Development of the 20102014 SFI Standard

1
Development of the 2010-2014 SFI Standard
SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE FORESTRY.
2
Joe LawsonDirector, Sustainable
ForestryMWVChair, Standard Review Task Force
3

• Rob Olszewski
• Vice President Corporate Environmental Affairs
• Plum Creek Timber Company
• Chair, Resources Committee

4
Resources Committee Perspective

• RC involved in all phases
• Tough decisions on many issues
• Balance between environmental, social and
  economic goals
• Structured approach
• Review Task Force
• Review and Writing Teams

5
SFI Standard Review Task Force1

• Chair, Joe Lawson, MWV
• Lena Tucker, Oregon Department of Forestry
• Scott Williamson, Wildlife Management Institute
• Bob Emory, Weyerhaeuser
• Mike Branch, Smurfit-Stone
• Rik Aikman, Buchanan Forest Products (now with
  ForestEco Systems)
• Review Task Force reported to SFI Resources
  Committee
• Equal representation from, environmental social
  and economic chambers

1Task force members are from SFI Resources
Committee
6
Review and Writing Teams1

• Organizational, Principles, Definitions
• Land Management (1-7)
• Procurement (8)
• Auditing
• Objectives 9-13
• Bioenergy and Carbon
• Biotechnology

1Members from Resources Committee and designees
and SFI Implementation Committees
7
Comment Review Criteria1

• Improve the standard (practice of sustainable
  forestry)
• Use science and economics as guides
• Enhance credibility of the standard
• Consistent with national and international
  sustainable forest management assessment criteria

1All comments received and analysis of them by
the SFI Standard Review Task Force and Resources
Committee will be posted on the SFI Inc. website
(www.sfiprogram.org) prior to final release of
the SFI 2010-2014 Standard.
8
Rick CantrellVice President COOSFI Inc.
9
Revisions process

• The SFI Standard is revised every five years
• The SFI Standard was revised through a public
  comment and review process in 2001 and 2004 by
  the Sustainable Forestry Board
• Two public input periods and regional workshops
  for extended consultations
• Updated to reflect latest science, information,
  market needs

10
SFI Standard Review

• Process approved by SFI Inc. Board in 2007
• Longer time frame for review
• Included 2 open comment periods and regional
  stakeholder workshops
• External Review Panel integral to review
• Independent oversight and transparency
• First open comment period (60 days) began on June
  2, 2008 and ended August 4th, 2008
• Invitations to comment sent to over 2,000
  individuals and organizations also advertised by
  newsletter and press release
• Web based survey for written comments all
  comments and analysis by the SFI Standard Review
  Task Force and Resources Committee are posted on
  the SFI Inc. website (www.sfiprogram.org)

10
11
SFI Standard Review

• Second open comment period (30 days) began
  January 30th, 2009 and ended March 2, 2009
• Invitations to comment sent to over 2,000
  individuals and organizations also advertised by
  newsletter and press release
• Seven regional workshops for extended
  consultation
• Feb 18 Sacramento, CA
• Feb 19 Vancouver, BC
• March 3 Minneapolis, MN
• March 26 Charleston, SC
• April 2 Little Rock, AR
• April 7 Portland, ME
• April 16 Montreal, Quebec

12
Standard Revision Process

• SFI Inc. Board of Directors is the decision
  making body
• 45 day notice/review period for proposed changes
  to Standard before the Board can vote per bylaws
• Balanced representation from social,
  environmental and economic chambers
• Quorum requires 60 of members participating with
  a minimum of 2 from each chamber

13
Standard Revision Process

• SFI Inc. Resources Committee (RC) is responsible
  for review process and for developing
  recommendations for revisions for Board review
  and consideration
• RC members are appointed by their respective
  Board members
• Balanced representation from social,
  environmental and economic chambers

14
SFI 2010-2014 Standard

• May 30th. Final draft sent to Board of Directors
  for 45 day review period.
• July 14th. Board conference call to approve
  revised 2010-2014 Standard.
• Placeholder for ILO issue under review.
• July September
• Continue work to resolve ILO issue.
• Editorial review of the standard and related
  documents
• Sept. SFI 2010-2014 Standard released at annual
  conference.
• Placeholder for ILO issue under review.
• By Jan 1, 2010. Final SFI 2010-2014 Standard,
  and guidance document released.
• Jan.1, 2010. Revised standard effective date.
• Dec. 31, 2010. Program participants must be in
  conformance with all new elements of the
  2010-2014 SFI Standard.

