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

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forest certification in developing and transitioning countries
5 Silver Tiger was formerly the
WWF, but now is an independent
NGO; it continues to
be a WWF partner.
6 The study is based on
semistructured interviews
conducted with all types of
stakeholders, several case
studies of certified territories,
and analysis of documents.
7 Interview with TITANs Holding
representative, July 6, 2004;
interview with State Duma
Sub Committee of Forestry
representative, July 5, 2004.
8 Interview with academician
Isaev, July 6, 2004; interview
with Nefediev, Ministry of
Natural Resources representative,
March 2004.
accredited by FSC international. A national FSC office was established in February
2005. Several model demonstration projects are now in place, including the Pscov
Model Forest, promoted by the WWF-Stora-Enso partnership, where a system of
intensive sustainable management has been implemented and demonstrated. A
radically new system of forest management planning using economic norms and a
scenario approach with optimization techniques is being used. A second model
forest, Model Forest Silver Tiger (Preluzie 5 ) has also demonstrated that the transition
to sustainable forest management is possible, even where forestland is rented by small
Russian companies. The forest management certificate of Priluzie leskhoz has helped
the small company Luza Les to receive a chain of custody certificate.
However, some certified operations involve more positive changes then others.
There are some “weak” FSC certificates, such as that of Holz-Dammers (where IMO
was the auditor) in the Archangelsk region, which was temporarily suspended and
later reinstated. In general, only in model forests, where WWF has closely scrutinized
and guided the certification process, have all stakeholders, including the general
public, been involved in decision-making. In the majority of FSC-certified territories,
the local public was informed, but not involved in the certification process. However,
even in cases where the public does not directly participate, forest communities
receive benefits embedded in the FSC’s system of social standards. Additionally, FSCcertified
companies claim that FSC certification has given them stability and security
in the marketplace. In two cases companies claim that their income grew by ten
percent.
This case study focuses on national voluntary forest certification initiatives only in
the “initial support” section; FSC processes are discussed throughout the paper. 6
background factors
Historical Context
Forestry Problems
The lack of effective state forest policy 7 and the permanent restructuring of the forest
management system 8 are the primary barriers to sustainable forest management in
Russia. In general, forest policies and legislation in Russia do meet sustainable forest
management criteria, but forest planning and management do not.
Traditionally, socialist forestry was extensive and forestry operations moved
quickly from place to place allowing relatively large clearcuts, although they were
typically small in comparison with unharvested areas. Currently, the size of allowable
clear cuts has been reduced, but forestry remains extensive. Timber operations are
most concentrated in the regions bordering Europe and Asia. Many high
conservation value forests (HCVF), especially those close to the borders, are in danger
of being heavily logged. Many areas near roads and transportation arteries are being
deforested, while there is not enough capacity and interest in newly established firms
to conduct forestry in the regions far from the borders.
yale school of forestry & environmental studies