FSC UK Forest Matters July 2016 Public Edition by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) UK

Forest Matters FSC UK News July 2016

Director’s Overview Contents Dear Reader, 2

News in Brief

Consultation

Online Claims Platform

Stakeholder Event

Woodland Workshop

Forest Enterprise England

FSC’s 10 USPs

FSC Certified Sauna

17 Tanzanian Forestry Scheme 19

FSC Group Schemes

A postcard from FSC Canada

New Portal Feature

Online Training

Excellence in Forestry Awards

Product Focus

Just for Fun and FSC in Numbers

Much is happening in the world of FSC®, including consultation on the Chain of Custody Standard (see pages 3 and 7). Of course, major changes are also underway in the wider world and we now need to assess the potential impact of Brexit on FSC and the forest and timber sectors. Whilst no-one can be certain what will happen, or when, we can at least evaluate some of the possible implications. One question that immediately springs to mind is how the UK’s departure from the EU would affect the implementation of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) in the UK. Unlike Directives, Regulations do not need to be transposed into national legislation. However, the EUTR did require national governments to set up Competent Authorities and decide on penalties. These requirements are set out in the UK’s ‘Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2013’. So leaving the EU would not automatically mean that the EUTR would no longer apply. However, it would need to be determined whether the UK would be considered an internal market for timber products or if importers into the EU from the UK (and vice versa) would be classed as “operators” rather than “traders”. We will watch with interest as this, and other aspects that could affect FSC and the sector, develop.

Rosie Teasdale Executive Director, FSC UK

Chain of Custody Consultation opens - stakeholders are given face-to-face opportunity to provide input

News in Brief

Working Group established to revise FSC Pesticides Policy

• Details of the consultation p3 • Full event overview p7

An interest-balanced working group has been established to revise the FSC Pesticides Policy. For full information visit: http://www. fsc-uk.org/en-uk/newsroom/id/340

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FSC Online Training now available!

FSC Global Network Meeting

FSC UK is now offering an online Chain of Custody training module free of charge to all certificate holders.

The FSC Annual Global Network Meeting was held in Bonn, Germany this June and enabled FSC staff from around the world to connect, exchange and work towards a common strategy.

FSC and the 2016 Rio Olympics Rio 2016 and the Brazilian Mint have unveiled the Olympic medals - and the FSC certified wooden boxes made to hold them!

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FSC Forest Management Certification: The Benefits of Group Schemes

We’re inviting everyone to get involved in our annual international event - FSC Friday 2016!

“Sharing of knowledge within the group is a huge benefit and many groups share that knowledge with others in the forest industry.”

Consultation Open for Consultation: Chain of Custody Standard and Transaction Verification Requirements The third public consultation on the FSCSTD-40-004 V3-0 Chain of Custody Certification standard opened in June. This standard is the main standard for companies that manufacture, process, or trade in timber and nontimber forest products. The objective of the revision process is to review and streamline the standard to ensure that it continues to effectively demonstrate that materials and products purchased, labelled, and sold as FSC certified are authentic, and that their associated claims are truthful and correct. It is expected the revised standard will be presented to the FSC International Board of Directors in November 2016 for approval. Incorporated into this draft standard are four sections of the FSC-STD-20-011 V4-0 Chain of Custody Evaluations draft standard related to verification requirements for certification bodies. This section describes the rules that certification bodies must abide by when conducting an audit, and can be reviewed at the same time as the draft Chain of Custody Standard. The two documents are open for public consultation from until 31st August 2016. There are five main proposed changes in the revised draft of the FSC-STD-40-004 V3-0 Chain of Custody Certification standard: • New transaction verification requirements are proposed that would allow certification bodies to verify FSC transactions between certificate holders. It is suggested that certificate holders would go through a risk assessment that will classify them as being part of either high-risk or low-risk supply chains. Those with a high-risk classification will be required to use the FSC Online Claims Platform (OCP) (https://ocp.fsc.org/ 3

login.html), but for the majority of certificate holders, who would be classified as lowrisk, the use of the OCP would be optional – although still recommended. • A change to multi-site rules that allow multisite certificate holders to share a) credit accounts and, b) percentage calculations across several sites. • Refined credit system requirements, including clarifying credit accounting for assembled wood products, and an extension of the credit accounting period from 12 to 24 months.

• A reduction in the threshold for FSC labelled recycled wood products from 85 per cent to 70 per cent (same threshold as required for FSC Mix products). The balance (max. 30%) must still be pre-consumer reclaimed. • A merger of advice notes and standard interpretations will be incorporated into the standard. To better assist stakeholders, FSC is using a web-based consultation platform (http:// consultation-platform.fsc.org/en/coc/) to collect feedback. On this platform you will find specific questions relating to the standard and open fields to provide more general feedback. For any questions, please contact project coordinator, Lucia Massaroth (l.massaroth@fsc.org). All information – the full consultation drafts and the link to the web-based consultation platform – can be found by visiting https://goo.gl/yBsGFP Please provide all comments using the online platform.

