Forest Certification: Roots, Issues, Challenges, and Benefits

by Vogt; Daniel J

• ISBN13: 9780849315855
• ISBN10: 0849315859
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-11-29
• Publisher: CRC Press

Summary

Forest certification has been widely accepted as a tool that would encourage industrial and non-industrial management of resources in an environmentally acceptable, socially beneficial and economically viable manner. Much has been written on certification yet five issues have been missing, which this book addresses: an analysis of the scientific basis for the certification standards; a formal and mechanistic incorporation of social and natural system sustainability as part of the standards; the rationale for the different sets of standards that are currently being used to certify governmental, industrial and non-industrial organizations; the success of the different sets of standards in assessing the environmental acceptability, social benefits and economic viability of the managed system; and, the difficulty of certifying small landowners with current protocols.Forest Certification examines the historical roots of forest certification, the factors that guide the development of certification protocols, the players involved in certification, the factors determining the customers to be certified, and the benefits of certification. The book also covers the terminology and other issues intrinsic to certification that direct the structure of standards, the similarities between indicators of different human disturbances within the ecosystem/landscape and certification standards, and, finally, a case study evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of existing certification protocols.Forest Certification is unique in its analysis of the scientific basis for the structure of the forest certification protocols. It documents the roles of human values in the development of assessment protocols but demonstrates how elements of existing protocols should be used to produce non-value based standards.

Table of Contents

Preface
Authors
Contributors
Issues in forest Certification	1	(10)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Bruce C. Larson
Daniel J. Vogt
John C. Gordon
Anna Fanzeres
Jennifer L. O'Hara
Peter A. Palmiotto
Improvements crucial to successful implementation of forest certification	2	(3)
Why certification is relevant	5	(6)
Roots of forest certification: Its developmental history, types of approaches, and statistics	11	(44)
Origins of the concept of forest certification	11	(9)
Anna Fanzeres
Kristiina A. Vogt
Other relevant initiatives in forest certification	20	(9)
Anna Fanzeres
Kristiina A. Vogt
The certification of environmental claims in industrialized countries	29	(5)
Brett Furnas
Kristiina A. Vogt
Glenn Allen
Anna Fanzeres
Analysis of forest certification approaches	34	(8)
Characterization of three approaches: Forest Stewardship Council, AF&PA Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and ISO	34	(2)
Brett Furnas
J. Scott Estey
Kristiina A. Vogt
Joyce K. Berry
Anna Fanzeres
Forest Stewardship Council	36	(1)
Sustainable Forestry Initiative	36	(1)
International Standardization Organization (ISO)	37	(2)
Compatibility or dissimilirity of the American Forest & Paper Association's Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Forest Stewardship Council approach to certification	39	(3)
Brett Furnas
Kristiina A. Vogt
Anna Fanzeres
Current statistics and characterization of certified forests by ownership type and land area	42	(13)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Anna Fanzeres
J. Scott Estey
Jennifer Heintz
Definitions and current values integrated into certification protocols	55	(54)
Defining terminology	56	(28)
Criteria and indicators	56	(3)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Anna Fanzeres
Daniel J. Vogt
Sustainability	59	(1)
Brian Rod
Toral Patel-Waynand
Anna Fanzeres
Bruce C. Larson
Indah Kusuma
Christie Potts
Allyson Brownlee
