“PEFC membership provides a forum to meet and discuss the various challenges in the field of forestry and forest product markets amongst different stakeholders," explained Mikko Ohela, Senior Vice President of International Affairs at the Metsaliitto Group, one of the first five members of PEFC International's Stakeholder Membership category.
PEFC created this membership category for International Stakeholders in 2009, and has been receiving applications from entities wishing to become members since the beginning of 2010.
The other four entities to become International Stakeholder Members are the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), European Network of Forest Entrepreneurs (ENFE), the International Family Forestry Alliance (IFFA), and StoraEnso.
Commenting on ENFE's motivation for seeking PEFC membership, Simo Jaakkola, ENFE's Chairman stated, "our International Stakeholder membership will enable us to get more engaged in global forestry issues, whilst PEFC will gain a better understanding of the important role of contractors for sustainable forest management."
From CEPI's perspective, their involvement as an International Stakeholder Member is a positive step, and one that reflects industry's commitment towards sustainable forest management. This was mirrored by Stora Enso's Environmental Manager, Pekka Kallio-Mannila, "PEFC is very influential in promoting Sustainable Forest Management, and therefore it is important to strengthen stakeholder involvement to include all parties with environmental, social and economic interests."
Speaking on behalf of the International Family Forest Association, Chairperson Lea Jylhä commented that, "family forest owners have been one of the main driving forces behind PEFC since its early days, and the stakeholder membership category is a natural step in this development."
"We want to actively participate and share our most up-to-date knowledge to support PEFC's role in the enhancement of sustainable forest management. Forest owners all around the globe are contributing to sustainable forest management through their daily activities in the forests, and through PEFC we want to highlight this commitment to all parties interested in sustainable forestry," Ms Jylhä stressed. "This cooperation will offer clear benefits for PEFC as well since IFFA can inform its members and partners both in family and community forestry about PEFC's work, and in the new areas such as the tropics."
"PEFC has enjoyed a strong relationship with these organisations for many years now, and we warmly welcome them as International Stakeholder Members," said Ben Gunneberg, Secretary General of PEFC International. "We look forward to enhanced opportunities to cooperate in promoting sustainable forest management around the world."
Further Information
PEFC International Stakeholder Members
- Confederation of European Paper Industries
- European Network of Forest Entrepreneurs
- International Family Forestry Alliance
- Metsaliitto Group
- StoraEnso