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Frequently asked questions
You
will find here answers to the most common questions on the FSC
in general and the Quebec Initiative in particular. Do not hesitate
to write
to us if you have additional questions. We will use them to
complete this page.
Index:
What
is the FSC?
The
Forest Stewardship Council certification program provides recognition
on the marketplace to those who practice responsible forestry.
Third party verification and certification under this programme
ensures the validity of this recognition.
How
is the FSC structured to ensure the representation of a variety
of interests?
The
FSC is a membership-based organisation, whose members belong
to one of three categories, known as "chambers": social,
environmental and economic. The Board of director's compostionsees
to the equilibrium between chambers and North and south hemispheres
in the membership composition.
Why
become an FSC member?
Members comment and vote on FSC policies, and elect the board
members.
Can
a person or an organisation from abroad decide how forestry will
be done in Quebec via the FSC?
No.
The whole of the FSC membership decides of the organisation's
policies and mandates. Furthermore, the FSC encourages the development
of regional standards for responsible forestry. They must follow
the FSC Principles and Criteria, but must also emerge from a
participative process in which all regional forest stakeholders
are represented.
What
are the advantages of certifying one's forest with the FSC?
FSC
certification not only ensures that forestry practices meet
a certain standard of good practices, it also signals to the
consume that the product's origin is a well-managed forest.
If the wood will not necessarily fetch a higher price, it still
finds itself in a priviledged and growing market niche.
Why
go for FSC rather than another certification program?
The
FSC programme is the only one recognised worldwide. For the
time being, it is also the only one to require a chain of custody,
which allows to trace the origins of a product carrying the
FSC logo (other programs are studying the possibility of puttin
in place such a system as well).
What
is the difference between ISO and FSC certification?
The
ISO systeme ISO is an environmental management program, that
ensures that the certified organisation follows its own internal
procedures and meets the objectives it gave itself. The FSC
system evaluates performancesbased on a set of fixed standards,
adapted to the region.
Is
FSC certification accessible to woodlot owners?
Yes.
A growing number of woodlot owners are having their forests
certified. Group certification, via a forest group (groupement
forestier or société sylvicole) or
a forest manager allows to cut costs related to the audit and
certification. In Ontario, the Great Lakes/St.Lawrence standards
consider the differences between large tenured land or public
land and small woodlots, when appropriate.
How
can the FSC promote first Nation rights?
In
Canada, a fourth category of "stakeholders" was created,
the Aboriginal Chamber (in addition to the social, economic
and environmental chambers). Principle 3 of the FSC addresses
First Nations' issues ("The legal and customary rights
of indigenous peoples to own, use and manage their lands, territories,
and resources shall be recognized and respected.")
and includes the four following Criteria:
- Indigenous
peoples shall control forest management on their lands and
territories unless they delegate control with free and informed
consent to other agencies.
- Forest
management shall not threaten or diminish, either directly
or indirectly, the resources or tenure rights of indigenous
peoples.
- Sites
of special cultural, ecological, economic or religious significance
to indigenous peoples shall be clearly identified in cooperation
with such peoples, and recognized and protected by forest
managers.
- Indigenous
peoples shall be compensated for the application of their
traditional knowledge regarding the use of forest species
or management systems in forest operations. This compensation
shall be formally agreed upon with their free and informed
consent before forest operations commence.
Is
a mutual recognition of the different certification systems coming
up anytime soon?
Such
a decision belong to FSC members. Besides, a company which is
certified ISO 14000 is a step ahead in becoming FSC certified,
for the organisation mechanisms it requires.
I
heard of irregularities in the certification of Haliburton Forest
in Ontario; what really happened?
Some
lead to believe that the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve
inc., in Ontario, was certified without the existence of an
inventory of management plan, that the audit was conducted in
the winter and that no regional members were on the evaluation
team. The public
document summarising the process and following decision
demonstrate that:
- the
management plan was nearly completed, and constitutes a condition
to FSC certification (one can become FSC certified with conditions,
which must be met within a set timeframe otherwise the certificate
is revoqued; pre-conditions must be met beforehand). It had
to be completed within 6 months. The inventory was a second
condition.
- the
certification audit happened in the second half of October,
in absence of snow on the ground. In the northern hemisphere,
October is a Fall month...
- two
of the four audit team members (Tom Clark and Robert Keen,
both Canadians) contributed to the Ontario Great Lakes/St.Lawrence
standards development process; there was also a committee
of three local experts to review the audit.
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