Heidi Kretser
Jennifer Heintz
Andrew Hiegel
Definitions of sustainability	60	(1)
Integrating social and natural sciences in sustainability	61	(4)
Issue related to achieving sustainability	65	(2)
Good Forest management	67	(4)
Bruce C. Larson
Anna Fanzeres
Kristiina A. Vogt
Christie Potts
Heidi Kretser
Jennifer Heintz
Allyson Brownlee
Certification and poverty	71	(1)
Toral Patel-Weynand
Kristiina A. Vogt
Sustainable development, forests, and poverty	71	(2)
Certification and poverty alleviation	73	(1)
Fuelwood and timber	73	(1)
Food and the environment	74	(1)
Income and employment	75	(2)
Poverty alleviation and environmental protection	77	(1)
Ecology of forest use by the poor	77	(2)
Ecological impacts of fuelwood and timber use by the poor	79	(1)
Ecological impacts of income generation and employment of the poor on forestlands	79	(1)
The role of gender and forest use in poverty eradication	80	(2)
Toral Patel-Weynand
Policies and institutions affecting forest use by the poor	82	(2)
Value-laden issues of certification	84	(25)
Species and ecosystem relationships	85	(1)
Human value for species and their link to ecosystems	85	(1)
Kristiina A. vogt
Karen H. Beard
Definitions and measurement techniques for species diversity	86	(2)
Karen H. Beard
The development of the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem stability	88	(1)
Karen H. Beard
Keystone species, ecosystem engineers: where species are good indicators of the ecosystem	89	(2)
Karen H. Beard
Main limitations of past species/ecosystem studies	91	(1)
Karen H. Beard
Main limitations of past species/ecosystem studies	91	(3)
Karen H. Beard
Lack of appropriate controls for biodiversity	94	(1)
Insufficient surrogates for productivity measurements	94	(1)
Lack of appropriate disturbances	95	(1)
Limitations of the study system	96	(1)
Human values integral to certification	97	(1)
Joyce K. Berry
Kristiina A. Vogt
Social and natural science integration in natural resource management and assessment	97	(5)
Joyce K. Berry
Kristiina A. Vogt
Values of certifying organizations, society, landowners, and the desired forest condition	102	(7)
Kristiina Vogt
Joyce K. Berry
Andrew Hiegel
Case study and evaluation of the dominant certification protocols	109	(68)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Anna Fanzeres
Daniel J Vogt
Bruce C. Larson
Jennifer L. O'Hara
Glenn Allen
Allyson Brownlee
Luisa Camara
Eva Cuadrado
J. Scott Estey
Alex Finkral
Brett Furnas
Jennifer Heintz
Andrew Hiegel
Heidi Kretser
Indah Kusuma
Jessica Lawrence
Marie-Claire Paiz
Peter A. Palmiotto
Brooke A. Parry
Christie Potts
Brian Rod
Manrique Rojas
Joe Taggart
Relevance of Toumey Forest to assess certification protocols	109	(2)
Analysis of the elements comprising the dominant certification protocols as structured in January 1998	111	(23)
Criteria and indicators of different protocols and their implementation	111	(3)
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)	114	(1)
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (American Forests & Paper Association)	115	(1)
Smartwood (Rainforest Alliance)	116	(1)
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)	117	(3)
Silva Forest Foundation (SILVA)	120	(2)
Woodmark (The Soil Association)	122	(2)
Acadian/FSC initiated regional standards	124	(2)
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)	126	(1)
Grading and ranking data within certification protocols	127	(3)
Social integration in certification protocols	130	(1)
Public participation in protocols	130	(1)
Goals and values of certification organizations	131	(3)
Case study: student evaluation of protocols at Yale's Toumey Forest	134	(43)
History of Toumey Forest	134	(2)
David M. Smith
Information and site description for Toumey Forest	136	(1)
Class evaluation of Toumey Forest using the different protocols	137	(1)
CIFOR	138	(4)
SFI	142	(3)
Smartwood	145	(3)
SCS	148	(3)
SILVA	151	(3)
Woodmark	154	(3)
Acadian/FSC-initiated regional standards	157	(3)
CSA	160	(3)
