A presentation by Jaroslav Tymrak, the Head of the Technical Unit at PEFC International, given at the May 2010 Stakeholder Dialogue held in Geneva, Switzerland.

1. Draft requirements for sustainable
forest management
Jaroslav Tymrak
PEFC Council Head of Technical Unit
1

2. PEFC ST 1003:20xx, Part 1 (ED):
Requirements for Sustainable Forest Management
Standards – Part 1: Temperate, boreal and
plantation forests
PEFC ST 1003:20xx, Part 2:
Requirements for Sustainable Forest Management
Standards – Part 2: Tropical natural forests
2

3. Scope
- PEFC Council defines “meta-standards”,
- PEFC meta-standards should be based on
intergovernmental processes,
- Only PEOLG and ATO/ITTO PCIs (alternatively FAO
guidelines for planted forests) can be used as meta-
standards,
- A single SFM standard should be assessed against
a single PEFC meta-standard.
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4. Scope
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5. Application of SFM standards (3.1)
At what level?
…are applicable at the forest management unit level, or at another level as
appropriate, to ensure that all requirements are met at the forest management unit
level.
Note: An example of a situation where a requirement can be defined at other than forest
management unit level (e.g. group/regional) is monitoring of forest health. Through monitoring of
forest health at regional level and communicating of results at the FMU level the objective of the
requirement is met without the necessity to carry out the individual monitoring of every forest
management unit.
By whom?
…shall apply to activities of all operators in the defined
forest area who have a measurable impact on achieving
compliance with the requirements.
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6. Public availability of FMPs (1.1c)
A summary of the forest management plan or its equivalent, which contains
information about the forest management measures to be applied, is publicly
available, except for confidential business and personal information.
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7. Forest conversion (1.2 a and Appendix 1)
Requirement regulating forest conversion includes two
elements:
a) To regulate conversion of forests into other
use, including conversion to forest plantations
b) To exclude from certification forest plantations
established as a result of the conversion.
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8. Forest conversion (1.2 a)
Conversion of forests to other types of land use, including timber plantations, shall not
occur unless in justified circumstances where the conversion:
i. is in compliance with national and regional policy and legislation relevant for
land use and forest management and is a result of national or regional land
use planning governed by a governmental or other official authority including
consultation with materially and directly interested persons and
organisations,
ii. entails a limited pro-portion of forest type,
iii. does not have negative impacts on threatened (including vulnerable, rare or
endangered) forest ecosystems, culturally and socially significant areas,
important habitats of threatened species or other protected areas and,
iv. makes a contribution to long-term conservation, economic, and social
benefits (for example through the rehabilitation of degraded forests).
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9. Forest conversion (Appendix 1)
The requirement for the “conversion of forest to other types of land, including
plantations” shall be interpreted that plantations established from forest conversion
after the application date of this standard in other than “justified exceptional
circumstances” are not meeting the requirement and are not eligible to certification.
Optional requirements:
- Specific date, e.g. …plantations established after year 2000…
- Floating date, e.g. …plantations established during the period of the last 10
years…
- Rotation period, e.g. …plantation within the first rotation after the
conversion…
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10. Native species (2.2b) and introduced species (4.2b)
Appropriate forest management practices such as reforestation and afforestation with
tree species and provenances that are suited to the site conditions or the use of
tending, harvesting and transport techniques that minimise tree and/or soil damages
shall be applied.
For reforestation and afforestation, origins of native species and local provenances
that are well adapted to site conditions shall be preferred, where appropriate. Only
those introduced species, provenances or varieties shall be used whose impacts on
the ecosystem and on the genetic integrity of native species and local provenances
have been evaluated, and if negative impacts can be avoided or minimised.
Note: CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) Guiding Principles for the Prevention, Introduction, and Mitigation
of Impacts of Alien Species that Threaten Ecosystems, Habitats or Species are recognized as guidance for
avoidance of invasive species.
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11. Usage of chemicals (2.2c)
The use of pesticides shall be minimised and appropriate silvicultural alternatives
and other biological measures shall be preferred.
The WHO Type 1A and 1B pesticides and other highly toxic pesticides shall be
prohibited, except where no other viable alternative is available.
Note: Any exception for the usage of WHO Type 1A and 1B pesticides shall be defined by
specific forest management standard.
Pesticides, such as chlorinated hydrocarbons whose derivates remain biologically
active and accumulate in food chain beyond their intended use, and any
pesticides banned by international agreement, shall be prohibited.
The usage of pesticides shall follow the FAO International Code of Conduct on the
Distribution and Use of Pesticides or other regulations compatible with the FAO
Code of Conduct. Proper equipment and training shall be provided with regular
compliance assessment made to minimise health and environmental risks.
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12. Representative areas , ecologically important biotops (4.1b)
Forest management planning and terrestrial inventory and mapping of forest
resources shall identify and protect ecologically important forest biotopes, taking
into account protected, rare, sensitive or representative forest ecosystems such as
riparian areas and wetland biotopes, areas containing endemic species and
habitats of threatened species, as defined in recognised reference lists, as well as
endangered or protected genetic in situ resources.
The forest management shall provide for conservation/set aside of the key
ecosystems or habitats in their natural state.
Alternative proposal:
PEFC Council would incorporate the concept of HCVF.
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13. GMOs (4.1b)
Genetically modified trees shall not be used.
Note: The restriction on the usage of genetically modified trees has been adopted based on the
precautionary principle. Until enough scientific data on genetically modified trees indicates or
guarantee that impacts on human and animal health and the environment are equivalent to, or more
positive than, those presented by trees genetically improved by traditional methods. PEFC Council
position on genetically modified trees will be reviewed in 2015.
Alternative proposal
Until 2015, genetically modified trees shall not be used.
Note: The restriction on the usage of genetically modified trees has been adopted
based on the precautionary principle that until enough scientific data on genetically
modified trees indicate or guarantee that impacts on human and animal health and the
environment are equivalent to, or more positive than, those presented by trees
genetically improved by traditionally methods. PEFC Council position on genetically
13 modified trees will be reviewed by 2015.

