Public Dialogue on National Forest System Certification

October 16, 2008 Washington, D.C.

Robert J. Hrubes, Ph.D.

Certifier’s Charge• Assess whether policies, plans, procedures and

actions conform with FSC Standards

• Assess effectiveness and consistency of implementing management systems at the scale of National Forest units

• Anticipate/approximate/estimate possible special Indicators for National Forest management

Certification Process1. Utilizing stakeholder consultation and professional

expertise, articulate “additional considerations”2. Review of documents & stakeholder consultation3. Audit planning: site selections, meetings, etc. 4. On-site assessment/evidence gathering

(interviews, field observations, document review, additional stakeholder consultation)

4. Deliberation and synthesis 5. Reporting

ExampleExampleC.6.3.d Old Growth: Ecological functions and values shall be maintained intact, enhanced, or restored.

6.3.d.1 Type 1 stands are not harvested

6.3.d.3 Type 2 and Type 3- managed so there is no net decline

Unique Aspects of Pilot Tests• Award of certification not a possible outcome• First assessments on USDA National Forests• FSC Federal Lands Policy• Additional considerations• Level of audit team expertise • Stakeholder consultation—breadth/intensity

Notable Non-conformances • C.5.1- Ongoing budget reductions = lack of support

for long-term management and restoration• C.5.6- Overstocked stands in areas designated for

active timber management• C.6.3.- Old growth forest management • C.6.5.- Road management • C. 8.2.C- Monitoring key wildlife spp. and habitat

Why Consider NFS Certification?Force and mechanism for change– To date, certification has had positive impacts on

state, private, community, etc. forests– Would National Forests be an exception?

Equitable access to certification– Possible non-conformance with FSC’s own policy b/c

of current exclusion of an ownership class– Certification is increasingly important for forest

managers and wood product companies to compete

Force for Change- Cert. Success Factors• Stakeholder participation (standard development

and evidence gathering)• Strong market demand for FSC certified products• Organizations where field staff are removed from

policy and strategic direction setting• Organizations with chronic underfunding • Senior management and field staff view certification

as a tool for improvement

Common Misperceptions• There is a commercial mandate associated with FSC

certification• Certification is ill-suited to federal lands• Certification clashes with the protection of public

trust resources and values and would mandate logging

• Certification would endorse illegal behavior• Certification amounts to ceding of authority to a

third party