In a move that will further add to FSC’s woes, the biggest of its accredited ‘certifiers’, Rainforest Alliance SmartWood, has announced plans to launch it’s own ‘logging certification’ scheme, which is closely modelled on the FSC. In a consultation document circulated recently by SmartWood, the organisation claimed that it “remains an unequivocal, global supporter of the FSC system as the most credible forest certification system” but then, before introducing the proposed rival system, goes on to say that “we also believe that the FSC system can be improved”.
Author: FSC-Watch
Rainforest Action Network: FSC Credibility on Thin Ice
We reproduce below a posting which appeared yesterday on Understory, the official blog of the Rainforest Action Network.
‘Low quality’ SGS targetted in Greenpeace protest campaign
As previously reported on FSC-Watch, the certification of the Spanish industrial plantation company, NORFOR, has caused widespread concern, which a recent FSC inspection of the company’s certifier, SGS, has only served to heighten. Despite finding clear non-compliances with FSC’s Principles and Criteria, the certificate remains in place.
Wall Street Journal exposes FSC policy chaos
Barama, Guyana: WWF’s ‘suspended’ star performer in South America accused by President of giant timber scam
At the start of this year, FSC-Watch reported on the ‘suspension’ of the FSC certificate of Malaysian-owned Guyanese logging company, Barama. A statement issued today by the President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, who accuses Barama of “fraud”, will come as a further embarrassment to supporters of the certificate.
NORFOR, Spain: FSC confirms that SGS certfied a non-compliant company
At the end of last year, FSC-Watch reported on the certification of the Galician plantation company, NORFOR. The company has been the source of much controversy and opposition from local people. Following an investigation into NORFOR’s certifier, SGS, FSC’s own Accreditation Services International has now reported that environmental concerns were justified, and that the company was non-compliant with FSC’s Principles and Criteria.
Certification of Vasto Legno/SEFAC, Cameroon; Another major blow to FSC’s credibility
FSC-Watch has received unconfirmed reports that the Italian certification company ICILA has issued a certificate to the Cameroonian Groupe SEFAC, which is owned by Italian timber company Vasto Legno. Although the Public Summary report of the certification is not yet available on ICILA’s website, sufficient details have already emerged to suggest that this will come as yet another major blow to FSC’s credibility.
Banned chemicals used in FSC-certified nurseries in Uruguay
RAP-AL Uruguay recently published a report on “Working conditions and agrochemical use in Eufores (Ence) and FOSA (Botnia) nurseries”. Both of these operations are FSC-certified. The report, written by María Isabel Cárcamo, is based on research carried out at the nurseries.
The full report (in Spanish) is available here. RAP-AL is The Latin American Network of Action on Pesticides and their Alternatives (La Red de Acción en Plaguicidas y sus Alternativas de América Latina).
SmartWood’s certification of TemRex criticised
Last month, SmartWood awarded an FSC certificate to TemRex’s industrial logging operations in Quebec, Canada. The certificate came with 26 outstanding “corrective action requests” (with which the company has to comply at some point in the future), 20 “observations” (which are voluntary) and 10 “notes for future auditors”.
SCS certification of Jurua Forestal, Brazil: FSC plumbs new depths of bad practice
To some people, such as Mayor Salvatore Perillo of Ocean City, New Jersey, USA, the FSC represents the ‘Gold Standard’ of forest certification; an assurance that wood comes from well-managed and properly independently audited sources. But Mayor Perillo, and many others, would do well to know what lies behind the FSC’s claims. One of the more shocking examples – Jurua Forestal Ltda, which is felling timber in the Brazilian rainforest – is a potential supplier of ipe timber for the imminent repair of Perillo’s Ocean City sea-front boardwalks.
FSC-Watch 