Myths about certification
Forest managers and businesses should not feel threatened by [FSC certification]. Through a group scheme, both forest management and Chain of Custody certification is relatively cheap and simple.
It brings a strategic advantage on the market in terms of market share and leads to greater management efficiency through improved planning and record keeping.
David Ogg, A forestry consultant for more than 20 years, and resource and group manager for forest management certification for 18 private forest owners in the UK and France
Myth 1
Once I am certified NGOs will tell me what to do in my forest
FSC certification is based upon standards which have been agreed between regional forest industry, environmental groups, unions and other forest stakeholders, balancing economic, social and environmental interests. NGOs have not more to say than forest industry representatives. The goal is to arrive at standards for best practice forestry in agreement between all stakeholders.
Myth 2
The cost of certification is too high
Costs are not higher for environmentally sound than for conventional forest management. Many FSC certified forest operations have considerably reduced costs and increased profits because natural management required less work, for example, when priority is given to natural regeneration instead of planting. Small forest holdings have the opportunity to significantly save administrative costs by joining a group certification scheme. More information on group certification
Myth 3
There is no need for me to certify because I am already carrying out good forestry practices
Particular forest holdings that are operating to very high standards are strongly encouraged to certify. For such operations, little effort will be required to obtain certification, and yet the operation would obtain the full commercial benefits that it can bring.
For me it was the most effective way to demonstrate to others that my forest is on the right way to sustainable forestry. If I say I am doing it well it does not prove anything. [...]
I am a forester, and therefore I have also been interested in learning new things about the environment, for instance woodland key habitats, advanced forestry operations like tree retention and implementation of safety standards etc.
The educational aspect was therefore one of the reasons I decided to go for certification. I learned how to get my daily operation in a monitoring framework and how to analyse activities in the forest and their impacts on the environment.
Martins Lukins, Small forest owner in Latvia and a trained forester and geographer.
Myth 4
My forest holding is too small for certification
Group certification offers non-bureaucratic and easy access to certification. It also provides opportunities for small forest owners to increase their presence on the market.
...there are many different interests of forest owners, but I believe that the only future for small forest owners is to work together more closely to get a larger benefit and also to help developing local economies.
In this sense the certification group scheme might be a possible solution or framework giving forest owners the opportunity to co-ordinate their activities and also to prove that the forestry practices they use are correct.
Martins Lukins
