B.C. certifi update

By Cees de Jager Westem Red Cedar Lumber Association

wil:,T';f':T::":: :: it's no surprise to find British Columbia-the world's largest exporter of forest products-at the head of the pack.

The three processes in use in B.C. -Canadian Standards Association's Sustainable Forest Management Standard, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and Forest Stewardship Council-all involve independent, qualified third-party audits that measure companies' planning. practices. systems and performance against these predetermined standards.

They all ensure that forest management promotes sustainability. They all examine how operations address a range of forest values such as biological diversity, wildlife habitat, soils and water resources. They all ensure that harvested areas are reforested. that laws are complied with, and that there is no unauthorized or illegal logging.

On top of that, each process has unique features. CSA has a requirement for forest operation level stakeholder participation to assist in developing local sustainable forest management indicators. SFI places a strong emphasis on training personnel involved in forest management activities and public outreach. FSC, being an international initiative, accommodates and reinforces important social rights and values, given that some countries lack the institutional and regulatory framework to secure such rights. All of these initiatives involve non-industry participants and publicly release audit results. tified under CSA's SFM Standard (CAN/CS,{-2809), Canada's National Sustainable Forest Management Standard. It is based on the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Criteria defined by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, which in turn are consistent with international SFM criteria.

Customers can be assured that if a supplier is issued a certificate demonstrating certification to the CSA, SFI or FSC standards, the products they supply come from sustainable and well-managed forests. In early June 2004, certified operations covered about 22.4 million hectares of B.C. forestland-an area almost as big as the United Kingdom. Virtually every major B.C. forest company and many smaller ones operate on certified Iands.

The Council of European Paper Industries has ranked CSA as among the best in the world in its comparative matrix of certification standards. CSA has applied to have its standard endorsed by the Programme for the

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