Table of Contents:
1. Introduction to FSC
2. Controlling Entities of the FSC
3. Benefits of FSC accreditation
4. Process of obtaining the FSC certification
5. Problems the FSC pose for South Africa
6. Bibliography
1) Introduction to FSC
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international, non-profit organization which was established in 1993 by multiple stakeholders. The FSC’s primary objective is to positively influence sustainable and responsible forest management in plantations worldwide. They aim to do this by means of standard setting and certifying competent companies, organizations and individuals commercially producing wood products. (Wikipedia, 2014)
The FSC sets specific standards which influence wood-dependent entities to use their resources responsibly and sustainably. The entity’s product is then branded as FSC Certified. This certification gives consumers reassurance that their consumption of the product is not contributing to deforestation and other environmentally harmful processes which non-FSC approved products most likely would. The FSC has become the benchmark for worldwide wood product certification and has a standard to maintain. (Boehnke, DE, 2014)
Many means of regulating deforestation have been implemented in the past, but few have been successful due to economic and social repercussions. Some regulatory mechanisms include the Convention of International Trade on Endangered Species, 1975, and the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983. The FSC promotes compromise and is the most successful initiative yet. (International Tropical Timber Organization, 2004)
The FSC was founded in 1993 following the failure of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro as well as the failure of govern...
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...concept of long term sustainability is difficult for the general population of SA to understand. “Long term”, meaning and long period of practising forestry until one can take measurements and evaluate the long term sustainability of the processes. (Boehnke, DE, 2014)
The major stakeholders in the FSC are from developed countries, the P&Cs will therefore be more compatible with developed countries. Some developing countries simply cannot comply with the P&Cs and compromises have to be made. South Africa is still a developing country, therefore some of the P&Cs are not feasible for us and we simply cannot meet the standard. (Boehnke, DE, 2014)
6) Bibliography
• Wikipedia (2014) www.wikipedia.org
• FSC Website (2014) www.fsc.org
• Niekerk (2012) www.info.gov.za
• Rogers (2011) www.mnn.com
• International Tropical Timber Organization (2004) www.itto.int
Pagdee, A., Kim, Y., Daugherty, P. J., 2006. What makes Community Forest Management Successful: A meta-Study From Community Forests Throughout the World, Society and Natural Resources, 19(1): 33-52
North America and Europe practice sustainable forest management on their lands or have systems in place for responsible fiber sourcing. The forest products industry has a strong economic incentive to keep land forested but to be certain virgin fiber is sourced responsibly, selecting fiber from credible, certified forest management systems is an effective strategy (Atlantic Packaging Products Ltd,
Deforestation in Africa is still a thriving conflict in today’s society. “Unlike other countries, deforestation in Africa is mainly caused by human activity, rather than for commercial use” (http://web.mit.edu , Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Citizens in Africa use wood for many purposes such as creating fuel, and other types of energy sources along with cooking. Although many highly educated persons have tried conducting a solution to this problem, they have not been able to come up with a final conclusion. People have realized that deforestation is an evolving problem that needs to be addressed, but it is hard to figure out an exact way to end it.
As long as humans have lived in forested areas, they have cut down trees for lumber and/or to clear space for agricultural purposes. However, this practice has resulted in the destruction and near extinction of our national forests. Today, fewer than five percent of our country's original forests remain (Thirteen) and the U.S. Forest Service continues to allow more than 136,000 square miles to be logged each year (Byrant). Even more alarming, is the fact that only twenty percent of the current public forest lands are permanently protected by law, leaving nearly eighty percent to be consumed by chainsaws and bulldozers (Heritage...).
Dourojeanni, M. J. (n.d.). How good is forestry education today?. Unasylva. Retrieved October 30, 2013, from http://www.fao.org/docrep/50630e/50630e04.htm
Taking wood from rainforests and old-growth forests is detrimental to the environment and society. However, it is possible for us to have sustainable wood if we make an effort.