BECAUSE THIS IS FSC® CERTIFIED TIMBER, IT’S NOT JUST THE DECKING HE’S TAKING CARE OF. Our forests give us many things, including decking for our gardens. FSC helps look after forests and the people and wildlife who call them home. So you can keep your life full of forest products while keeping our forests full of life. Choose FSC.

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Stakeholder Event On 15th June the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) opened the third public consultation on the Chain of Custody Certification standard (FSCSTD-40-004 V3-0). The next day FSC UK were at the NEC in Birmingham to gather initial feedback from UK stakeholders. Presentations were made by Phil Guillery, Supply Chain Integrity Director, FSC International and Dr. Ed Pepke, an associate with Dovetail Partners; Anand Punja, FSC European Regional Director also joined the meeting remotely. © FSC UK

“I found the event very informative and useful to gain an understanding of the proposed risk-based approach to transactional verification” - Mark Grainger, Environmental & Quality Systems Manager, Moores Furniture Group Ltd

Below is an overview of some of the main questions and answers from the day: What will the transition period be? The usual transition period is one year but suggestions of a longer period could be made in response to the consultation. The draft standard requires all FSC Certificate Holders to be given a risk of false claims score (RFC), determined by an assessment against the RFC matrix (Table D on page 15 of the draft standard). If a Certificate Holder buys from a low risk supplier or buys finished products, will they still need to go through the risk matrix process? Yes, at present the Certification Body of any Certificate Holder would need to use the risk matrix in order to determine their risk of false claims score. If the score is low (5 or below) nothing else is required for the Certificate Holder. Alternative approaches could be suggested in response to the consultation. 7

Would unintentional false claims, such as accidentally omitting percentage information, be classed as a false claim? No, false claims, as outlined in the risk matrix, would be intentional false claims. False Claims is defined as “FSC claims made on sales documents of products that are not eligible to be sold as FSC certified or FSC Controlled Wood. False claims may be intentional or not. False claims are different from inaccurate claims where a product that is eligible to be sold as FSC certified is sold with the wrong claim.”

Transaction verification is the process by which FSC output claims are verified as accurate and matching the FSC input claims of their trading partners. FSC has developed the Online Claims Platform (OCP) as a secure platform to enable transaction verification. Will OCP be mandatory? Following stakeholder input from the last consultation, OCP will only be mandatory for Certificate Holders with a Risk of False Claims score 6 or higher. Risk is determined using the RFC matrix (table D). How much will it cost?

OCP is free for all FSC Certificate Holders. The costs involved in using OCP will be indirect costs such as staff time. For this reason, keeping duplication to a minimum is of paramount importance.

Is there any provision for EUTR requirements within OCP? In the interests of simplicity, OCP can record the country of harvest and species if this is required. Should this information be required in order to comply with EUTR regulations, then FSC certified suppliers are obliged to provide it. Will the OCP provide a function for publishing volume summaries? Yes, the OCP has a volume summary report which will not only show a list of entered FSC certified purchases and sales, but also a list of FSC certified suppliers and customers. The OCP itself does not have a conversion factor but the volume summary report has a column for a conversion factor, if applicable. The volume summary report works well for most FSC Certificate Holders, however, it may be a tool to assist other Certificate Holders who have multiple product type inputs which are mixed together for several types of product group outputs. 8

Woodland Workshop Joint workshop run on the restoration of plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS). On 4th July, FSC UK and the Woodland Trust ran a joint workshop in Cleobury Coppice in south Shropshire on the restoration of plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS). The workshop covered certification requirements and recommended best practice, and gave peers the opportunity to exchange experiences.

Jeremy Evans from the Woodland Trust gave advice on PAWS restoration, veteran trees and deadwood, and Owen Davies from FSC UK linked this to current and future requirements in the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS). There was also discussion of the need to balance economic, environmental and social objectives - in the case of Cleobury Coppice, we looked at how PAWS management worked alongside timber production and public access. ‘We really want to do more to support existing FSC certificate holders and those considering FSC forest management certification,’ explained Owen. ‘We hope that by providing access to experts and opportunities to learn from the experiences of others we will make certification more accessible to all. And, most importantly, we hope there will be benefits in terms of the quality of woodland management.’ Workshop attendees included individual owners of small woods, managers of community woodlands, staff of forest management companies and a representative from Natural Resources Wales.

