Forest Certification in Developing and Transitioning ... - UTas ePrints

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forest certification in developing and transitioning countries
non-existent. Moreover, the SIG lacks resources and capacity to provide effective
enforcement and monitoring.
Certification has the potential to address unsustainable and illegal logging, curb
deforestation and loss of forest biodiversity, and promote SFM, but it is not effectively
addressing these forest problems at the present time.
The effects of forest certification have been minimal because of:
(1) a lack of demand for certified timber in pertinent export markets;
(2) close relations and dependencies between SIG and the exportoriented
and foreign-owned timber industry;
(3) the unpleasant economic consequences of taking action to move in
the direction of SFM (which include decreases in jobs, company
profits and government revenues); and
(4) a lack of support by the SIG in promoting certification.
At current forest extraction rates, the primary rainforest will be exhausted by the
time forest certification gains a strong foothold in the country. Landowners require
market pressure to start demanding certified timber from loggers to help save their
forest.
Traditional/Existing Policy Responses
Weak central government administration, lack of capacity, and no enforcement of
current out-of-date legislation are some of the factors contributing to Solomon
Island’s forest problems. Despite these problems, SIG aims to decrease the current
logging rate to sustainable levels and strengthen sustainable management capacity
through the implementation of the Code of Logging Practice (COLP), with punitive
powers to prosecute violators for non-compliance. This tougher approach will
become mandatory with the passage of the new Forest Bill 2004. SIG is also encouraging
reforestation of logged-over sites by providing an enabling environment to private
sector investors to invest in forestry plantations. Provisions include security of
land-tenure and attractive taxation provisions. NGOs, meanwhile, are targeting
landowners at the village level to raise awareness of sustainable resource management,
small-scale forest enterprises, and forest certification.
structural features
Ownership and Tenure
About 90 percent of the land area in Solomon Islands is in traditional or customary
ownership. During colonial times, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the government
alienated about 10 percent of customary land, some of which has subsequently passed
to forestry or agricultural companies. About 2 percent of the alienated land area is
held by the forest industry and most of this is under reforestation. Traditional or
yale school of forestry & environmental studies