FSC Certifies Logging of Tiger Habitat in Indonesia

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***********************************************FOREST CONSERVATION NEWS TODAYFSC Certifies Logging of Tiger Habitat in Indonesia***********************************************Forest Networking a Project of Forests.org, Inc. http://forests.org/ -- Forest Conservation Portal http://forests.org/links/ -- Forest Conservation Links07/30/01OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY by Forests.orgForest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification that timber isenvironmentally acceptable is in danger of becoming meaningless. FSChas awarded a certificate to commercially log Indonesian rainforeststhat are habitat for the Sumatran tiger, one of world's most rarecreatures with an estimated 300 remaining in the wild. The loggingcompany "PT Diamond Raya" has not taken any specific measures toprotect the tigers, and has failed to carry out an environmentalimpact assessment of its activities. Yet it has achieved FSC's stampof approval. Wood products carrying the FSC logo might not be as'green' as they seem.Indonesia's logging industry is so out of control - with pervasiveillegal logging, non-existent governmental controls, a scale oflogging that is clearly unsustainable, and widespread violations ofindigenous rights - that there should be no commercial logging ofremaining rainforests, certified or otherwise. In March of thisyear, a coalition of more than 140 Indonesian environmental and humanrights organizations called on FSC to suspend the certification oflogging operations in Indonesia, until such time as certificationscould be carried out reliably. One of the key concerns is that theIndonesian legal system does not presently respect indigenous forestcommunities' traditional rights to the land on which they live,whereas this is specifically required by the FSC.Forests.org recently editorialized(http://forests.org/recent/2001/fsccomme.htm) that FSC's principlesfail to define under what circumstances certified logging of old-growth forest wildlands is acceptable, and do not incorporate largeprotected areas to ensure sustainability of forest landscapes.Failure to come clean regarding the circumstances under which FSCcertification is appropriate in the World's remaining intact forestwildernesses is not only disingenuous and dishonest to FSC'simportant forest protection constituency, it also legitimizesextensive first time commercial logging of remaining old-growthforest wildlands. Granting certification to log old-growthIndonesian rainforests that are endangered tiger habitat illustratesthis point perfectly.It is time for all concerned forest conservationists to do battle forthe meaning and very soul of "forest certification" in relation toclaims of environmentally sensitive forest management. The conceptof environmentally benign forest management is under threat frommeaningless industry sponsored alternative certification schemes.But just as troubling is that in its rush to be THE certificationlabel, FSC is severely weakening their commitment to environmentallybased forest management and forest conservation in general.FSC's message to concerned forest conservationists: drop dead. FSCis stonewalling any and all criticism. FSC-USA is run like abusiness - intent only upon the bottom line and getting out the cut -rather than as a rigorous environmental certification organizationcommitted to global forest conservation goals. WWF is so invested inthe success of FSC certification that they advocate for commercialscale certified logging of the World's forest wildlands, rainforestsin particular. In PNG, WWF is the driving force behind actuallogging of ancient rainforests where it may not otherwise occur -including in delicate mangrove ecosystems. And WWF is assistingindustrial loggers that have incredibly dubious environmental andsocial records - the Malaysian logging cartels - to access and logthe World's dwindling rainforests by working with them to achieve FSCcertification.The FSC/WWF forest certification empire has so bastardized theconcept of environmentally benign forest management that nowIndonesian and Malaysian loggers accessing and logging much of theWorld's remaining large rainforests - including endangered tigerhabitat - is being sold as "green" forest management. Increasinglyforest conservations do not buy your vision, nor will we buy your"green" products.The tropical timber industry was on the point of collapse because ofcampaigns to boycott tropical timber. Returning again to an emphasisupon not logging or buying any old-growth tropical timbers may bemore successful in meaningfully protecting the World's remaininglarge old-growth rainforests than opening them up to questionable"sustainable" forest management. Forests.org desperately wants tosupport FSC certification, but only if it is environmentally rigorousand does not include logging old-growth forest wildlands.Forests.org joins with the Rainforest Foundation and the IndonesianNGO Walhi in demanding that FSC revoke PT Diamond Raya's certificate.Further, failure by FSC to quickly develop principles that leave mostold-growth forest wildlands unlogged will lead to widespreadwithdrawal of support from ecologically rigorous forest conservationNGOs that remain independent and vigilant.g.b.