All benefited from the input of our hosts Ewan McIntosh and Paul Manley from Tilhill Forestry, who explained how they met certification requirements in practice, and of Andy Grundy from certification body the Soil Association, who described how requirements would be audited.

This is the first such joint workshop, and FSC UK is keen to work with other partners to share best practice with current and potential forest management certificate holders. If you have any suggestions for topics or locations for future workshops, please get in touch with Owen at owen@fsc-uk.org. 9

Thank you A Big Thank You to the following for their generous donations: Robert Dyas kindly donated furniture for our stand at Edie Live on 17th-18th May this year. The FSC 100% furniture set was a very welcome addition to the FSC UK stand. You can see the full range of FSC certified products from Robert Dyas (FSC-N001627) by visiting their website: www.robertdyas.co.uk © FSC UK

Sealed Air provided 500 padded envelopes to FSC UK to distribute materials for FSC Friday (held on 30th September later this year). The envelopes will help spread the FSC message as we distribute our promotional material.

Sealed Air (FSC-C110918) sell a variety of FSC certified packaging materials, all of which can be seen on their global website: www.sealedair.com

Luxaflex donated 4 custom-made FSC certified Venetian blinds to FSC UK A small but essential tool, the blinds will help keep the summer sun at bay in our new office, helping our staff enjoy a comfortable working environment. You can view the full Luxaflex (FSC-C020011) range by visiting their website:

www.luxaflex.co.uk 10

UK Forestry Forest Enterprise England looking towards the future

The Forestry Commission (FSC-C123223) has proudly carried the FSC ‘stamp of approval’ since 1999, and as the responsible authority for managing the Public Forest Estate in England at Forest Enterprise England (FEE), we are continuing to look ahead to ensure it carries the badge for many years to come. We were the first state forest organisation in the world to achieve forest certification, and over the last 17 years much has changed, globally as well as here in the UK. Many other state forestry organisations have followed the UK’s lead in becoming certified, whilst here at home in the UK forestry policy is now devolved, with England, Scotland and Wales now independently certificated, with the state forestry organisations evolving in response to local needs. As Forest Enterprise England, we are proud to display the FSC logo as visible declaration of our overarching strategic aim: “To secure and grow the economic, social and natural capital value of the Public Forest Estate for the people of England”.

“Areas noted in particular were our work on developing alternative forest species, including large-scale underplanting.” The UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) meets both FSC and PEFC certification requirements and each year FEE is audited against this standard by an independent authorised body. During each audit corrective 11

action requests (CARs), observations or commendations are identified by the auditors. Following our last audit, areas identified for us to address include some of our uses of the FSC trademark, a more strategic approach to the placement of Natural Reserves and better guidance for our staff in developing forest plans. However, a significant number of commendations were also received across a breadth of forest management activities. Areas noted in particular were our work on developing alternative forest species, including large-scale

underplanting (the planting of young trees under older trees), strategic management of non-native invasive species and our provision of chainsaw training facilities for the wider industry. On the environment side, highly commended was our work with research organisations in understanding priority species, in particular university partnerships such as joint work with Nottingham University, where we studied nightjar populations. The social aspect of forestry management is also within the standard’s remit, and our work in developing and managing brownfield sites close to urban communities was recognised as being ‘exemplary’.

By following these principles in developing our corporate responses to issues raised we can then not only ensure the longevity and success of our actions but also build confidence in our approach for those working on the Public Forest Estate. This autumn sees us trialling our new internal auditing system for our forest management for the production of timber, Christmas trees and venison - the three products we are certified to produce to FSC standards.

“By training existing staff we hope to achieve greater awareness of the Standard and improved compliance.” Over the last 18 months we have also developed a more structured approach to our management of audits and the follow-up process of handling and solving issues that arise. Where issues are raised (whether by internal or external audit), and corrective action is required, in order to ensure that our responses are robust and our people have confidence in the solution proposed, we ensure that every response meets our four principles for action: 1. Sustainable - Ensuring we can realistically deliver, given current and anticipated future resources, at all sites now and into the future;

By training existing staff in how to carry out audits and identify actions for improvement we hope to achieve greater awareness of the Standard and improved compliance. With the transition to Version 4 of the UK Woodland Assurance Standard on the horizon in the next year we are keen to ensure that everyone is aware not only of UKWAS but also the value of certification to our organisation.

2. Suited to fit within current systems Rather than creating more processes or additional systems, every solution seeks to evolve the existing frameworks as far as possible; 3. Beneficial to the organisation - As well as meeting the requirements of UKWAS, solutions proposed must be developed in such a way that they improve our business performance; 4. Comparable with others meeting the standard - By closely collaborating with other state forestry organisations (GB in particular) we can share approaches and best practice.

