Conformity assessment of UFCS against PEFC (2010).pdf - ITS Global

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Evaluation and assessment of Uruguayan Forest Certification scheme against the requirements of the PEFC Council Annex 2. Report on the Field Visit A Field Visit was undertaken by Dr Bob Smith from 23 to 27 August 2010, with the purpose of gaining additional information to support the conformity assessment of the UFCS against the requirements of PEFCC. Detailed below are the results of meetings with various groups involved in the development and approval of the UFCS. 1) Meeting with PEFC Uruguay Attendees: Mr Gerardo Barrios (President) Mr Civil Alvaro Molinari (Vice President) Mr Oscar Regueira Dr Ricardo Methol Mr Edgardo Cardozo (Society of Forestry Producers) Ms Andrea Regusci (Society of Forestry Producers) Discussions: The meeting covered the following issues: i) Explanation of the importance of PEFC recognition of the UFCS, specifically in regard to maintaining market access (in particular, markets in the USA and Europe). ii) The evolution and processes followed in the formation of PEFC Uruguay, and the goal of aligning the UFCS with requirements of PEFCC. iii) The development and co-ordination of forest management standards (UNIT 1151:2009 and UNIT 1152: 2009) by Specialized Technical Committee for Sustainable Forest Management (STC-SFM) which operated consistent with requirements of UNIT. The STC- SFM operated independently from PEFC Uruguay. iv) Clarification of issues raised in Interim Report on the conformity of the UFCS against PEFCC requirements. v) Levels of participation by diversity of groups in development of forest management standards (UNIT 1151:2009 and UNIT 1152:2009). Consensus that wide diversity of groups representing government (forestry and environment departments), academia, industry, social/environmental issues and unions participated. PEFC Uruguay noted that, although invited, no environmental NGO participated in development of Standard. PEFC Uruguay noted that peak environmental NGO in Uruguay, Group GUAYUBIRA (www.guayubira.org.uy) has a national initiative against establishment of monoculture plantations in Uruguay. vi) PEFC Uruguay considers the UFCS to be a challenge to implement. The implementation of the UFCS will lead to significant gains in the economic, social and environmental outcomes sought from plantation forests in Uruguay. 2) Meeting with Instituto Uruguayo de Normas Técnicas (UNIT) Attendee: Mr Ferdando Gomez (Executive Director Norms) Discussion: The meeting covered the following issues: i) The history of UNIT in developing and approving technical standards in Uruguay. ii) The processes UNIT follows (methodology) in developing standards focusing on the role of specialized technical committees. iii) The evolution of development and approval of forest management standards commencing with UNIT approval of Project “Access to markets and the integration through technical normalization” and approval of UNIT 1151: 2009 and UNIT 1152: 2009 by UNIT’s General Committee of Norms on 14 December 2009. iv) Explanation of the UNIT statutes and associated documentation for impartial handling of disputes and complaints associated with standard setting processes. v) Review of a sample of minutes (relating to meeting of STC-SFM between 2006 and 2009). www.itsglobal.net Page 48
Evaluation and assessment of Uruguayan Forest Certification scheme against the requirements of the PEFC Council vi) Explanation of process followed for public consultation of forest management standards UNIT 1152: 2006 and UNIT 1151: 2006 in 2009, including use of UNIT’s website, media advertisements and 24 individually targeted letters requesting comment. It was explained that while intended for consultation to run for 60 days there was an error in the media advertisement identifying public consultation period from 1 April to 23 May 2009, a period of 53 days. UNIT representative explained and showed evidence from electronic logs that the forest management standards were on UNIT’s website for the period 1 st April 2009 to 28 th June 2009. UNIT would have accepted any submission received after the advertised closure of public consultation period (23 May 2009) as a valid submission. However none were received. 3) Meeting with representatives of Specialized Technical Committee – Sustainable Forest Management (STC-SFM): Attendees: Mr Juan Cabris, Forestry Department, University of Uruguay – Former Chairperson of STC- SFM Ms Carolina Sans Dobe, Associate Professor, Dept of Forestry, University of Uruguay Ms Ana Quintillan, Benho de Seguros Del Estado (BSE) Mr Miguel Farina, Manager, Weyerhaeuser Products, SA Ms Mary Rosas, Consultant, Terrasys Mr Peter Baptista, Manager, Forestry Directorate, Dept of Agriculture Discussions: i) Outline of the long development (over 40 meetings) and testing process for UNIT 1151 and UNIT 1152, including three versions between 2006 and 2009. ii) Discussions establishing that the STC-SFM operated by consensus. iii) Explanation that the STC-SFM’s activities were co-ordinated and undertaken consistent with UNIT procedures. iv) Explanation that the STC-SFM took into account the intent of ILO Protocol for Health and Safety for Forestry in their deliberations and the requirements of Uruguayan legislation on worker health and safety. 4) Meeting with Forestry Directorate, Dept of Agriculture (Uruguay): Attendees: Mr Daniel San Roman, Director, Forestry Division Mr Peter Baptista, Manager, Forestry Division Discussions: i) History of proactive Uruguayan Government policy to expand forestry plantations within the framework of protecting high quality agricultural lands for cropping and dairying. ii) Explanation and examples of process the Forestry Division must follow by regulation to approve plantation development proposals above 100 ha. iii) The UFCS is consistent with the Uruguayan Government’s policies and legal requirements for establishment and management of forestry plantations. 5) Meeting with Dept of Environment (Uruguay): Attendees: Mr Jorge Rucks, National Director, Dept of Environment (Uruguay) Mr Luis Sayagues, Adviser Discussions: i) Plantation forestry in Uruguay is conducted within a framework established for agriculture. ii) The focus of regulatory process is to organise forests within landscape on soils specified by Government regulations. www.itsglobal.net Page 49
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