APPENDIX 2
Memorandum from the BC Market Outreach
Network, British Columbia, Canada
We appreciate the opportunity to provide evidence
as part of the Environmental Audit Committee's inquiry into sustainable
timber.
The BC Market Outreach Network is an agency
of the Government of British Columbia, Canada and works to provide
information about our province's forests and sustainable forest
management. As one of the world's largest forest products exporters,
British Columbia depends on the sustainable management of our
forests and we are keen supporters of any actions that raise global
forest management standards.
Over the past few years, we have watched with
interest as the Government of the United Kingdom developed its
policy on timber procurement and established the Central Point
of Expertise on Timber (CPET). We were impressed that your Government's
actions not only raised timber procurement standards within the
United Kingdom, but also strengthened certification standards
worldwide. We know of no other government or jurisdiction that
has gone to the depths your government has to understand forest
certification in order to develop a comprehensive wood procurement
policy.
British Columbia's economy depends on forest
product exports, and we have well-established forest management
practices and comprehensive laws to deliver sustainability. In
a recent report conducted by a Yale University professor, B.C.
was found to have some of the world's most stringent forest regulations.
In addition to working within a strictly enforced regulatory regime,
our forest industry is a world leader in third-party certification.
In fact, B.C. has more lands certified than any other jurisdiction
in the world, with the exception of Canada as a whole. So while
industry adheres to strict forest laws in this province, it also
recognises the importance its markets place on credible and comprehensive
certification.
CPET has endorsed all the standards operational
in British Columbia: the Canadian Standards Association's Sustainable
Forest Management Standard (CSA), the Forest Stewardship Council
(FSC), and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) as providing
assurances of both legal and sustainable timber. CPET also endorsed
the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC),
which is an international recognition program that endorses national
and regional forest certification standards. Of the standards
used in B.C., PEFC has endorsed CSA and is currently assessing
an application for endorsement by SFI. [1]
CPET clearly did considerable research before
endorsing these schemes. British Columbia currently has 41.8 million
hectares certified to CSA, FSC and SFI, and the BC Market Outreach
Network has taken a close look at these three programs. We also
concluded that all three support sustainable forest management
activities. Here is a brief summary of what we found:
— All three programs depend on independent,
third-party audits conducted by certification bodies that in turn
must be accredited as competent to conduct such audits. The audits
measure the planning, procedures, systems and performance of on-the-ground
forest operations against a predetermined standard.
— All three programs cover the basics
of good forest management by ensuring that harvested areas are
reforested, that laws are obeyed and that there is no unauthorised
or illegal logging. And they all go beyond this by ensuring the
conservation of biological diversity, the maintenance of wildlife
habitat, soils and water resources, and the sustainability of
timber harvesting.
— All three programs address conservation
values in the context of biodiversity and special sites, which
could include old-growth forests, wildlife habitat, and/or ecosystem
diversity across the landscape.
— All three programs consider the social
impacts of forestry, which is of particular interest in British
Columbia where 95% of the land base is publicly owned. They all
require annual surveillance audits and public disclosure of findings
through audit reports, and engagement with affected aboriginal
people to ensure aboriginal rights are respected.
— All three programs require continual
improvement, and all have an open, transparent appeals process.
As part of this inquiry, sub-committee members
will no doubt be hearing evidence from representatives of the
four certification schemes endorsed by CPET. It is important that
you invite them to be part of your inquiry so you can hear first-hand
how they are improving global forest management.
In summary, the BC Market Outreach Network applauds
the sub-committee for its diligent work in promoting sustainable
forest management. We appreciate the opportunity to present our
position, and encourage members to ensure the strong timber procurement
policy currently in place is maintained.
September 2005
1 We are aware that PEFC will be monitored to ensure
changes are implemented across endorsed PEFC standards. Back
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