Throughout the coming changes we are confident that the FSC logo will continue to be our publicly visible declaration of our mission as a Public Forest Estate in England: delivering for people, wildlife and economy now and for years to come. Article by Dominic O’Connor Robinson, Lead Planning Manager at the Forestry Commission

FSC’s 10 USPs

1. We’re governed by our members We’re democratically governed, and over 800 social, economic and environmental members help us to set the right policies to protect the world’s forests.

2. We have the highest standards We set higher standards than any other forest certification scheme, which gives users the best assurance that certified forests are being managed responsibly.

3. We’re respected and credible We are the preferred certification scheme for business and the one most widely used by members of the Fortune 500.

4. Our impact is far-reaching Operating in over 100 markets, we issue more certificates globally than any other timber certification scheme.

5. We have a positive impact Of any existing forest certification scheme, we provide the highest level of protection for endangered species and natural forests.

6. We have influential support Our membership includes the world’s largest and most respected environmental NGO’s such as Greenpeace and WWF, both of which are vocal in their support of FSC over others.

7. We’re transparent Every process and decision we make is open to public review and our product claims are independently audited.

8. Our standards are globally consistent Wherever we operate in the world, our standards are based on the same principles and criteria.

9. We think local Every FSC forest certification process is open to local consultation so the people who live there can always have their say.

10. We’re recognised FSC is the only forest certification scheme recognised by LEED Green Building Certification and is a member of ISEAL Alliance, the global association for sustainability standards.

Case study Hotting up in Helsinki!

Löyly is a Finnish word that describes the sensation you get when you sprinkle water on the hot rocks in a traditional sauna and feel the heat intensifying as humidity rapidly increases. The sauna has always had a fundamental place in the everyday lives of Finns, and is seen almost as a spiritual place of tranquillity. For the Finns, the sauna is not just a steam room - it’s a place where you can truly relax and enjoy a moment of peace by yourself or share it with your friends and family. FSC Finland are honoured to have been part of making Hernesaaren Löyly, the first FSC project certificate holder in Finland. Löyly is a wooden sauna complex in the downtown area in Helsinki, Finland. It is located on the waterfront and offers breathtaking views for locals and visitors alike. On a beautiful summer day, its terrace is the place to be, and the saunas are available daily for the public. The complex includes a traditional smoke sauna in addition to two regular wood-heated saunas. Löyly has a huge terrace with over 1,600m2 of outdoor seating area, split over three levels. Löyly’s terrace is the largest terrace at sea level in Finland. Löyly offers exceptional architecture in a unique location and is committed to sustainable business and green construction. The environment has been the number one consideration throughout the project, informing everything from the choice of FSC certified building materials all the way to their menu. 15

The latticework, the outside surfaces and the terrace decking are built with FSC certified wood and the building is the first ever FSC certified project in Finland and the second in all of the Nordic countries. Also, the project is the first of its kind for the certification body NEPCon, which issued the project certificate.

The wooden parts are treated with a Nordic ecolabelled product, and the interior walls are made of waste material from birch plywood production. Löyly uses eco-energy-certified electricity and the building’s seaside glass walls are energyefficient. The restaurant also serves responsibly sourced fish and local produce. WWF has supported the project, advising on a responsible menu.

Löyly is owned by actor Jasper Pääkkönen and Antero Vartia, who is a member of the Finnish Green Party in the parliament. The two are eagerly promoting sustainable choices and want to encourage people to make responsible decisions, whether they are building a sauna or purchasing a garden furniture set.

As Löyly’s project certificate is partial, the FSC certificate scope covers the following elements: Exterior cladding (façade), terrace decking and the decorative wall inside the restaurant, all of which are the most visible elements of the building. FSC claims about the project will only be made of these three elements of the building.

Additional Links: Löyly’s homepage (en): http://www.loylyhelsinki.fi/ en/front-page/ New York Times: http://goo.gl/4tcc81 Hollywood Reporter: http://goo.gl/bYcbwS

Tanzanian Forestry Scheme Tanzanian NGO is changing lives with outstanding approach to responsible forestry Jasper Makala, Director of the Mpingo Conservation & Development Initiative (MCDI), one of Tanzania’s most successful conservation organisations, has won a prestigious Whitley Award for his work to bring rural communities together to manage their forests sustainably. Soil Association Certification’s forestry team has worked with Jasper and MCDI since 2007. By certifying schemes like the MCDI’s Participatory Forest Management scheme, Soil Association Certification has been pushing the agenda to provide more opportunities for smaller communities to take the reins on managing their own forests. Jasper received the award on 27th April 2016 at the Royal Geographical Society in London, presented by HRH The Princess Royal. The awards offer ongoing support to outstanding nature conservationists in the developing world.

