We explain the changes to our sustainable forest management benchmark

29 May 2018 Sustainable Forest Management

Do you want to give your feedback as we revise our benchmark for sustainable forest management? But feel like you need more information on how this vital document is changing? Then make sure you register for our upcoming webinars!

Taking place 12 and 14 June, these webinars will introduce and explain the main proposed changes to PEFC ST 1003 – the international benchmark that provides the basis for the requirements that forest owners or managers must meet to achieve PEFC certification at local level.

Expanding forest certification to Trees outside Forests

In addition, we will also be holding a special webinar on 13 June specifically focusing on the new Trees outside Forests appendix.

The inclusion of Trees outside Forests (ToF) is an important step towards supporting sustainable management of trees throughout landscapes, whether agroforestry or even trees within settlement areas.

It will enable millions of farmers and smallholders to obtain PEFC certification whilst promoting good agricultural practices: helping to increase income and the productivity of agricultural land and agroforestry, especially in developing countries.

From reducing poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2) to influencing sustainable cities (SDG 11) and the well-being of urban populations (SDG 3), our ToF certification is set to have wide-ranging impacts that will extend way beyond our forests.

The webinars on offer

We’re holding the explanatory webinar twice, at two different times, to ensure everybody around the world can take part:

• Tuesday 12 June, 9:30 – 10:30 AM (CEST)
• Thursday 14 June, 16:30 – 17:30 PM (CEST)

The Trees outside Forests webinar will take place Wednesday 13 June, 12:30 – 13:30 PM (CEST).

Participation is limited to 100 participants per webinar, so be quick to reserve your place. However, if you can’t join, we will publish a recording on our standards revision website for later playback.

What else has changed?

We have expanded the social requirements, with greater inclusion of human rights, minimum standards for forest workers’ wages (both migrant and local) and the promotion of gender equality. Working conditions shall now be regularly monitored and adapted as necessary, and employment policies must include equal opportunities and non-discrimination.

The revised document also includes a refined definition of ecologically important forest areas, supports climate positive practices and forbids the reforestation or afforestation of ecologically important non-forest areas.