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exotic conifers on deep peat
clearfell and soil damage
clearfell and rutting
large clearfell

Forestry Certification - the reality

The importance of managing the world’s forests in a sustainable way led to the development of eco-labelling or certification for forestry. People wanted to feel that they could identify and buy timber products originating from sustainably managed forests. Certification has moved on and is now a market (business) driven system and a wide range of certification schemes are available.

No doubt eco-labelling schemes start off with the best of intentions but in Ireland we see Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) eco-labelling given to intensive plantation forestry management with large clearfells that has very high environmental and social impacts. Over the last ten years attempts made by Irish environmental and social stakeholders to address the serious issues of soil erosion, water pollution, habitat and amenity loss have been largely unsuccessful. Many plantations are not even economically viable but are still harvested and reforested despite the environmental and social costs.

Irelands high impact forest management practices do not comply with FSC principles and criteria as evidenced by numerous reports and studies. The FSC process is not resolving these issues, stakeholders valid concerns are disregared and to date Irelands FSC process for sustainable forestry has failed.

The recent article in the Irish Examiner which highlighted forestry contractors protests over environmental damage is more evidence of the failure of FSC.

Friends of the Earth (FoE) became the first major international NGO to confirm that it no longer recognises the value of FSC certificates. FoE England's website advises that FoE "is deeply concerned by the number of FSC certifications that are now sparking controversy and threatening the credibility of the scheme. We cannot support a scheme that fails to guarantee high environmental and social standards. As a result we can no longer recommend the FSC standard".

FIE fully support this position and would encourage other international NGOs such as Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund to withdraw their support for FSC and give a voice to the many small national NGOs protesting about FSC greenwashing.

The organisation FSC Watch monitors FSC globally and highlights stakeholders concerns.

The History of the Development of an Irish FSC Standard

Coillte Teoroanta, Irelands state forestry board, were Ireland’s first forest managers to buy into the forest certification process. They went with what is reputed to be the best certification system in the world - the FSC system Under FSC principles and procedures a draft sustainable forest management standard has been under preparation since 1999 by an organisation called the Irish Forestry Certification Initiative [IFCI] . FIE are members of both FSC and IFCI.
The process of standard development has been fraught with conflict. Many stakeholders are concerned as proper procedures have not been followed and Coillte appear to dominate the process. A particular environmental issue is that there has been no environmental input through the process to date to IFCIs draft standard used by Coilltes auditors to inform their generic stanard. The draft standard ('third draft') sent out for consultation in 2007 has now been ruled as unacceptable by FSC after grievances from stakeholders, including this organisation.
FSC also accepted FIEs Grievance based on the lack of open and transparent procedures. The failures of IFCI have, according to the Managing Director of ASI [Accreditation Services International] at a stakeholders meeting held in September 2007 in Limerick, damaged FSC's international reputation. ASI have now given the Irish national initiative one year (from September 2007) to complete the process or accreditation will be removed from the Irish Forestry Certification Initiative.
On 20 October, 2007 a stakeholders meeting was held in Dublin and representatives were selected to join with FSC and ASI to agree a new approach. The stakeholders meeting was held on December 8 , 2007 in Limerick at which a presentation was given of FSCs FSCs proposed new approach . At this meeting it was agreed that two volunteers would develop a management or business plan around the proposal and then another open meeting would be held.
We are still waiting for the next stakeholder meeting and have heard nothing from FSC. IFCI continue to operate with no consultation - not even with their members.

In September 2008 Friends of the Earth (FoE) became the first major international NGO to confirm that it no longer recognises the value of FSC certificates. FoE England's website advises that FoE "is deeply concerned by the number of FSC certifications that are now sparking controversy and threatening the credibility of the scheme. We cannot support a scheme that fails to guarantee high environmental and social standards. As a result we can no longer recommend the FSC standard".

The Status of the Certification of Coillte Teo.

NGOs - including excluded stakeholders supported by MEP Kathy Synott - made extensive presentations about the failures in both the certification of Coillte and the procedures of the Irish Forest Certification Initiative. There have widespread protests about their forestry practices, land sale activities, and their exclusion from the Freedom of Information Act. It is now more difficult to get information from Coillte Teo about District Management and they continue to forest and re-forest with exotic conifers on peatlands and other sensitive sites. At the end of 2006, Coillte was audited by Woodmark of the Soil Association and in spite of a long record of failings, known as Major Corrective Actions, their certificate of certification was extended until 2011.
FNN 176 examined in detail the failures of the Audit by Woodmark of the Soil Association which permitted the renewal of Coillte's Certification. June 2007 Accreditation Services International [ASI] of the Forest Stewardship Council spent the week of 9 September 2007 examining the audit procedures of Soil Association Woodmark (SAW). ASIs public summary clearly stated that the 'ASI audit team considered that SAW has not ensured compliance with relevant standard requirements.'

The question must be asked - how can Coillte remain FSC certified with 8 years of non-compliance? And perhaps more importantly what does this say about the FSC and other eco-labels?