Deforestation has seen millions of hectares of Tanzania’s virgin forests disappear over the past thirty years, largely due to illegal ‘slash and burn’ logging practices, which have become commonplace across the country. Valuable hardwood timber, such as the precious mpingo tree, is especially sought after for its use in musical instruments like clarinets, oboes and bagpipes.

“ Winning this award means a lot to us. It means MCDI can expand our work to an entirely new area - the first step to connect existing community forests and their wildlife with one of Africa’s largest protected areas” - Makala Jasper

A community carries out forest monitoring

The MCDI’s work is centred in the Kilwa district of the Lindi region, which is home to some of the last remaining stocks of mpingo hardwoods. Through their Participatory Forest Management scheme, the MCDI puts control of local forests back in the hands of rural communities, who are given full legal ownership of Village Land Forests Reserves.

To combat illegal logging, sustainable forestry is enshrined in Tanzanian law. If they can prove that they will maintain and manage the land sustainably, communities can reclaim full ownership of their traditional community land. However, due to costs and lack of technical capacity, this is an unattainable dream for many communities.

“Jasper Makala and the MCDI have accomplished a remarkable task.” - Kevin Jones, Soil Association

A woman carries out community forest monitoring

This is where MCDI comes in. The initiative facilitates community ownership by supervising management of a number of community forests, and assisting in the legal process involved in securing and transferring full ownership of the land back to the community. Certified to FSC standards by Soil Association Certification, it is the first initiative in Africa that operates in this way, putting ownership of 140,000 hectares of forest back in the hands of the Kilwa, Tunduru and Rufiji district’s communities. MCDI’s role has been revolutionary for the thousands of people involved. Each community forest is managed by a committee of up to 50 villagers which employs members of their own community to become trained and skilled timber workers, and provides employment opportunities for locals. The committee decides which projects to take on, how to manage them, and what to do with the profits from the timber sold, which

then go into a common pot. This approach has seen one village using their shared income to build a clinic for a doctor in order to have direct and immediate access to medical care. Other villages have used funds to build schools to provide education to children, or extend their education. Above all, the MCDI’s work has given communities a great deal of knowledge about sustainable forestry and left them with a strong sense of pride for the forests and drive to protect them. Kevin Jones, Head of Forestry at Soil Association Certification, said: “Jasper Makala and the MCDI have accomplished a remarkable task of growing the sustainable forestry industry while putting control of common resources back in the hands of communities. The dedication and knowledge of the people involved is incredible, and we in the UK could take a lesson from the teamwork required to decide how to protect our natural resources. This is exactly the sort of thing we want to see more of in the future in our work with the Forest Stewardship Council.”

Green expanse of Miombo woodland near Kisangi This article has been reproduced with permission from the Soil Association who are committed to developing access to FSC certification for smallholders and community forests, and has worked closely with the FSC Regional Offices in Africa over the past few years to achieve this objective. www.soilassociation.org Twitter: @SoilAssociation

UK Forestry FSC Forest Management Certification: In it together

FSC certification of forests in the UK has been on the increase since the first certificate was issued in the mid-nineties. However, the number of certificates peaked in 2009 when 104 forest management certificates were in place, the majority being single certificates issued to individual forest owners and at a time when a relatively small number of group schemes had been established. Following the peak, and as group schemes have increased, there has been a decline in the number of certificates issued but a slight upward trend in certified area. In recent years there has been a steady increase in the number of group schemes, although there have been some recent losses. FSC certificates are issued by certifiers who have been accredited in the UK by Accreditation Services International on behalf of FSC. Single certificate holders are audited annually by the Certifier to verify compliance with the requirements of the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) which is endorsed by FSC as the standard which fulfils FSC International Principles and Criteria. An UKWAS checklist is used for this purpose and a public summary report is produced which includes wide ranging additional data gathered to fulfil reporting requirements as stated by FSC. Forests certified through a group certificate still have to fulfil all the UKWAS and FSC requirements of a single certificate, however, the auditing intensity can be significantly reduced. 19

“Group managers are experienced forestry professionals with extensive and in depth knowledge of certification requirements.” Group certificate holders are also audited annually, however, the certifier applies formulae set by FSC to select a sample of the forests included on the group certificate. Forests are sampled from, for instance, a number of different size categories of forest. Economies of scale are achieved; the larger the group, the smaller the proportion of forests to be visited during the annual audit. To ensure that all forests in the group comply with UKWAS and FSC requirements it is the group manager’s responsibility to demonstrate

to the certifier that adequate controls and monitoring of each group member are implemented, and this usually takes the form of internal audits instigated by the group manager throughout the year. The group audit also verifies compliance with the requirements of FSC-STD-30-005 FSC Standard for Group Entities in Forest Management Groups. Apart from cost savings there are other benefits of group membership for forest owners.