General summary of the assessment of Yale's Toumey Forest	163	(3)
Amount and types of data needed for certification	166	(1)
Generality and uniformity of data	166	(2)
Weighting of data	168	(2)
Value-driven indicators and desired standard forest condition	170	(2)
Social integration in protocols	172	(1)
Certification of large vs. small landowners	173	(4)
Indicators relevant for inclusion in assessments: types, minimum number, and those derived from non-human values	177	(50)
Indicators selection criteria
Kristiina A. Vogt
Daniel J. Vogt
Anna Fanzeres
Bruce C. Larson
Peter A. Palmiotto
Rationales for indicator selections	178	(4)
Approach for determination of the minimum information needs of a certification protocol	182	(5)
Non-value-based parameters relevant for incorporation into certification	187	(33)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Natural science legacies constraining natural resource uses	188	(1)
Land uses and soils	188	(6)
Ragnhildur Sigurdardottir
Daniel J. Vogt
Kristiina A. Vogt
Landscape spatial patterns and edges	194	(1)
Brook A. Parry
Kristiina A. Vogt
Karen H. Beard
Edges	195	(2)
Forest fragments	197	(1)
Species diversity and spatial scales	198	(1)
Karen H. Beard
Maintaining species diversity in isolated areas	198	(1)
Species area relationships, Island Biogeography Theory and metapopulation concept	199	(1)
Spatial scale and ecosystem stability	200	(1)
Spatial scale and ecosystem functioning	201	(1)
Pest/pathogens	202	(1)
Introduction	202	(1)
Kristiina A. Vogt
William H. Smith
Forest ecosystem structures and functions controlled by phytophagous insects and microbial pathogens	203	(2)
William H. Smith
Invasive alien species	205	(1)
Bronson W. Griscom
Laura A. Meyerson
Kristiina J. Vogt
Factors controlling invasive species success	206	(1)
Bronson W. Griscom
Laura A. Meyerson
Introduction of alien species	207	(1)
Attributes of alien species	208	(1)
Attributes of target ecosystems	208	(1)
Disturbance	209	(4)
Ecosystem legacies and invasive species	213	(2)
Laura A. Meyerson
Bronson W. Griscom
Implications of invasives for management	215	(5)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Laura A. Meyerson
Bronson W. Griscom
Social legacies constraining natural resource uses	220	(7)
Human values driving natural resource conditions	220	(1)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Joyce K. Berry
Regulations and laws as constraints	221	(4)
Joyce K. Berry
Kristiina A. Vogt
Examples of tax laws that affect private forestland owners	225	(1)
Frederick A.B. Meyerson
Federal income tax	225	(1)
Property tax	225	(1)
Inheritance laws	225	(2)
Direct and indirect impacts of natural resource management practices	227	(24)
on the ecosystem
Bruce C. Larson
Daniel J. Vogt
Michael Booth
Kristiina A. Vogt
Laurie E. Koteen
Peter A. Palmiotto
Jennifer L. O'Hara
Introduction	227	(3)
Forest management activities leading to regeneration	230	(16)
Processing of logs for transport (from stump to landing)	230	(2)
Methods of log transport (from stump to landing)	232	(1)
Ground skidding	233	(2)
Forwarding	235	(1)
Elevated	235	(1)
Harvest systems	236	(1)
Clearcut	236	(2)
Shelterwood	238	(1)
Patch cuts	239	(1)
Selections cuts	239	(1)
Post-harvest site management	239	(1)
Slash management	239	(5)
Planting of tree seedlings	244	(1)
Site amelioration for seedling growth	245	(1)
Fertilizer	245	(1)
Bedding	245	(1)
Drainage	246	(1)
Forest management activities not associated with regeneration	246	(1)
Thinning of trees	246	(1)
Fertilization of trees	246	(1)
Competition control for tree growth (chemical)	247	(1)
Infrastructure related to forest management activities	247	(2)
Roads	247	(1)
Landings	248	(1)
Skid trails	248	(1)
Summary	249	(2)
Synthesis discussion of issues relevant to certification	251	(48)
Necessity of assessing the landscape's matrix within which a management unit is embedded	251	(3)
Brooke A. Parry
Kristiina A. Vogt
Social and natural science links
Kristiina A. Vogt
Joyce K. Berry
Toral Patel-Weynand
