Group certification progress

Update and next step in the G3 / PEFC Group certification project was discussed at the G3 planning meeting in Graz 12th October 2011 as an important part of promoting locally controlled forestry.

Published: 19.October, 2011

(From left): Estebancio Castro Diaz, IAITPTF, Sarah Price, PEFC and Ivar Legallais-Korsbakken, IFFA, at the Group certification project discussion

Sarah Price from PEFC gave an update on the project process and possible ways to continue. The possibility of using twinning projects between existing group certification systems and new countries was discussed.
Lessons learned are the importance of first develop forest holders’ organisations, or build and strengthen existing organisations. Organisations must be in place when group certification starts, but certification could motivate organisational development.

The meeting discussed to explore options of forming local organisations where members from forest families, community forestry and indigenous peoples participate in the same organisation. Such organisations could relate to all the three Alliances participate.

The important of relating to and influence the legal system was also discussed.

In order to gain funding and support for the project, it is important to illustrate the link between group certification and sustainable development. One possible approach may be to start with sustainable forest management standard and then move into certification – like the experiences from the Norwegian case.
The meeting also looked at the group certification project as a driver in simplifying certification systems and try to simplify and improve efficiency in national standard setting systems.

In the further progress the project must demonstrate the link between certification, standard setting, promotion of sustainable forest management and the support this gives development in general. Certification must be looked upon as one of the tools to solve issues like sustainable bio energy and proof of legality

Current pilot proposals for pilot projects are Mexico, Cameroon, Brazil, Balkans, Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand), Nepal and Guatemala

In order to establish a pilot project it was proposed to start with country feasibility study, national forest management standard and multipurpose capacity building.