UK Forest Certification Ltd (UKFCG) is one such group. Launched in 2012 by Phil Webb and Paul Sandys, the group has experienced steady growth for the benefit of members whose forest areas have ranged in size from 6 to almost 3000 hectares spread from Kent and Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands. Paul and Phil support their members with advice on preparing documented policies required for certification, access to a wide range of templates for monitoring forest operations and production of newsletters informing members of industry developments which have a bearing on certification. Training of forest owners and managers is provided on a one-to-one basis, as required, with the aim of achieving the high standards required by certification.

Group managers are experienced forestry professionals with extensive and in depth knowledge of certification requirements enabling them to support forest owners achieve certification. One of the fundamental principles (defined by ISO 9001) of being a lead auditor for a certifier is that advice cannot be given. Any failings of conformity with the requirements of the certification standard (UKWAS) are reported as non-conformities but no advice is given on how to deal with the failing. Group managers are not constrained in this way and are free to advise forest owners how to achieve and maintain certified status.

“Training of forest owners and managers is provided with the aim of achieving the high standards required by certification.” Larger groups have access to a resource of knowledge from forest managers operating in different parts of the country and forest owners from wide ranging backgrounds. Sharing of knowledge within the group is a huge benefit and many groups share that knowledge with others in the forest industry. Safety warnings disseminated through the Forest Industry Safety Accord (FISA) being a good example.

Some recent losses of members can be attributed to the fact that certification is no longer a pre-requisite for the award of some Forestry Commission management grants. It is likely this factor has also lead to the closure of some smaller groups in parts of England where premium rates for sales of FSC certified timber are not always available. Regardless of losses, UKFCG continues to grow with the unique added benefit of not taking on forest management responsibilities thus leaving forest owners free to appoint their own independent forest managers. Article by Phil Webb UKFCG Group Manager www.forestcertification.org.uk 20

WITH THESE BLOCKS, IT’S NOT JUST A TOWER HE’S BUILDING. IT’S A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR FORESTS TOO. Our forests give us many things, including the toys that shape our childhoods. FSC® helps take care of forests and the people and wildlife who call them home. So you can keep your life full of forest products while keeping our forests full of life. Choose FSC. www.fsc.org

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A Postcard From...FSC Canada

Canada, the second largest country in the world, is both the home of maple syrup and land of vast forests. Currently, Canada has over 50 million hectares of FSC certified forests which makes up 30% of the global share that’s larger than two United Kingdoms put together! Having such a large number of forests and over 700 chain of custody certificate holders certainly keeps our six full-time staff members busy!

From left to right: Elaine Marchand, Vivian Peachey, Orrin Quinn, Monika Patel, Josh Zangwill, and Francois Dufresne.

Over the past few years, FSC Canada has been working diligently on drafting a Forest Management Standard. attention to key issues including This process, taking us into 2017, will pay particular scapes; Free, Prior and Informed Intact Forest Landscapes; Indigenous Cultural Land increasingly paramount with our Consent; and Species at Risk. This work is becoming that will become certified across current certified forests and also prospective forests Canada in the future. 23% of Canada’s forests hold FSC Even with 50 million hectares certified, only around ty for growth. certification, which definitely leaves a lot of opportuni can visit their website: ca.fsc.org To learn more about FSC Canada and their work, you

New Portal Feature Search for certified suppliers in the Online Trademark Portal

Are you an FSC Trademark Licence Holder? Now you can select a list of your certified suppliers for your own use in the FSC Trademark Portal. The aim of this is to make it quicker and easier to verify the FSC status of your suppliers. Before placing an order you can now quickly and easily check the certified status of your suppliers to make sure they are still able to supply you with FSC certified products. In addition, you will receive an automatic email if one of your suppliers’ certificates expires. Once logged in you can create the list of certified suppliers under the ‘Certificate Status’ section (tab on left). You can also export the list as a CSV file for your own record keeping. We believe that this extension improves the transparency and consistency of the FSC system and further Trademark Licence Holder satisfaction. This facility is already available for all Certificate Holders and can be accessed by visiting https://trademarkportal.fsc.org/portal/ login.php If you have any questions, you can contact info@fsc-uk.org 23

Sign up for FSC Friday 2016! FSC Friday 2016 Get involved! We’re inviting everyone to get involved in our annual, international event - FSC Friday 2016, and celebrate the world’s forests, raising awareness of FSC and the importance of responsible forest management, wood and paper sourcing. By registering you can tell us: • How you can support FSC Friday 2016 • What plans or ideas you have • What FSC materials you would like People are invited to consider the source of the products they buy, look for the FSC logo - and have fun at the same time! Last year, FSC Friday was celebrated by 31 countries across the world including the UK, where businesses, schools and groups took part by holding awareness raising events, ranging from dressing green and baking cakes to holding presentations and talks.

