Post on 30-May-2018
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
1/22
Stakeholder Dialogue
Revision of PEFCRequirements forForest Certification
Systems26 May 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
2/22
1
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.
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
3/22
2
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
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
4/22
3
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
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
5/22
4
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.
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
6/22
5
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.
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
7/22
6
PresentationsGlobal Challenges for CertificationBen Gunneberg, PEFC International Secretary General
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
8/22
7
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
9/22
8
Revision of PEFC Requirements for Forest Certification Systems:
the Process
Hans Drielsma, PEFC International Board Member and Chairman of the Revision WorkingGroup
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
10/22
9
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
11/22
10
PEFC Standard Setting - RequirementsSarah Price, PEFC International Head of Projects & Development
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
12/22
11
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
13/22
12
Group Forest Management Certification Requirements (PEFC ST
1002:200x (ED1.0))Ben Gunneberg, PEFC International Secretary General
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
14/22
13
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
15/22
14
Draft Requirements for Sustainable Forest ManagementJaroslav Tymrak, PEFC International Head of Technical Unit
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
16/22
15
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
17/22
16
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
18/22
17
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
19/22
18
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)
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
20/22
19
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/8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
21/22
8/9/2019 Geneva Stakeholder Dialogue May 2010
22/22
PEFC InternationalWorld Trade Centre10 Route de lAroport1215 GenevaSwitzerland
t +41 22 799 45 40f+41 22 799 45 50e info@pefc.orgwww.pefc.org