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...
... middle of paper ...
...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
(Kumar et al., 2008a). Globally, 1.3 1010 metric tons of wood is produced by terrestrial
agencies set up to find solutions to questions like, "What is the sustainability?" yield of a forest?" These same agencies also decide where taxpayer money goes. within the logging business. In some cases, the money subsidizes the large companies for things such as logging roads in order to keep the cost of paper and other tree products down. These same companies ship their lumber to Japan.
Across the world people rely on the natural environment around them for many things: food, medicine, crafts, shelter, etc. Although in the Western world we are quickly forgetting the importance of the natural resources that nature provides us with, many people still rely on nature for their basic necessities. Non-timber forest products are gathered all over the world, both to serve the individual, and to sell on a larger market. People from all walks of life gather NTFPs, from those just picking some berries on a hike for a snack to people who rely almost solely on these products for their food, medicine, or livelihood.
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...).
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
Anti-deforestation organizations should debate and discuss deforestation problems with agriculture corporations and government officials to find a solution that
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.
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.
Although the forests provide human benefits such as paper, too much of the forests are being cut down to satisfy human needs. “Some 46-58 million square miles of forest are lost each year- equivalent to 36 f...
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.
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
...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.
The Commission on Sustainable Development was created in December 1992 to ensure successful follow-up of UNCED and to monitor and report on execution of the agreements at all levels. All 178 governments agreed that a special session of the United Nations General Assembly would be called in 1997 to review the progress of Agenda 21 after a 5-year introduction period. The full implementation of Agenda 21 was reaffirmed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa from August 26 - September 4, 2002.
The Australian Rainforest Memorandum, which recognizes the rights of traditional land owners is endorsed by over 40 NGO’s. Working Towards an end to foreign debt is yet another crucial role to ending deforestation. The condition imposed by the International Monetary Fund often forces heavily indebted countries to sell their national resources far in excess of sustainable exploitation.
The Disappearing Rainforests Conserving the rainforest is a global issue of great importance. Tropical rainforests provide a habitat for animals, a unique ecosystem for vegetation, and an abundance of resources for humans, yet they are being destroyed at an astonishing rate. Experts estimate that if these endangered territories continue to be consumed in this manner, no more will be standing in forty years (Rainforest). Examining the social, environmental, and economic costs of the continued destruction of the Earth's tropical rainforests will prove that deforestation for short-term profit is ultimately not viable.