To register please visit http://goo.gl/LePi2i For some inspiration, see what organisations did last year by visiting http://goo.gl/l3nJUs Should you want any specific information you can email us at info@fsc-uk.org © CIS Uzbekistan

WOULD YOU LIKE TO FEATURE IN OUR

NEWSLETTER? Are you an FSC certificate or licence holder? If so then you can feature your case study, article or product focus in Forest Matters - and it’s FREE! Take advantage of this valuable opportunity to let our readers know about your business, and how holding a certificate or licence benefits both you and the world’s forests.

Basic Guidelines • Case study or relevant feature: 600 - 800 words + 3 photos & your logo • Product Focus: 300 words + 2 photos & your logo

For more information and detailed guidelines, contact us on 01686 413 916 or email info@fsc-uk.org

Online Training Chain of Custody online training module now available

We are now offering an online Chain of Custody training module free of charge to all certificate holders. The training acts as an alternative to, but not a replacement for face-to-face training. The online training will provide organisations the opportunity to easily access and learn about FSC Chain of Custody certification, as stand-alone or in preparation for more in-depth face-toface training. It also intends to bring further benefits to your organisation such as increasing staff knowledge and improving engagement with suppliers. The module includes an explanation of: • FSC • Controlled Wood • The 3 systems for controlling content of FSC products • How to implement a Documented Control System • How to check that companies and their products are FSC certified. For organisations that don’t have FSC certification, this training can be accessed for a fee of £130 for 3 months or £50 for one month.

Interested in accessing the training? Please contact training@fsc-uk.org If you hold an FSC Chain of Custody certificate, please provide your certificate or license number.

UK Forestry Recognising excellence in forestry at 2016 awards

RFS President Sophie Churchill with winners, sponsors and judges of the Excellence in Forestry Awards

FSC UK has been delighted to play a part in this year’s Royal Forestry Society Excellence in Forestry Awards. At the award ceremony at Lotherton Hall on 6th July, FSC UK Forest Standards Manager Dr Owen Davies introduced the winners of the three categories he had helped to judge; the Duke of Cornwall’s Award for Resilient Woods, the Award for Excellence in Silviculture, and the Small and Farm Woodlands Award. ‘It has been a great privilege to be involved in the Excellence in Forestry Awards,’ says Owen, ‘and to visit some truly remarkable woodlands. There were terrific examples of forest management in all of the categories.’ True to Royal Forestry Society’s emphasis on learning, winners first enjoyed a guided tour of the grounds of Lotherton Hall. Then they got down to the serious business of receiving their awards, and making a few Oscars-style acceptance speeches! ‘Not only was it terrific to celebrate what most might consider mainstream forestry, it was also very humbling to hear about the life-changing 27

work of the winners of the Education and Learning Award and the Urban and Community Forestry Award,’ says Owen. The Excellence in Forestry Awards cover a different region each year, and this year covered the north of England. First prize in the Small and Farm Woodlands Award went to Gary Primrose for the management of Sawrey Ground Plantation near Hawkshead, Cumbria; truly multi-functional and yet low impact woodland management, with clear economic, environmental and social benefits. Second prize went to James Ogilvie, whose management of Moss Wood included

outstanding recreational and educational access to features of the area’s industrial heritage. Prizes in the Award for Excellence in Silviculture recognised the exceptional quality of management on two traditional estates; the first prize was accepted by forester Shaun Purkiss for outstanding new plantings at Zetland Estates, and second prize went to Robert Nevins for the quality of restocking and subsequent management on the Ford and Etal Estates.

The Duke of Cornwall’s Award for Resilient Woods: judge Owen Davies (FSC UK), sponsor Simon Hart (Egger Forestry), winners Tim Tolliss and Lady Feversham (Helmsley Estate), and sponsor John Clegg (John Clegg and Co.)

