28/0/2005 - WWF welcomes
the recent developments in forest certification
in Finland, and hopes that FSC certification,
which is used globally and in the neighbouring
countries of Finland, could finally be widely
introduced in Finland. Forest certification
issues were discussed today in a seminar for
the WWF Global Forest & Trade Network
(GFTN) - the network of companies committed
to responsible forestry and procurement of
forest products – and the Finnish forest sector.
The purpose of the seminar organised by WWF
Finland and GFTN was to encourage the positive
steps taken recently in Finland to promote
FSC certification. Almost all Finnish forests
are certified under FFCS standard, which is
approved of by the PEFC system. There is currently
only a very small forest area certified according
to FSC standard in Finland.
"The most positive developments have
been the first large-scale FSC group-certification
in Finland led by Stora Enso, and Stora Enso’s
membership in the Finnish FSC working group.
The parallel certification test carried out
by UPM, and the finalisation of the Finnish
FSC standard also give reason to hope that
in the near future the desire of international
buyers to get FSC certified timber and paper
from Finland will be met”, said Margareta
Renström, the European co-ordinator of
GFTN.
"Stora Enso aims at promoting the use
of forest certification schemes – in Europe
FSC and PEFC – as widely as possible. In Finland
forest owners have to a large extent implemented
the PEFC system, and through the recent FSC
group-certification we wanted to create alternatives
in forest certification. With this project
we also hope to contribute to a dialogue between
the certification schemes. In the long run,
we hope to have one national standard in Finland,
which both FSC and PEFC could endorse",
said Susanna Rissanen, Sustainability Manager
in Stora Enso Wood Supply Finland.
WWF points out that there are differences
between the various certification schemes.
All certification systems aim at promoting
economic, social and environmental management
of forests but with differences in emphasis.
These distinctions were found in a recent
analysis by WWF International and the World
Bank, and also in a parallel field testing
of five certification schemes conducted by
UPM.
"In order to promote exports of Finnish
forest products, the Finnish forest sector
should increase the implementation of FSC
or consider whether stakeholders could create
a credible national standard, which could
be approved of under both FSC and PEFC systems",
said Harri Karjalainen, Head of Forestry from
WWF Finland.
At the seminar today, European companies
who procure Finnish forest products published
a statement, encouraging the Finnish forest
sector to further improve the responsibility
of wood production and supply through the
use of a forest certification system which
is widely approved of by different stakeholder
groups. The statement was signed by 28 companies
from four countries.
“Travis Perkins welcomes the recent developments
in the certification debate in Finland. The
demand for credibly certified timber in the
UK is very strong and businesses are rightly
called to account by WWF and others over their
timber purchases. It is encouraging to think
that Finland might, one day, be added to a
growing list of countries where, because of
credible and widespread certification, purchases
of timber are applauded by all stakeholders",
said Jez Cutler Environmental Manager, from
the British company Travis Perkins plc.
Notes to the editor:
Industry Statement Wood and Paper Buyers Call
upon the Finnish Forest Industry to Pursue
Responsible Forestry and Procurement with
the list of the signing companies
GFTN: There are currently 404 participating
companies in the GFTN (Global Forest and Trade
Network) which work in over 30 countries The
firest FTN was founded in the UK in 1991 by
WWF and 20 member companies.
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is an international
non-governmental organisation founded in 1993.
Its task is to support environmentally appropriate,
socially beneficial, and economically viable
management of the world's forests. Forest
certification according to FSC is based on
ten general principles for forest management
and a set of certain more detailed criteria.
The actual certification standards are drawn
up in accordance with the FSC principles in
a national co-operation process.
PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest
Certification Schemes) is an umbrella organisation
for the mutual recognition of national and
regional forest certification schemes founded
in 1999. The schemes are based on internationally
recognised requirements and national applications.
In Europe the principles have been agreed
in the meetings of the forest ministers.
FFCS (Finnish Forest Certification System)
is the national forest certification standard
for Finland endorsed by PEFC. It was established
in 1997.
