PEFC Canada is seeking endorsement by PEFC International for its CSA Sustainable Forest Management(SFM) Programme and has submitted its two standards for independent assessment. Stakeholders globally are encouraged to participate in the public consultation, which is open until 1 Decemeber 2010.
The CSA SFM Programme consists of revised CAN/CSA-Z809-02 Sustainable Forest Management: Requirements, which embodies the most broadly accepted Canadian forest management values generated to date. Originally published in 1996, work on the third edition started in 2004 and includes requirements for public participation, performance, management systems, review of actions, monitoring of effectiveness, and continual improvement.
The second standard, CAN/CSA-Z804, is intended for use by private woodlot of up to 4,000 hectares and can be used for small forests that are owned by individuals, municipalities, foundations, religious or social organizations, Aboriginal communities or governments.
CSA requires extensive public participation in the development of its Standards. Both standards were developed in a consensus-based, multi-stakeholder process by the same CSA Technical Committee on Sustainable Forest Management and were approved as National Standards of Canada by the Standards Council of Canada.
The need for public participation is also strongly emphasized in this Standard, which requires organizations to seek comprehensive, continuing public participation and to work with Aboriginal Peoples at the community level.
"With the majority of Canada's forests being publicly owned, it is of vital importance that Canadian forest certification standards involve the public extensively in the forest management planning process," explained Paul Wooding, PEFC Canada National Secretary. "In response, the public participation requirements of these standards are among the most rigorous in certification standards in the world today."
Equally meticulous is the process that national forest certification systems must undertake to gain global recognition by PEFC International. Any system seeking to obtain PEFC endorsement or re-endorsement must submit to a comprehensive and thorough assessment process, including independent evaluation and public consultation. A full final report of this process is then made publicly available.
"This process designed to ensure that national standards comply with PEFC's Sustainability Benchmark and that all requirements are rigorously and consistently applied across all national certification systems," emphasized Ben Gunneberg, PEFC International General Secretary.
Further Information
Please submit your comments by 1 December, 2010, using PEFC's Online Consultation Tool.