delivering impacts in the forest and beyond

8/20/2019 Delivering Impacts in the Forest and Beyond

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PEFC/01-00-01

AND BEYOND

DELIVERING

IN THE FOREST I M PA C T S


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ABOUT PEFC

PEFC, the Programme forthe Endorsement of ForestCertication, is the world’s leadingforest certication system.

More than 300 million hectaresof forests are certied to PEFC’sinternationally recognizedSustainability Benchmarks, supplyingmore than 18,000 Chain of Custodycertied companies with responsiblysourced timber and wood-based products.

PEFC was founded by small-and family forest owners to demonstrate excellence insustainable forest management.

PEFC/01-00-01

Our Vision:

A world in which peoplemanage forests sustainably.

Our Mission:To give society condencethat people manage forestssustainably.

Our Purpose:

Through the endorsementof national certicationsystems, PEFC motivates andenables people to sustainablymanage their forests andworks to provide a market forthe products of those forests.

MISSION STATEMENT


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PEFC is the world’s leading forestcertication system. It promotessustainable management practicesin the forest, establishes traceabilitythroughout supply chains and usesindependent third-party auditing toensure requirements are being met.Through offering Forest

Management and Chainof Custody certication,PEFC can provideassurances that thoseproducts carrying thePEFC ‘green trees’ logoare made with material derivedfrom a PEFC-certied forest.

INTRODUCTION

Given the importance of forests tothe planet, sustainable management isessential to ensure society’s demandsdon’t compromise the resource.Sustainable forest management offersa holistic approach to ensure forestactivities deliver social, environmental and


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In addition to offering a forestcertication system, an importantpart of PEFC’s work is delivered throughprojects and initiatives. Working in closecooperation with partners around theworld, we use projects to build capacity,improve market conditions for certiedproducts and develop solutions to further

advance sustainable forest management.In support of emerging nationalcertication systems specically, weoffer considerable support and guidanceto the organizations leading standarddevelopment processes. Working incollaboration throughout the process canhelp to ensure that systems are developedefciently, in alignment with PEFC’srequirements and that valuable experiencegained in one country can be sharedwith another.

Through delivering forest certicationover the last 15 years, PEFC haspositively impacted signicant areasof forest through requiring improvedforestry practices and bringing attention

to sustainable management. What’s lessacknowledged is the impact PEFC isalso delivering outside of forests. Theseimpacts may be less obvious and beyondthe traditional scope of forest certication,but they are exciting and hold muchpromise for scaling up.

economic benets, balance competingneeds and maintain and enhance forestfunctions now and in the future. Forestcertication is the tool to prove thisand to connect the consumer with thesustainable origins of their products.


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EMPOWERING SMALLHOLDERSAND SUSTAINING LIVELIHOODS

More than 30 per cent of the world’sforest area is managed by family forestowners, communities and indigenouspeoples. While collectively this is asignicant share of the global forest,at a local level it is typically divided intomillions of small forest holdings.

Without economies of scale, investment orproximity to the market, smallholders oftenface persistent challenges in accessingthe full value of their resource. This limitsthe potential of forest management toreduce poverty, support rural livelihoodsand contribute to economic development.Solutions are needed to assistsmallholders in overcoming these barriers

while reinforcing their continued role asresponsible stewards of the forest.

PEFC’s response to support smallholdersin gaining access to markets, economiesof scale and value for their resource, isGroup Certication. Group Certicationenables multiple smallholders to pursuecertication together, sharing costs,

roles and responsibilities amongst thedifferent participants. It makes certicationaffordable when individual certicationwould be too expensive, and it encouragesand facilitates sharing of knowledgeand pooling of resources amongsmallholders. Selling certied productscan support forest owners to increasetheir marketability.

By 2016, nearly one million smallholdersachieved certication through PEFC GroupCertication, a testament that it is a practicaland cost-effective mechanism.

To further increase the number ofsmallholders able to benet from certication,PEFC is leading a project to expand GroupCertication globally. Working with local andinternational partners in various locationsaround the world, including Malaysia, Nepal,Thailand and Vietnam, we are learning aboutthe unique challenges facing smallholdersand supporting the development of newand appropriate certication solutions.


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Building PEFC GroupCertication in Vietnam

In Thua Thien Hue Province,Vietnam, we support thestrengthening of smallholdercooperatives and cooperativealliances. The project is increasingthe capacity of cooperatives todeliver forestry-related services,to support smallholders inimplementing sustainable forestpractices, and to build stronger,more protable business modelsfrom their growing forest resource.

The role of PEFC GroupCertication is well-recognized andpreparations are underway to offeran affordable certication systemthat links small landowners to themarket. The project is a cooperationbetween AgriCord, the FinnishAgri-agency for Food and ForestDevelopment (FFD), PEFC andthe Thua Thien Hue CooperativeAlliance since 2011.

Thailand is currently the world’slargest producer of natural rubber ,

with these rubber trees managed bymore than 1 million smallholders .After 25 to 30 years, the mature

trees are no longer productivefor rubber tapping and become a

major wood source .

D I D Y O U K N O W ?