Necessity for linking the social and natural sciences	254	(2)
How certification integrates social and natural sciences at the values level	256	(1)
Linking social and natural science spatial scales	257	(2)
Keely B. Maxwell
Kristiina A. Vogt
Daniel J. Vogt
Bruce C. Larson
Public participation in certification	259	(1)
Joyce K. Berry
Kristiina A. Vogt
Importance and participation of non-industrial private forests	260	(3)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Jennifer Heintz
Christie Potts
Allyson Brownlee
Heidi Kretser
Luisa Camara
Certification: constraints and opportunities for non-industrial private forestland owners	263	(14)
Size of management unit being certified and reasons size limits ability to be certified	263	(6)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Bruce C. Larson
Daniel J. Vogt
Jennifer Heintz
Constraints to private landowners: balancing public and private rights and interests	269	(1)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Joyce K. Berry
Christie Potts
Allyson Brownlee
Jennifer Heintz
Heidi Kretser
Federal, state, and local regulations relevant for private landowners in the United States	269	(3)
Inheritance tax and private landowners	272	(1)
Benefits of certification to small, non-industrial private forestland owners	272	(1)
Jennifer Heintz
How to make certification useful for small, private landowners	273	(1)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Jennifer Heintz
Christie Potts
Allyson Brownlee
Heidi Kretser
Luisa Camara
Acquiring information needed for certification	273	(3)
Creative collaborations	276	(1)
Estimating price premiums necessary to pay for forest certification	277	(8)
Joe Taggart
Estimated cost of certification for the three hypothetical forests	280	(1)
The Yankee Woodlot	281	(1)
The Family Fir Block	281	(1)
Southern Pine, Inc.	282	(1)
Results from the price-premiums analyses	282	(2)
Concluding comments on price premiums needed to cover the costs of certification for the three hypothetical forests	284	(1)
Chain of custody as an impediment to certification	285	(6)
J. Scott Estey
Fragmented fiber supply system	286	(2)
Woodyard operations	288	(1)
Other issues relevant for chain of custody	289	(1)
Production economics	289	(1)
Finished-product handling	289	(1)
Product quality	289	(1)
Concluding comments on chain-of-custody certification	290	(1)
Challenges and opportunities for tropical timber certification: Mexico's experience	291	(8)
Heidi Asbjornsen
Enrique Alatorre
Challenges and benefits of certification	299	(22)
Summary discussion of the advantages and challenges of certification	299	(3)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Bruce C. Larson
Daniel J. Vogt
John C. Gordon
Anna Fanzeres
Jennifer L. O'Hara
Peter A. Palmiotto
Opportunities and challenges identified by certifiers and certified owners	302	(3)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Bruce C. Larson
Daniel J. Vogt
John C. Gordon
Anna Fanzeres
Jennifer L. O'Hara
Peter A Palmiotto
Factors affecting future use of certification as an assessment tool	305	(4)
Kristiina A. Vogt
J. Scott Estey
Andrew Hiegel
Costs of certification	306	(1)
Balancing wood supply and lack of markets	306	(2)
Lack of participation by mainstream wood industry organizations	308	(1)
Reason for forestland owners not to become certified	309	(4)
Kristiina A. Vogt
Christie Potts
Heidi Kretser
Jennifer Heintz
Allyson Brownlee
J. Scott Estey
The past and future goals of certification
Kristiina A. Vogt
Brett Furnas
Brian Rod
Bruce C. Larson
Daniel J. Vogt
John C. Gordon
Anna Fanzeres
Jennifer L. O'Hara
Manrique Rojas
Peter A. Palmiotto
Sustainability revisited	313	(2)
Justifiable principles, criteria, and indicators	315	(1)
Some suggestions on how to improve forest certification	316	(5)
Appendix 1: The Forest Principles	321	(6)
Appendix 2: Summary of Chapter 11 of Agenda 21: Combating Deforestation (1992)	327	(2)
Appendix 3: Some intergovernmental initiatives on forest issues after UNCED	329	(6)
References	335	(30)
Index	365