Also in this section:

Derogation Applications

Methodology for the Revision of the FSC-US Standards

FSC-US Regional Meetings, Summer ’07 – Summary of discussions

FSC-US Draft Guidance on the Controlled Wood Standards Released for Public Comment

U.S. Regional Standards

Family Forests Program

FSC-US Regional Meetings: Overview

FSC-US held a series of 5 regional meetings (and an additional meeting for family forest interests) throughout the country between June-July, 2007.  The meetings were divided into three topic areas: 1) General FSC organizational issues; 2) Controlled Wood; and 3) FSC-US Forest Management Standards review and revision process.  These meetings provided a valuable opportunity to share information and dialogue with certificate holders, members, and other FSC advocates on all aspects of FSC. 

Key issues discussed and feedback received:

I. GENERAL FSC

1. Stakeholder Outreach, Organizing and Communications: There was general concern regarding the limited direct communication that regional stakeholders have had with FSC, and overwhelming interest in maintaining ongoing interaction and collaboration. Specific activities include:
   • Develop communications pieces around FSC organizational structure and ways to engage.
   • Organize regional meetings, on a periodic basis.
   • Hold joint meetings with natural resource organizations at national, state, and regional levels.
   • Organize stakeholders around policies of interest.
   • Grow the network, strategically and deliberately.
   • Improve FSC website as communication tool.


2. Maintenance of integrity in the standards and the system: FSC’s greatest and unique value in the network is to ensure integrity in the system: credible standards, consistent implementation of policies, etc. Current issues that need to be addressed in order to maintain integrity include:
• Standards
• Provide oversight to certifiers in application of standards and policies, and stakeholder consultation
• Clarify who needs to be certified
• Other NIs (ex: China) and foreign certificate holders
• CoC and logo use violations


3. Marketing Support: Marketing support from FSC is critical to making certification work for landowners and companies.  Activities include:
• Demand Campaign – Make sure that the information learned and generated can be used in regions.
• Promotion of domestic forest and forest products
• Internal strategic communications and branding strategy
• ‘Bling’-  t-shirts, hats, etc.
• Coordination of regional, comprehensive marketing strategies
• Marketing materials or templates
• Training to retailers, architects, and others on how to sell FSC to their clients
• Facilitate easy use of the logo
• Develop stronger relations with key market enablers (AIA, LEED)
• The Poyry Study – very worthwhile
• A word of caution: Make sure that FSC’s marketing efforts do not get in the way of ensuring credibility


4. Connections along the supply chain - There remains a disconnect between landowners and mills (and further down the supply chain). FSC could play a role in improving the flow of certified material. Activities include:
• Conduct ‘exit interviews’ of mills
• Focus on distribution – this is where the chain often breaks down
• Provide communications/education materials to sawmills about FSC
• Work with state agencies to develop policies and programs for certification


5. Connecting with FSC-IC - Many of the challenges and opportunities expressed by stakeholders take place at the International level. It is critical that FSC-US strengthen its relationship with FSC-IC and play an advocate and bridge-building role for US interests. Activities include:
• Make sure that the FSC-IC strategic plan gels with the US plan and objectives
• Outreach and organizing US stakeholders around FSC-IC policies and programs
• Find ways to engage FSC-IC – have board members/staff attend US regional meetings.


6. Other policies and programs to work on
• Strengthen FSC’s commitment to advancing social-related issues
• Federal Lands
• Plantations
• Impacts monitoring
• Family Forestland certification
• Certification of resources other than timber within a certified forest – Carbon, Biomass, Non-timber forest products


7. Revenue Generation
• Include FSC-IC (and possibly certifiers) in FSC-US assessment of revenue
• Seek percentage of funds given to FSC-IC from membership and certifiers
• Seek funds from entities that benefit from FSC and are not currently paying into the system (ex: Crate and Barrel)
• Caution: Consider negative consequences of charging companies that provide other promotional services (ex Crate and Barrel)
• Corporate long-term partnership


8. Emerging Issues
• Carbon markets
• Biomass
• Nontimber forest products

II. CONTROLLED WOOD

1. Concern about the Controlled Wood policy:
   • Lowering the bar for certification
   • Unclear how to implement this policy
   • It will be important to have the certifiers use these standards consistently


2. Confusion in the marketplace over what controlled wood is and where it came from.


3. Assessing Risk and Building the Toolkit
• The toolkit will be helpful, but will need a lot of data input to get it there. Until then, it is of limited utility. Make a concerted effort to build information for the risk registry.

III. STANDARDS REVISION PROCESS

1. Stakeholder engagement
   • Make sure the right people are on the technical committees, based on desired outcomes and efficiency.
   • Ensure consistency among all committees
   • Include a Review Committee
   • Ensure meaningful stakeholder consultation (outreach, blog, user-friendly documents for comment, additional meetings, focus groups)


2. Compliance at the indicator level
• There should be consideration for different weights for indicators
• Certifiers will need some guidance on certifying to the indicator level.
• Keep in mind that the indicators went through a negotiation process
• Use should/shall where appropriate


3. One National Standard rather than regional standards
• Make sure to keep regional variations when necessary
• Variations within regions can be addressed by eco-regions rather than current regional composition


4. Guidance and intent notes
• Clarify confusion regarding whether the revision process will stay with the original intent or a new one.  Don’t change the intent of the original standards.
• Keep simple and usable; limit their use to when necessary


5. New Standards Issues
• Biomass; Carbon; Biofuels; OHVs,; Minerals/oil; Partial certification; Type conversion and biological impoverishment; Pesticide derogation, group derogations; Land sales and tranfers; Protecting pockets of special, unique species; Invasives; Chemicals; Non-timber forest products; Fire suppression
• Outstanding issue: Plantations


6. Family Forest Indicators
• Incorporate family forest indicators into overall National Standards document
• The process for developing/revising family forest indicators should be fast-tracked so that indicators are in place as soon as possible for use. 
• Maintain flexibility yet improve consistency
• The majority of family forest owners will be involved in FSC through group certification. Group certification-related issues need to be taken into account as part of this revision process.
• Develop user-friendly guidance documents and communications pieces