25% of Nepal’s forestsare managed by communities

organized into18,000 user groups .


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ADDRESSING DEFORESTATION& MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE

Our planet is losing its natural forestcover at an unprecedented pace.In light of climate change, bio- andcultural diversity loss and rural poverty,we collectively need to upscale ourresponse to conserving and promotingforests and optimizing their potentialto solve our global challenges.

Over the last decade, governments,multinational companies, industryassociations and non-governmentalorganizations have been workingtogether to understand and tackle thecomplex interactions that seemingly leadto deforestation in so many forest richcountries. REDD+, FLEGT, Zero Net

Deforestation: these initiatives all takedifferent forms but look to identify, inuenceor eliminate the key drivers of deforestation.

Agriculture is generally acknowledgedas the main driver of deforestation. Incomparison, only a small proportion ofglobal deforestation is caused directly fromthe forest sector through the establishment

of plantations and overexploitationof timber. Nevertheless, PEFC workswithin this space to reduce forestry’sdirect and indirect links to deforestationand to offer tools to protect companiesand land managers from exposure todeforestation risks.

From our unique position, PEFC worksto address deforestation through:

• Preventing forest degradationPEFC-certied forests are managedin compliance with internationallyrecognized sustainability requirementsand regularly monitored by third-party,

independent auditors. This ensuresthat forest management activitiesare not leading to forest degradation,a common pre-condition of foreststhen converted for alternative land use.

• Prohibiting forest conversionWithin PEFC-certied forests thereare strict requirements which controlconversion. In addition, plantationsestablished on land converted after2010 are not eligible for PEFCcertication.

• Establishing supply chaintransparencyProducts carrying a PEFC logo orcertied claim have been deliveredthrough a controlled supply chainwhereby each operator has Chainof Custody certication in place andmust exercise due diligence to ensurethat unwanted, controversial sources,including conversion timber, do notenter the product.


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• Strengthening consumer trustForest products that come fromresponsibly managed, renewableforests are part of the solution, notthe problem. Certication and thePEFC label on a product help to build

consumer trust in forest products,

which in turn creates additional demandand ultimately increases the value offorests. Creating additional value anddemand for forest products is one ofthe best ways to keep forests standing,as it prevents them from being cleared

for alternative land uses.


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With 7 billion people living on theplanet, demands for food, fuel andber continue to mount. Agriculture,conservation, development and otherland uses all compete for space.

Recognizing that there is an increasingcomplexity in nding optimal balance forour land use needs, there are movementstowards a landscape approach toovercome traditional land managementboundaries and consider land usedecisions and interventions in a moreholistic way.

In line with aspirations for moresustainable landscapes and urbanspaces, PEFC recognizes that treesare also grown and cultivated far beyondforest boundaries. Creating shade inhome gardens, hedgerows throughoutagricultural elds, refuge in urban spaces,or plantations for productive purposes, theintegration of trees throughout landscapesundoubtedly generates substantial social,economic and environmental benets.

Tree farming can also alleviate pressureon forests in places where natural forestsare threatened. The non-wood forestproducts that the trees both inside and outof forests produce also have the potentialto contribute signicantly to increasedfood security and rural livelihoods.

Clearly there is a role for forestcertication to play in further promotingthe planting of trees outside forests,increasing wood production and bringingrecognition to the roles that trees play

in sustainable landscapes. By extendingthe scope of certication throughout thelandscape we can further encouragesustainable practices and support treeplanting or forest restoration to deliveroptimal impacts.

Exploring the certicationof trees outside forests

Trees outside forests provide asignicant source of material tothe forest products industry incountries such as Thailand, wherethe paper companies are workingclosely with farmers to facilitate thegrowing of trees around land underrice cultivation. Within this context,PEFC has been supporting localstakeholders in Thailand to identifythe requirements that exemplifybest practice in tree farming. Ourwork now continues, supportingthe development of a full nationalcertication system, within whichthese requirements for treesoutside forests can be included.

At international level, PEFC is alsoworking to develop a certicationsolution for trees outside forests.The multi-stakeholder processwill build consensus around bestpractice and seek to offer a practicalapproach to enable farmers toaccess certication and meetthe market’s demands.

PROMOTING SUSTAINABLELANDSCAPES


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ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS

Stakeholder dialogue and engagementare crucial if we are to address anysustainability challenge effectively.For complex issues there will alwaysbe a range of perspectives, needsand expectations and only throughdialogue can consensus and lastingsolutions emerge.

PEFC provides ongoing mechanisms tofacilitate stakeholder dialogue on forestryissues at national and international levels.Our projects would not be possible withoutclose alignment to the expectationsof local stakeholders, their knowledgeand support. Therefore, dialogue andengagement with stakeholders is

fundamental to the success of theprojects we are undertaking.

The same is true for our standardsdeveloped at national and internationallevels. With new forestry-relatedknowledge, best practice, expectationsand needs constantly emerging,

it is essential that our standards benet fromin-depth discussions and a consensus-drivenprocess. To ensure this dialogue occurs,PEFC requires that interested stakeholdersare identied, informed and invited toengage in standard-setting processes.Moreover, revisions of all forest managementstandards are required every ve years

thereby encouraging an ongoing dialogueamong stakeholders.

