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Sustainable forestry
From TipThePlanet
The wood products we do use should come from forests that have been managed in an ecologically and socially responsible manner. The best means for determining whether wood products come from such forests is to look for the FSC label. FSC, the Forest Stewardship Council, is an international non-profit association that issues certificates for well-managed forests.
Why FSC?
- Sustainable Logging: The forest management standards set by the FSC include ensuring that the ecosystem of the forest is not damaged and only low volumes of trees are extracted. The impacts of logging on the plant and animal life in the forest must be minimal.
- Impact on Indigenous Peoples: FSC is also the only certifying body that takes into consideration the impact of logging operations on indigenous populations that use these forests. Many of the most endangered forests around the world are also the homes of indigenous peoples who often use and depend on the forest resources for their livelihoods.
- Chain of Custody: Landowners and companies that sell timber or forest products seek certification as a way to verify to consumers that they have practiced forestry consistent with FSC standards. Independent certification organizations are accredited by FSC to carry out assessments of forest management to determine if standards have been met. These certifiers also verify that companies claiming to sell FSC certified products have tracked their supply back to FSC certified sources. This chain of custody certification assures that consumers can trust the FSC label.
- Beware of Competing Schemes: The FSC label is a label consumers can trust. Other certifying bodies, such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), are the attempts of special-interest groups to greenwash the public. SFI, for example, is a marketing scheme developed by the American Forest & Paper Association - the most powerful timber trade association in the world. For more information, visit www.dontbuysfi.com.
