A future with FSC certified contractors?

12/03/2012

The CeFCo project has propelled FSC to explore how its system could be adapted to include contractors to help smallholders overcome some of the financial and procedural barriers to certification. FSC is considering a policy to allow landowners working with certified contractors to use their contractor’s certificate as proof of compliance with some of the forest management certification standards.

At a CeFCo European meeting in February 2012, FSC presented a discussion paper on a potential Policy on Forestry Contractor Certification, which facilitated constructive feedback among participants on several scenarios under which contractors could participate in its system.

The three new potential scenarios are:

FSC allows contractors to join forest management group certificates under its existing Group Certification option
FSC accepts contractor certification systems developed by others, such as the Swedish Green Drivers License
FSC develops its own forestry contractor certificate

“We still need further field evidence from Europe and other parts of the world of the value certified contractors could bring to forest owners,” said Dr. Shoana Humphries, Social Policy Manager at the FSC International Center.

Further field tests are planned in Spain, Bulgaria, Sweden and potentially Denmark, to assess the value contractors could bring to smallholders. Should there be sufficient evidence of the benefits to forest owners, FSC will commence in drafting a policy for contractor certification that could take a minimum of 16 months to pass through its transparent, multi-stakeholder consultation process.

“It is reassuring to hear the value that both contractors and smallholders have voiced in support of this process, and we are motivated to follow it through,” said Dr. Humphries.

If you would like to take part in our field tests or learn more about the project, please feel free to contact us.

> Discussion paper: Policy on Forestry Contractor Certification (pdf)

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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