SAVE THE
FOREST
By Anton
Antonio
March 26,
2016
Forest
certification is a mechanism for forest monitoring, tracing and labelling of
timber, wood and pulp products and non-timber forest products, where the
quality of forest management is judged against a series of agreed standards. Credible
forest certification covers much more than just logging and harvesting
practices but also accounts for the social and economic well-being of forest
and plantation workers, local/upland communities, transparency and
inclusiveness in the planning, implementation and decision-making process.
Forest certification is largely seen as the most important initiative in
the last ten years that aims to promote the best sustainable forest management
practices. Sustainable forest management
is a key component for a future where people can live in harmony with nature.
Forest products are renewable which sets them apart from other natural
resources. It is therefore important to
note that the sustainable use of renewable forest products can generally help
provide forest dependent communities with shelter, fuel, medicines, livelihood
opportunities and other services… on top of providing a home for the numerous
flora and fauna. Improving forest
biodiversity is a critical component in climate change mitigation initiatives.
Prohibiting the use of forest products is not a viable solution as it
hinders on socio-economic considerations for forest-dependent communities. As an alternative, sustainable forest
management practices is the key concept which forest certification is
promoting. Forest certification,
however, will only work when the system includes (1) a comprehensive management
standard, (2) a rigorous control mechanism and (3) a broad involvement and
participation of economic, environmental and social stakeholders. Sustainable and responsible forest management
together with a credible and acceptable system of forest certification plus
sound regulations and legislation may be the perfect combination of solutions
to our declining forest cover.
At present, there is a wide spectrum of forest certification systems and
schemes. The World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF) --- an international non-governmental organization, founded on April 29,
1961 and based in Morges, Switzerland, working in the field of biodiversity
conservation and preservation and the reduction of humanity’s footprint on the
environment --- considers the Forest Stewardship Council (FCS) to be the best
forest certification system as it provides for environmentally responsible,
socially beneficial, and economically viable and sustainable forest management
international standards. On the other
hand, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) --- an
international non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Geneva,
Switzerland, dedicated to the promotion sustainable forest management through
third-party certification --- is largely viewed as the international body that
assists local forest certification systems craft their own domestic standards. On the 1st of March 2016, under
the guidance and sponsorship of the PEFC, the National Governing Board of the
Philippine Sustainable Forest Certification (NGB-PSFC) system was formally
launched and organized through the signing of the Framework Agreement.
The forest certification initiative may not be the generic solution to
our dwindling forest resources but this, together with consistent law
enforcement, rationalization of the wood industry and DNA mapping, could
provide an ideal framework in our effort to save the forest.
Thoughts to
promote positive action…
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