Are your hardwood productscertified?

ByTom Wlson International Specialties, Inc. Germantown, Tn.

f\ERTIFfCATION is a much spoVken-about concern today. But what does it mean when applied to hardwood products harvested from tropical forests?

Basically, certification is an assurance that a product has been produced from a source which practices sustainable forestry. Sustainable forestry is the management of forest resources to ensure that harvesting will not diminish the benefits to future generations. It re.,iluires the protection of wildlife, water, timber resources and soil, all in perpetuity. This is most desirous. We must ensure that our effect on the forest reserves is a positive one.

It's easy to understrand the appeal for certification regarding sustainable origin of tropical timber and timber products. Producers, marketers and consumers want quick, easy answers to complex problems. We all want to feel that we are contributing to the overall well being of the planet, not its destruction.

Is certification the answer to our concerns? It might be, if we could trust the certifying agency and be assured that its standards and criteria were appropriate. But is there one internationally recognized certification agency that uses appropriate, universally accepted criteria for its forestry management judgments? Unfortunately, the answer, so far, is no.

There are a number of private businesses, at least a dozen at last count, that all purport to be able to certify sustainability. The fees charged by Oese groups are quite high, so we must ask who is going to pay these expenses. Each group also has its own individual criteria and standards.

Story at a Glance

Most of these individually-developed standards were created without input from the major producing industries that have the actual hands-on experience in the forests. And any standard expected to reliably judge any industry function must [ake into account the great diversity of conditions under which the industry members in various pafls of the wodd must work.

Yet there are such standards, widely accepted and recognized. The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), a group established under the auspices of the United Nations, has developed the most universally recognized standards for sustainability, with involvement of scientists. consumers and producers. However, to date, none of the major organizations claiming to be certifiers uses these standards.

There is hope. One recognition program, developed by industry, scientists and conservation community members, is in its finalization stages. The criteria for the program's assessments are the ITTO guidelines. Developed under the auspices of the Tropical Forest Foundation, "The Tropical Forest Management Recognition Program" is chaired by Dr. Duncan Poore, an eminent tropical forest specialist. The TFF's board of directors is comprised of representations from all interested sectors - scientific, academic, conservation and industry. The chairman of the board is Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, the Smithsonian Institute's assistant secretary for extemal affain.

The TFF progrzrm is not certification, but rather a voluntary effort to advance the rate at which tropicai forests are well managed. It incorporates the key elements necessary to succeed in reaching ITTO's Target 2000. The Taget 2000 program sets as its goal that all internationally traded tropical wood and wood products are to be sourced from well managed, sustainable sorrrces by the year 2000. What should you do? Should you insist upon buying only products which have been certified as coming from a "sustainable source"? As we have seen, the answer here is not so simple, since tlere are many questions about "certification." Additionally, we must realize that these various certification schemes have not involved the large producers. Therefore, insistence on their use will eliminate most commercial supply. More importantly, you should begin by insisting on adherence to the ITTO criteria and support of Target 2000. Should you stop buying products from tropical forests? If you stop buying the products derived from the tropical forests, you will definitely have an effect on the forests - a most negative one. If you stop buying their products, the producers will not have the necessary income to finance the continued improvement of their forest management and the chances of the forest lands being converted to alternative uses increase dramatically. You should continue to buy the products you need, but question your supplier about their origin. Responsible importers who are members of the International Hardwood Products Association (IHPA) endorse the Target 2000 prograrn and support the work of the Tropical Forest Foundation. If you have any questions about the advisability of purchasing a product from the tropical forest, ask your supplier if he is a member of IHPA. Also ask him about his commitment to favor producers who practice good forestry management.

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