FSC reflected in scientific and professional literature
FSC reflected in scientific and professional literature
FSC reflected in scientific and professional literature
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Forest Stewardship Council<br />
“The <strong>FSC</strong> process reflects years of dialogue among forest managers, consumers, environmentalists<br />
<strong>and</strong> other <strong>in</strong>terested parties <strong>and</strong> embodies a negotiated def<strong>in</strong>ition of susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />
forest management. It would be difficult to weaken the <strong>FSC</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ards without extensive<br />
negotiations <strong>and</strong> the requirements cannot be easily scaled down by remov<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>FSC</strong><br />
pr<strong>in</strong>ciple or two. Given that CDM credits for s<strong>in</strong>ks are currently limited to offsett<strong>in</strong>g only a<br />
small proportion of <strong>in</strong>dustrialized countries’ emissions, <strong>FSC</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciples <strong>and</strong> criteria offer a<br />
selective basis for <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>ks credits. The alternative to requir<strong>in</strong>g a quality screen -<br />
provid<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>centives <strong>in</strong>stead for only fast-grow<strong>in</strong>g plantations - would mean that many of<br />
the environmental <strong>and</strong> social objections to s<strong>in</strong>ks projects may be realized. Subsidiz<strong>in</strong>g<br />
large areas of uncertified plantations would mean that less l<strong>and</strong> would be available for<br />
new, susta<strong>in</strong>ably managed plantations or for agricultural purposes, <strong>and</strong> could have the<br />
perverse result of mak<strong>in</strong>g quality plantations less competitive. In contrast, requir<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
projects meet <strong>FSC</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciples as an eligibility threshold for CDM projects would provide a<br />
boost to achiev<strong>in</strong>g environmental <strong>and</strong> social goals worldwide. In theory, <strong>FSC</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciples still<br />
allow for considerable carbon sequestration because the majority of the area can be<br />
devoted to fast-grow<strong>in</strong>g species as long as at least a quarter is left open or planted with<br />
other species. And <strong>FSC</strong> management plans <strong>in</strong>clude many components that help ensure<br />
that forests actually last - an important concern for carbon sequestration. <strong>FSC</strong> criteria, as<br />
currently stated, do not yet provide an overarch<strong>in</strong>g approach for address<strong>in</strong>g the challenges<br />
of non-permanence, leakage <strong>and</strong> uncerta<strong>in</strong>-ties <strong>in</strong> sequestration projects. (…) The ma<strong>in</strong><br />
contribution of the <strong>FSC</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>and</strong> processes is that it has demonstrated that<br />
consensus-build<strong>in</strong>g towards def<strong>in</strong>itions of susta<strong>in</strong>ability <strong>in</strong> forest management that are<br />
specific at the local level yet consistent across countries - is possible.” 397<br />
397 Subak, Susan (2002): ibid.<br />
198 of 245<br />
® <strong>FSC</strong>, A.C. All rights reserved. <strong>FSC</strong>-SECR-0002