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Certification is a realistic option for contractors
The results of Certification of Forest Contractors (CeFCo) Project activities in five European countries were unveiled at a European meeting in February 2012. An encouraging turnout of 80 forest managers, contractors, auditors, as well as industry and NGO representatives at the Portugal event signals strong cross-sector support for the project.
“The CeFCo project has shown that certification is a realistic option for contractors across Europe, and we are now focussing on building the market for this new service. It is critical more certified contractors are out there to build recognition and demand for this service among forest owners,” said Jan Feil, Marketing and Innovations Manager at NEPCon.
Unlocking Europe’s potential
The demand for certified paper and timber products is soaring among the private and public sector alike, outstripping supply – in spite of today’s economic climate. As stewards of over half of Europe’s forestlands, smallholders represent a critical source of forest products. Yet globally, just 15% of FSC forest management certificates are held by smallholders, representing only 4% of FSC certified forest area.
“Big forest management enterprises are already certified. To fill the growing gap between supply and demand of certified timber, forest certification standards need to be further adapted and simplified to increase the flow of certified fiber from small forest owners who collectively manage vast areas in Europe,” said Pedro Filipe Silva, Product Manager of grupo Portucel Soporcel, one of Europe’s largest pulp and paper producers.
Discouraging smallholders from engaging in certification are technical and financial challenges due to their small volumes, infrequent harvests, or general lack of knowledge about certification. At the same time, contractors – who are an intrinsic part of European forestry – are becoming gradually more important in the sustainability arena as their role evolves.
Contractors can differentiate themselves
“Contractors increasingly are turning their business models from pure logging enterprises to operations managers, placing a higher onus for them to fulfill overall sustainability criteria,” explains Edgar Kastenholz, Secretary General of the European Network of Forest Entrepreneurs (ENFE).
However, high demands related to certification, such as trawling through excessive paperwork, can be a barrier for contractors. Mr. Kastenholz continues, “But earning a certificate that demonstrates good practice is good for business. It helps to differentiate them on the market.”
A check-list developed under the CeFCo project specifically for contractors identifies indicators of responsible practices in forestry operations from credible sustainability schemes – including FSC and PEFC. Successful compliance is independently verified and results in a certificate, such as the Rainforest Alliance SmartLogging certificate.
Forest managers, is your contractor certified?
Forest owners are ultimately responsible for ensuring forestry operations on their land meet all certification standards. Mr. Feil explains how certified contractors can make a difference to smallholders, “Working with certified contractors who really know how to implement harvesting and other forest activities in accordance with certification standards will make the certification process less burdensome for smallholders. Our experience working in this area supports this.”
Further field tests are planned in Spain, Bulgaria, Sweden and potentially Denmark, to assess the value contractors could bring to smallholders. This three-year project will draw to a close in May 2012.
If you would like to take part in these field tests or learn more about the project, please feel free to contact us.
Update: The agenda, minutes and registration list as well as presentations (I / II)are available for download in the Resources section (under Keeping on track).
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