World Forestry

"How we deal with our growth, in terms of new cultures, the issues of climate change, indigenous peoples, and tropical forests will determine in large part how we will be judged 10 years from today", remarked William Street, PEFC Chairman, at a recent meeting, highlighting the importance of social issues in sustainable forest management.

Forest certification, as one of the most effective tools in safeguarding the world's most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems, plays an important role in outlining the balance between social, environmental and economic pillars of sustainable forest management.

The requirements that forest certification sets on issues such as indigenous people's rights, health and safety, labor, or working conditions have therefore a significant impact on the millions of people that directly and indirectly depend on forests for their livelihoods, especially in the Global South.

A recent PEFC workshop on Social Issues in Forest Management, which was part of PEFC's Standards Revision process, brought together stakeholders from all parts of society to exchange views on topics related to social issues.

Presenters from the public sector, indigenous peoples rights groups, labor unions, and forest owners shared first-hand experiences from their perspective and provided the framework for informed discussions among workshop participants.

These discussions, as well as the outputs of further workshops, public seminars and global webinars, feed directly into the revision process and will help shape the forthcoming revised PEFC requirements for sustainable forest management.

Further Information

Summary

• Social Issues in forest Management – Summary of Proceedings (including all presentations) ( 4 MB)

Presentations

• Introduction to PEFC revision process (relating to social issues) ( 202 kb)
  Jaroslav Tymrak, PEFC International
• Social Criteria in Public Procurement Policies for Timber in DK, NL and UK (91kb)
  Lizet Quaak Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning, and the Environment, Climate Change, and Industry Directorate
• Indigenous People Rights in Sustainable Forest Management ( 774 kb)
  Kirsi-Marja Korhonen, Metsähallitus
• Indigineous People Rights in Sustainable Forest Management ( 40 kb)
  Aimo Guttorm, Representative of Finnish Saami Parliament
• Indigenous Peoples and Certification ( 69 kb)
  Minnie Degawan, Project coordinator, International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal People
• ILO Standards in Certification ( 341 kb)
  Jan Voets, Belgian Trade Unions/BWI International
• Requirements for Stakeholders Consultation and Stakeholders's Access to Information ( 99 kb)
  Mr Morten Thoroe, CEPF (Confederation of European Forest Owners)