There are many different certifications available that represent responsible practices and as a sawmill committed to environmental sustainability, we always look for these stamps of approval to ensure that we are protecting our most valuable resource. Typically we use FSC-certified timber, but it is not the only certification available, and each have subtle differences in their criteria and the method of certification.
What Is FSC Certification?
FSC, which stands for Forest Stewardship Council, aims to promote forestry practices that are environmentally sound, socially beneficial, and economically prosperous. They don’t seek to stop forest products, instead they aim to encourage responsible practices that ensure we can use forest products for many years to come. At a time where we are starting to see the negative impact of our activities during rapid population growth, organisation such as this are critical to the future health of our planet.
There are 10 key principles that must apply to FSC-certified forests globally:
- Legal Compliance Of Local Laws: The management of forests must be done within the laws of the country in which they occur and with respect to any international treaties or agreements that the country is a signatory of.
- Tenure And Use Right And Responsibilities: Use of land and forest resources must be legally established with clear definitions and supporting legal documentation.
- Recognition Of Indigenous Rights: The rights of indigenous people that allow them to use and manage defined territories must be acknowledged and respected, with no infringement.
- Worker’s Rights And Community Relations: The long term social and economic health of forest workers and local communities must be respected by forestry practices.
- Benefits From The Forest: various products and services sholuld be used in an efficient manner to ensure the economic, environmental, and social benefits.
- Environmental Impact: Biological diversity, water resources, soil quality, and all ecosystems in general must be conserved to ensure the ongoing integrity of the forest.
- Management Plan: A plan, including long-term objectives and methods of achieving these, must be drawn up, implemented, and followed.
- Monitoring And Assessment: The condition and yield of the forest must be monitored for its continued health, along with the chain of custody, management activities, and any following social or environmental impacts.
- Maintenance Of High Conservations Forests: Attributes of high conservation value forest must be either maintained or enhanced by activities conducted.
- Plantations: Any plantation must adhere to the previous 9 principles as well as complementing the management of, reducing pressure on, and promoting the restoration and conservation of natural forests.
How Did The FSC Start?
The organisation was formed after the 1992 Earth Summit failed to make an agreement to stop deforestation, and held the first assembly in Toronto the following year. Instead of boycotting forest products, a practice which has been shown to be counter productive, the group set out to create a voluntary, market-based approach that would lead to better forestry practices across the globe. The FSC now operates in over 80 countries worldwide.
To Summarise
In a world where consideration of the environment is of critical importance, we need certain standards to ensure the longevity of our planet. FSC certification sets out very clear and rigorous standards that protect world forests and ensure they are managed in a responsible way so that the resources continue to be available in the future. It is for these reasons that we trust and use this certification when buying timber, so that we can offer sawmilling and other timber services that protect the world’s forest resources for future generations to come.