“It has been a great privilege to be involved in the Excellence in Forestry Awards, and to visit some truly remarkable woodlands. - Owen Davies, FSC UK First prize in the Duke of Cornwall’s Award for Resilient Woods was received by Lady Award winners enjoy a tour of the grounds of Lotherton Feversham for FSC certified Hall, managed by Leeds City Council © FSC UK Helmsley Estate, whose diverse woodlands are managed by Tilhill. Second prize was received by David Robson of Egger Forestry for the diversification of previously under-managed conifer stands at Warren and Lalbuss. And a special commendation was given to Ralph Hoyle for his management of Grimston Wood, in particular his establishment of an arboretum of unusual conifer and broadleaf species. To learn more about this year’s winners, the award categories, and the regions covered in the coming years, visit http://www.rfs.org.uk/awards/rfs-excellence-in-forestry-awards/.

Product Focus Company: Mercia Garden Products Ltd FSC Licence Number: FSC-C007851 Licensed Since: 1999 Products: The Woodland Trust Range of Play Equipment

Your adventure starts here! Mercia has teamed up with the Woodland Trust to encourage kids outdoors! Boasting adventurous climbing walls, exciting towers and two wavy slides, this range of play equipment provides hours of outdoor fun for children of all ages. Designed and manufactured to the highest specification, Mercia’s Woodland Trust climbing frames are all made from FSC certified and pressure-treated timber. The framework is 75mm thick with rounded edges to protect your child from bumps or scrapes. Each platform has safety handles to make it easier for kids to climb and the whole range conforms to EN71 UK Safety Standards. b

“Outdoor learning is a vital part of our philosophy. Children learn by experience and playing outdoors is a fantastic way for them to learn new skills, be in the fresh air and have more stimulating lives.” - Karen Letten, Community Engagement Manager at the Woodland Trust

For every product you purchase, Mercia Garden Products will help the Woodland Trust care for native trees by donating 5% of its proceeds! 29

Features • FSC Mix certified timber • 5% of proceeds donated to the Woodland Trust • Safety tested to EN71 - Suitable for 3 Years + • Option to join two or more climbing frames together for a custom design • Extra-thick, planed & rounded framing • Safety handles on each platform • 15 year anti-rot guarantee • Pressure treated timber construction • 2 person self-assembly • Includes full instructions, fixings and slide © Mercia

Product Descriptions Woodland Trust Red Squirrel Climbing Platform: An open plan, climbing platform ideal for younger children and small gardens. Choose your own configuration, including the 1.8m wavy slide, ladder, abseiling wall and climbing Wall. - Dimensions: (H)180, (W)90, (D)325cm Woodland Trust Badger Tower (a): A fantastic lookout for children of all ages. Hours of fun with a little shelter, the Badger Tower includes a unique split level play area with apex roof, ladder and 3m wavy slide. - Dimensions: (H)293, (W)138, (D)416cm Woodland Trust Little Owl Tower (c): An open plan, climbing platform ideal for younger children and small gardens. Choose your own configuration, including the 1.8m wavy slide, ladder, abseiling wall and climbing wall. - Dimensions: (H)180, (W)90, (D)325cm Woodland Trust Polecat Tower (b): A world of possibilities for fun and adventure! Perfect for any garden, the Polecat Tower includes apex roof, ladder and 3m wavy slide. Purchase along with the Picnic Bench or the Bridge Module, this platform can even be connected to the Fox Tower, Red Squirrel Platform or Little Owl Platform. - Dimensions: (H)293, (W)108, (D)477cm Woodland Trust Fox Tower (d): Our largest platform. Boasting a huge play area which is enclosed with a wooden roof, giving a real tree house feel. This climbing frame features a 3m wavy slide, ladder and apex roof. You can purchase this along with the Picnic Bench, or the Rope Bridge Module to be connected to the Polecat Tower, Red Squirrel Platform or Little Owl Platform. Dimensions: (H)293, (W)319, (D)401cm Woodland Trust Red Deer Tower (e): The ultimate climbing frame, sure to be every Child’s dream! We’ve connected the Fox Tower and Polecat Tower via a strong wooden Rope Bridge. The Red Deer Tower also includes 3m wavy slide, ladders and apex roof for endless hours of fun outside. Dimensions: (H)293, (W)582, (D)477cm

www.merciagardenproducts.co.uk www.woodlandtrust.org.uk 30

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Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) UK is a charity dedicated to promoting responsible forestry. For more information about FSC UK: www.fsc-uk.org info@fsc-uk.org The Billiard Room, Town Hall, Great Oak Street Llanidloes Powys, SY18 6BN 01686 413916

Charity number: 1130203 FSC® F000231

FSC in numbers 2,383 Chain of Custody certificates in the UK 1,589,518 hectares of FSC certified forest in the UK 30,750 Chain of Custody certificates worldwide 191.023 million hectares of FSC certified forest worldwide Latest figures from FSC IC. Correct as of 4th July 2016. The full list of figures can be viewed at https://ic.fsc.org/en/facts-figures