Draft Interim FSC Standard for Southeast Alaska
May 12, 2008
Invitation to Comment on Draft FSC Certification Standard for SE Alaska
Pursuant to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) protocols, public consultation is an important component of all standards development initiatives. Under the FSC system, and in the absence of an FSC-accredited standard for a region of the world where interest in FSC forest management certification is emerging, it is the responsibility of FSC-accredited certification bodies (CBs) to develop an “FSC interim certification standard for forest stewardship” and to provide opportunities for public comment prior to finalizing the interim standard.
SmartWood (SW, www.smartwood.org) and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS, www.scscertified.com), the two FSC-accredited CBs based in the U.S., have collaborated in the development of the attached Draft Interim Standard for SE Alaska. This collaboration has been undertaken in advance of the initiation of a certification evaluation project focusing on Sealaska Corporation that will occur later this calendar year, a project that will be jointly conducted by SW and SCS. In that there is not an FSC-accredited “regional standard” for SE Alaska, SW and SCS have developed this draft interim standard.
Over the next 45 days, we invite all interested stakeholders to provide written comments on the draft interim standard. The question for which we seek input is: Does this interim standard fairly incorporate the pertinent factors and requirements that should be brought to bear in the evaluation of a SE Alaska forestry operation (excluding the National Forests) for possible award of FSC-endorsed certification as a “well-managed forest?”
In framing comments, readers should be focusing on the “Indicators” found within the draft interim standard as the “Principles” and “Criteria” are globally applicable, approved by the FSC years ago, and not subject to revision in this process of developing an interim standard for SE Alaska.
Comments should be submitted to Andrea Jung (ajung@scscertified.com) and Kara Wires (kwires@ra.org). Comments should be submitted by June 24, 2008.
Please feel free to forward the draft interim standard and this cover letter to other interested parties.