Key Points of Successful Forest Certification

The real context of certification

Certification is an important tool for companies committed to improving the legality and sustainability of their operations, and to positive conservations outcomes. Legality and sustainable management are increasingly becoming necessary and more enforceable condition for access to key markets. This gives certification a new release for companies and a corresponding heightened promise of success as a way to improve biodiversity conservation in Indonesia tropical forest. Demand from the forest product industry for support to comply with certification is strong and growing.  

The main aspects that should be applied to achieve certification success

a. Improved forest management requires commitment 

The first step in achieving certification is to ensure that forest company owners and manager understand how their business will benefit. From this understanding comes a commitment to invest in improved forest management. Without this commitment, certification will be unable to produce lasting conservation outcomes. Commitment can also be developed through an initial focus on legal compliance. Exposure to designing, implementing and monitoring system to verify legality gives Forest Management Unit (FMU) managers the confidence to tackle more complex issues such as the social and environmental aspect. 

b. Institutionalization is the key to lasting results 

In order for the practices and system developed as part of a certification support program to last, they must be integrated in to short, medium and long-term operational strategies and business plans. To ensure the sustainability of good practice initiated by an FMU, it is critical that they be compatible with a company’s structure, operating systems and the specific nature of its business (e.g., what is being produced, for which market, etc.). This requires a comprehensive understanding of the FMU and what is possible, desirable, and/or appropriate. Developing and integrating operational and environmental standard operating procedure is one way to initiate this. Institutionalization of good practice is also helped by building awareness and skills among FMU management and staff and communities through their participation in High Conservation assessment.  

c. Good social relations make good conservation and business sense 

Developing good relations with the communities in and around concession areas is an important part of a comprehensive conservation strategy. Under the HCVF (High Conservation Value Forest) framework, FMUs must recognize communities’ basic and cultural need. Communities and FMU staffs can work together through the collaborative process of assessing HCVs, delineating HCV areas and developing management and monitoring plans, and developing new skills toward a common objective. Beyond meeting social requirements, this broad engagement and active participation by stakeholder is a requirement for effective concession-wide conservation. Conflict management support is often central to this effort and can ultimately reduce costs for business by ending demonstrations and improving a company’s public image.

Reference

Bleany A. 2010. “Certification in Indonesia: A Practitioner Perspective” ETFRN News 51 : 65-71.