PEFC has national members in 43 countriesaround the world. Each member is activelyfocused on enabling stakeholder dialoguewithin their certication system processes.

D I D Y O U K N O W ? There are over 20 countries currently developing national

forest certication systemsand closely following PEFC’s

expert advice and best practicein standard-setting.


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Supporting national system development

PEFC is invested in continually

expanding forest certication toadditional countries as a meansto involve more people and bringmore forest area under sustainablemanagement. To expand PEFC’sglobal alliance, we provide support andguidance to organizations working toestablish a national forest certicationsystem and eventually achieve

PEFC endorsement.One of the main resources that PEFCutilizes in this regard is a publicationtitled ‘PEFC Toolkit: Developing aNational Forest Certication System.’

The step-by-step guide gives hands-

on advice for organizations leadingcertication initiatives and shares manyvaluable lessons from PEFC memberson effective stakeholder engagement.The toolkit is distributed at national,regional and international workshopswhere PEFC delivers capacitybuilding and technical support onthis important subject.

Countries as wide-ranging as India,Macedonia, Mexico and Cameroonare all currently receiving supportfrom PEFC to establish their nationalcertication system.

As of December 2016

PEFC members with

endorsed systems

Countries actively developing systems

PEFC members progressingtowards endorsement


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ENCOURAGING COLLABORATION

Advancing sustainability and buildingsolutions requires collaborationamongst likely and unlikely partners.Forest certication helps to establishthis collaboration across many levels.

Between businesses and their supply chaintransactions, for example, certicationencourages the sharing of information,establishment of longer-term businessrelationships and a common pursuit ofsustainable forest products. It also unitesdiverse stakeholders in research, dialogueand projects.

To mobilize partners in activecollaboration around forestsustainability PEFC investsannually in the Collaboration Fund.Each year, the Fund awards smallgrants to members and non-protorganizations to support innovative,collaborative projects well-designed

to deliver impact.

PEFC Collaboration Fund

aims to:• Promote innovation;• Stimulate local projects;• Encourage partnerships;• Share nancial burdens.

Activities include:

• Promoting certi cation or certi edproducts;

• Capacity building to expand forestcerti cation;

• Researching issues related to PEFCSustainability Benchmarks or nationalstandards;

• Researching new products, servicesand approaches.

Eligible applicants

Our members, other non-protorganizations, and private and public

sector organizations may apply.If the lead applicant is not our member,it is desirable for one of our membersto be a project partner.

Grant amounts

We consider applications of up toCHF 40,000 with a project time frameof up to two years for new activitiesrather than for ongoing work. Proposed

project budgets must include at least35% co-funding from other sources.

How to apply

Please visit treee.es/collab-fund for more information.

Co-fund projects

To invest in or to co-nance futureprojects, please [email protected].

H O W

I T W O R K S


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COLLABORATION P E F C

FUND

PEFC has so far awarded over CHF 640,000

leveraged co-funding ofCHF 840,000 mobilized efforts of30 organizationsand 50 project partners

Featured projects:

D I D Y O U K N O W ?

Expansion:Expanding forestcertication in

Ghana throughestablishing a PEFC-recognized nationalcertication systemPartners: GhanaWorking Group,PAFC Cameroon

Innovation :Testing the use of remote sensingdata and online technologiesto monitor compliancewith forest certicationrequirements in Finland Partners: Forgis Oy,

PEFC Finland

Markets:Promotingconsumption, demandand appreciationfor the wild foodsoriginating in Spanishcertied forestsPartners: PEFC Spain,USSE, FIAB

Smallholders:Supporting community forestowners in Indonesia to accesscertication and marketsPartners: IFCC, CIFOR

Capacity Building:Working with the ItalianInstitute of Design to bring

the sustainable ethos of PEFCinto the world of fashionPartners: PEFC Italy,Italian Institute of Design

Research:Learning how to optimize tradeoffsbetween timber extraction and managingcarbon stock within tropical forestsPartners: CIRAD, ONF,EMBRAPA, CIFOR


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PEFC Council World Trade Center10, route de l’AéroportCH-1215 GenevaSwitzerland

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

Front cover photos: schab, Yatra (also p. 7), Huhtamaki Ltd (product & photography), PEFC, MTCC.Page 1: Dmitrij Skorobogatov. Pages 2-3: South12th Photography, lkunl, Bohbeh, Fabio Lamanna, PEFC.Pages 4-5: PEFC. Page 8: Jaggat Rashidi. Back cover: Quick Shot, alarich/PEFC.

Printed by Atar on PEFC-certied paper

Front cover photos: schab, Yatra (also p. 7), Huhtamaki Ltd (product & photography), PEFC, MTCC.Page 1: Dmitrij Skorobogatov. Pages 2-3: South12th Photography, lkunl, Bohbeh, Fabio Lamanna, PEFC.Pages 4-5: PEFC. Page 8: Jaggat Rashidi. Back cover: Quick Shot, alarich/PEFC.

Updated in December 2016

delivering impacts in the forest and beyond

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