14. Contribution to local economy (6.1a)
Where applicable, forest management shall stimulate employment of the local
population, including indigenous peoples, as well as the local processing of timber and
non-timber forest products. The employment of local people, including indigenous
peoples, shall be stimulated, for example through training.
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15. Indigenous people rights (6.1b)
Property rights and land tenure arrangements shall be clearly
defined, documented and established for the relevant forest area.
Likewise, legal, customary and traditional rights related to the forest land shall be
clarified, recognised and respected.
Forest management activities shall be conducted in recognition of the established
framework of legal, customary and traditional rights, which shall not be infringed
upon without the free and informed consent of the holders of the rights, including
the provision of compensation where applicable. Where the extent of rights is not
yet resolved or is in dispute there are processes for just and fair resolution. In
such cases forest managers shall, in the interim, provide meaningful opportunities
for parties to be engaged in forest management decisions whilst respecting the
processes and roles and responsibilities laid out in the policies and laws where the
certification takes place.
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16. Training and competency (6.2b)
Forest managers, contractors, employees and forest owners shall be provided with
sufficient information and encouraged to keep up to date through continuous
training in relation to sustainable forest management as precondition for all
management planning and practices tasks described in this standard.
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17. Save working condition (6.2b)
Working conditions shall be safe, and guidance and training in safe working practice
shall be provided. Forest management shall comply with ILO conventions No. 155, 161
and 184.
Alternative proposal:
Forestry work shall be planned, organised and performed in a way that health and
accident risks are identified and all reasonable measures are applied which protect
workers from work related risks. Workers shall be informed about the risks involved
with their work and about preventive measures. Working conditions shall be safe,
and guidance and training in safe working practice shall be provided to all assigned
in a task in forest operation.
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18. Compliance with legislation (7)
Forest management shall comply with legislation applicable to forest management;
including forest management practices; nature and environment protection;
protected and endangered species; property, tenure and land use rights for
indigenous people; health, labour and safety issues; and the payment of royalties
and taxes.
Forest management shall provide for adequate protection of the forest from
unauthorised activities such as illegal logging, illegal land use, illegally initiated
fires, and other illegal activities.
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19. Appendix 1: interpretation for forest conversions
• Applicable for standards developed specifically for “forest plantations”,
• Provides interpretations for requirements of the core part,
• Interpretation is mainly based on principle of compliance at the FMU rather
than individual stand level.
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20. PEFC ST 1003:20xx, Part 2:
Requirements for Sustainable Forest Management
Standards – Part 2: Tropical natural forests
The document is still not available for public
consultation
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21. PEFC ST 1003:20xx, Part 2:
Requirements for Sustainable Forest Management
Standards – Part 2: Tropical natural forests
• Based on ATO/ITTO PCIs, in many aspects the
ATO / ITTO is « too detailed » for the meta-
standard purpose…
• More focus on legal rights, inventories and
management planning, impact studies etc.;
fauna (bushmeat) protection; harvesting of
individual trees and maintaing the original
structure of the forests; NTFPs…
• Social issues, including local population wellfare
21 is a significant part of the document…