Now is a critical time to address the issue of deforestation. Around the world forests are logged for timber and paper pulp. South America contains a large amount of mahogany and rosewood—highly coveted types of wood—within the Amazon basin. Forests are also cleared to make room for the planting of cash crops, such as coffee and soy, as well as livestock farms. After only a few years, overuse of these lands for crops typically causes soil erosion that quickly turns deforested regions into wastelands. Deforestation is responsible for 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than all emissions all motorized transportation added together. The destruction of forests does not just threaten our climate; it threatens the livelihoods of billions of people that rely on forests for food and economic activities. The modern world relies on rainforests more than for the well-known reason. People receive many of their fruits and medicines from plant species that survive solely within the heart of a rainforest. Let’s not forget that forests also serve as habitats to wildlife a...
Deforestation is fast becoming one of the world’s worst environmental/geographical occurring disasters known to mankind, and is due to humankind’s greed, ignorance and carelessness when considering the future of our environment.
Agreements of this type have been instituted in Bolivia, Madagascar, Zambia, and other countries.” (K. Lerner and B. Lerner 1). That quote suggests that this potential solution will pay for countries’ debts and in return, the countries have to protect their forests. Since the article states that agreements of this kind have already been instituted, I think that this could work to help prevent deforestation and some of the consequences that
Deforestation is a widely used term, but one with different meanings. Disturbance deforestation refers to all man made disturbances that alter a forest, these are the most common. This argumentative essay discusses the positive and negative aspects of deforestation. In the first part of the essay the pro arguments of deforestation will be discussed. For example, the issue of Global population and how forests are being used, land use and the ways forests contribute, wood use, forest growth, destruction and the reasons for cutting down the trees. The second half of the essay will cover the issues that are harmful to the environment because of deforestation. Many environmental issues take place everyday; a big question that arises, is if the global economy will ever finds middle on the issue of forest thinning. If deforestation was used only in the most crucial of times, the world might become a better place.
The forests around the world a supply a plethora of community amenities and commercial goods , nevertheless forested terrain progressively is becoming transformed to accommodate other uses, including cropland, pasture, mining, and urban areas, which can produce superior private financial returns. The wide array of benefits the forest provides that vanish directly tied to deforestation have resulted in several policies drafted with the sole intention to reduce the frequency of deforestation. This paper has two primary objectives. First, this paper will review and summarize both the preceding and current research on deforestation. Second, it will emphasize the significance of future research and development, as well as other solutions needed
Pinocht ,one of the earliest men to even consider conserving the forest , gave rise to the government to set aside more land under the forest protection. With more regulation set in place it pacified the fear of running out of resources faster than the nation could provide. Pinocht believed that to set aside the forests and later on other resources such as water, be set aside for the present generation to develop. In his essay, ‘The Fight for Conservation’, he quotes, “ The development for our natural resources and the fullest use of them for the present generation is the first duty of this generation.” Also from his essay Pinocht explains even though the resources are for the present, it is also the responsibility of those to prevent waste , which causes sickness in the environment. He experienced such a thing in the forest fires of the early 1910’s. “ we understand forest fires are wholly within the control of men”( Pinocht, Fight for Conservation, 2).
The Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE) are strongly opposed to this kind of vague laws employed by legislators in salvage logging. In certain instances, the practice has been referred to as "logging without laws" because it exempts timber companies involved in salvage sales from most environmental laws including the Endangered Species Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the National Forest Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. It also allows for clearcutting of huge forest areas. It prevents citizens from exercising their right to challenge illegal logging plans. FSEEE also suggest such vague laws will allow for massive clearcutting of healthy trees and that it also directs the federal government to dramatically increase timber harvests.
...According to Mother Nature Network 2009, there are also many other ways we can help; buying products with the FSC certification label, FSC is a nonprofit organization that promotes responsibly managed foresting. Planting a tree in our backyard, a community garden, or across the world, educating our friends, family, and community about how our actions here can impact forests thousands of miles away.
Allen, Julia C., and Douglas F. Barnes. "The Cause of Deforestation in Developing Countries." Annals of the Association of American Geographers 1985: 163-184. Print.