*******************************RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:Title: Environmentalists challenge 'eco-timber' go-ahead for logging in endangered tiger habitat Important test case for Forest Stewardship Council; consumers could be misled by 'green' schemeSource: Rainforest Foundation and WALHI July 11, 2001PRESS RELEASEThe habitat of one of the world's rarest creatures, the Sumatrantiger, could be threatened by a rainforest logging company that hasrecently been awarded an 'eco-timber' certificate under the ForestStewardship Council (FSC) scheme, warned environmentalists today. Ina letter to UK-based forest assessment company SGS-Qualifor, whichissued the certificate, the Rainforest Foundation and Indonesia'slargest national environmental organisations, WALHI, demanded thatthe certificate should be immediately withdrawn (see attached).The Indonesian logging company PT Diamond Raya is logging 224,000acres (90,240 hectares) of rainforest on the island of Sumatra,Indonesia, and was 'certified' by SGS-Qualifor in April 2001. Toqualify for the certificate, PT Diamond Raya is supposed to complywith the standards set by the Forest Stewardship Council [1]. Theaward of the certificate means that PT Diamond Raya's timber cancarry the Forest Stewardship Council's 'Seal of Approval', which isintended to reassure members of the public that wood products arefrom "environmentally acceptable and socially beneficial" sources.The Forest Stewardship Council scheme is supported by the WorldwideFund for Nature (WWF) and other conservation organisations, majorhigh street retailers such as B & Q, and timber companies.However, documentation in the possession of the Rainforest Foundationshows that, whilst the forest being logged by PT Diamond Raya isknown to contain Sumatran tigers, of which there are only anestimated 300 remaining in the wild worldwide, the logging companyhas not taken any specific measures to protect them, and has failedto carry out an environmental impact assessment of its activities[2]. Destruction of forest habitat is cited by world conservationauthorities as one of the major threats to the Sumatran tiger.'Undercover' investigations carried out in the area by independentIndonesian researchers shortly after the certificate was issued alsorevealed:* widespread illegal logging taking place within the 'certified'area [3];* evidence of serious conflict between PT Diamond Raya and localpeople, who have recently burned down one of the company's campsin protest [4].Simon Counsell, of the Rainforest Foundation, said:"This case suggests that the FSC system of assessing loggingoperations is not adequate to ensure that good forest management andconservation is taking place. The FSC needs urgently to review theprocedures of forest assessors such as SGS-Qualifor, who are issuing'eco-timber' certificates that may be misleading consumers. Wood-buying members of the public should be aware that products carryingthe FSC logo might not be as 'green' as they seem."Longgena Ginting of WALHI said:"The Diamond Raya case is clearly an example from which FSC has tolearn. Seventy percent of logging in Indonesia is illegal, and wedesperately need a moratorium on logging, not dubious green awardsfor logging companies who do not deserve them. There should be nomore certifications of any concessions in Indonesia before there havebeen necessary reforms in the forestry laws that would create thepossibility for the Principles and Criteria of the FSC to actually beimplemented."In March this year, a coalition of more than 140 Indonesianenvironmental and human rights organisations called on the ForestStewardship Council to suspend the certification of loggingoperations in Indonesia, until such time as certifications could becarried out reliably. One of the key concerns is that the Indonesianlegal system does not presently respect indigenous forestcommunities' traditional rights to the land on which they live,whereas this is specifically required by the FSC.ENDSNotes to Editors[1] The Forest Stewardship Council was set up in 1993 byenvironmental groups and timber companies in order to provide aglobally recognised system of showing consumers which wood productsare from "environmentally acceptable, socially beneficial andeconomically sustainable" sources. The FSC developed 10 'principles'and 56 specific 'criteria' of good forest management, with whichlogging companies are expected to comply in order to be granted theFSC's 'Seal of Approval'. The FSC accredits private and independentorganisations such as SGS-Qualifor to carry out the actualassessments of logging companies on its behalf.[2] FSC assessment criterion no. 6.1 states that "Assessment ofenvironmental impacts shall be completed -- appropriate to the scale,intensity of forest management and the uniqueness of the affectedresources -- and adequately integrated into management systems..."Criterion no. 6.2 states that "Safeguards shall exist which protectrare, threatened and endangered species and their habitats (e.g.,nesting and feeding areas). Conservation zones and protection areasshall be established, appropriate to the scale and intensity offorest management and the uniqueness of the affected resources.."[3] FSC assessment criterion no. 1.5 states that "Forest managementareas should be protected from illegal harvesting, settlement andother unauthorized activities."[4] FSC assessment criterion no. 2.3 states that "Appropriatemechanisms shall be employed to resolve disputes over tenure claimsand use rights. The circumstances and status of any outstandingdisputes will be explicitly considered in the certificationevaluation. Disputes of substantial magnitude involving a significantnumber of interests will normally disqualify an operation from beingcertified"For further information:Simon Counsell, Director, Rainforest Foundation (London):Tel:+ 44 (0) 20 7251 6345 (office)+ 44 (0) 20 7354 1014 (home)+ 44 (0) 7941 899 579 (mobile)Fax:+44 (0) 20 7251 4969Longenna Ginting, Campaigns Directore-mail: simoncWALHI (Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia / Indonesian Forum forEnvironment, Jakarta*)Tel:+ 62 21 794 16 79 (office)+ 62 811 92 70 38 (mobile)e-mail: kuleh, walhi+ 62 21 799 2826 (home)Fax: + 62 21 794 1673* Please note time difference of +6 hours between London andDjakarta.###RELAYED TEXT ENDS###In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material isdistributed without profit to those who have expressed a priorinterest in receiving forest conservation informational materials foreducational, personal and non-commercial use only. 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