > environments that affect the ecological productivity of a given > site. > > Natural forest: Forest areas where most of the principal > characteristics and key elements of native ecosystems such as > complexity, structure and diversity are present, as defined by > FSC-approved national and regional standards of forest management. > > Nontimber forest products: All forest products except timber, > including other materials obtained from trees such as resins and > leaves, as well as any other plant and animal products. > > Other forest types: Forest areas that do not fit the criteria for > plantation or natural forests and which are defined more > specifically by FSC-approved national and regional standards of > forest management. > > Plantation: Forest areas lacking most of the principal > characteristics and key elements of native ecosystems as defined > by FSC-approved national and regional standards of forest management, > which result from the human activities of either planting, sowing > or intensive silvicultural treatments. > > Primary forest: An ecosystem characterized by an abundance of > mature trees, relatively undisturbed by human activity. Human > impacts in such forest areas have normally been limited to low > levels of artisanal hunting, fishing and harvesting of forest > products, and, in some cases, to low density, shifting agriculture > with prolonged fallow periods. Such ecosystems are also referred > to as "mature," "old-growth" or "virgin" forests. (further > details will be addressed by FSC-approved national and regional standards > > of forest management) > > Principle: An essential rule or element; in the FSC's case, of > forest management. > > Secondary forest: The ecosystems that regenerate from a > substantial disturbance (flood, fire, land clearing or extensive and intens > ive > logging) characterized by a scarcity of mature trees and an > abundance of pioneer species and a dense understory of saplings > and herbaceous plants. Although secondary forests frequently peak in > terms of biomass accumulation well-within one felling cycle, the > transition to primary forests usually requires several rotation > lengths, depending upon the severity of the original disturbance. > Irreversible transformation of the underlying soil and nutrient > cycle brought about by chronic or intense use may render it > impossible for the original, primary forest type to return. > (further details will be addressed by FSC-approved national and > regional standards of forest management). > > Silviculture: The art of producing and tending a forest by > manipulating its establishment, composition and growth to best > fulfill the objectives of the owner. This may, or may not, > include timber production. > > Succession: Progressive changes in species composition and forest > community structure caused by natural processes (nonhuman) over > time. > > Tenure: Socially defined agreements held by individuals or > groups, recognized by legal statutes or customary practice, regarding the > "bundle of rights and duties" of ownership, holding, access and/or > usage of a particular land unit or the associated resources there > within (such as individual trees, plant species, water, minerals, > etc). > > Threatened species: Any species which is likely to become > endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a > significant portion of its range. > > Use rights: Rights for the use of forest resources that can be > defined by local custom, mutual agreements, or prescribed by other > entities holding access rights. These rights may restrict the use > of particular resources to specific levels of consumption or > particular harvesting techniques. > > > ---------- > *EOM* > >
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