15
Joe LawsonDirector, Sustainable
ForestryMWVChair, Standard Review Task Force
16
Organization and Principles

• Changes to ensure standard language reflects
  North America context (U.S. and Canada)
• Expanded preface
• Enhanced alignment of principles with Montreal
  Process and the SFI Standard Objectives
• New and revised principles
• 14 versus 9 in 2005 - 2009 SFI Standard
• New and revised objectives
• 20 versus 13 in 2005 2009 SFI Standard

17
Principles

• Sustainable Forestry (ecosystem services
  carbon)
• Forest Productivity and Health (combined 3,4, 5)
• Protection of Water Resources (BMP conformance)
• Protection of Biological Diversity (split from
  special sites)
• Aesthetics and Recreation (recreation)
• Protection of Special Sites (split from
  biological diversity)
• Responsible Procurement Practices in N.A.
  (revised 2, added procurement and NA)
• Avoidance of Controversial Sources Including
  Illegal Logging in Off-Shore Procurement (new)

18
Principles

• 9. Legal Compliance
• 10. Research (new)
• 11. Training and Education (new)
• 12. Public Involvement (new)
• 13. Transparency (new)
• 14. Continual Improvement

19
Objective 1. Forest Management Planning

• Enhanced focus on forest productivity and yield
  and forest management planning
• Intent is for management plans to be
  documentedcan be electronic

20
Biotechnology

• Biotechnology provisions moved to Research (new
  Objective 15) and added new definitions
• forest tree biotechnology
• varietal seedlings

21
APQ

• Re-certification cycle revised cycle to 3 years
  (versus 5) to be consistent with PEFC and
  accreditation body standards.
• Annual surveillance audits clarified that
  annual surveillance audits are 12 months.
• First party verification removed all language
  related to first party verification.
• Continuous certification removed this option
  from the APQ as it is not consistent with
  accreditation body standards.
• Public Audit Report clarified it is the
  responsibility of certification body to prepare
  public audit report evidence of conformity and
  description of nonconformities required
• Prior notification eliminated requirement of
  prior notification to SFI Inc. before beginning
  an audit.

22
Lena TuckerDistrict Forester, Oregon Department
of Forestry
23
Objective 5. Maintenance of Visual Quality and
Recreational Benefits

• Moved recreation performance measure from
  2005-2009 SFI Standard Objective 12
• Now applicable to landowners only

24
Objective 13. Avoidance of Controversial Sources
including Fiber Sourced from Areas without
Effective Social Laws

• Elevated to Objective level for added emphasis
  for this important issue
• New definition on controversial sources based on
  provisions in performance measure 8.6 in the
  2005-2009 SFI Standard
• Fully consistent with new fiber sourcing, chain
  of custody and labeling requirements (Annexes 1
  2)

25
Objective 14. Legal and Regulatory Compliance

• Added social to performance measure 14.1
• Changed Commitment to comply to Compliance
  with

26
Objective 17. Community Involvement in the
Practice of Sustainable Forestry

• Expanded listing of stakeholders to engage
• Conservation organizations, indigenous peoples
  and governments and community groups
• Moved recreation indicator to Objective 5

27
Objective 15. Forestry, Research, Science and
Technology

• Clarified that research funded from taxes
  specific to forestry can help program
  participants meet requirements.
• Expanded the definition of relevant research to
  include environmental benefits and performance of
  forest products.
• Expanded potential list of research topics to
  include social issues.

28
Objective 19. Communications and Public Reporting

• Brought public audit report requirements from the
  APQ into the Standard as a new Objective for
  added emphasis.
• Nonconformities were required added evidence of
  conformity.

29
International Labor Organization Core Conventions
(ILO)

• US has not ratified all conventions
• PEFC requires endorsed schemes to address ILO
  core conventions if not ratified
• ILO Task Force, Resources Committee and Board of
  Directors continue work to develop consensus
  based approach
• Placeholder in standard

30
Scott WilliamsonVice PresidentWildlife
Management Institute
31
Objective 2. Forest Productivity

• Afforestation
• New indicator requiring consideration of
  potential ecological impacts of the selection of
  planting of tree species in non-forested
  landscapes.
• New language, definition and requirements for
  invasive exotic plants and animals (Objectives
  2,8,16 17)

32
Objective 3. Protection and Maintenance of Water
Resources

• Emphasis on ecological function and harvesting
  system considerations in developing and
  implementing riparian protection measures
• Revised protection of vernal pools language (of
  ecological significance vs. of significant size)

33
Objective 4. Conservation of Biological
Diversity including Forests with Exceptional
Conservation Value

• Clarified provisions for Forests with Exceptional
  Conservation Value
• Added best scientific information criteria and
  expanded list of wildlife habitat elements to
  include stumps
• Strengthened requirements for landscape
  assessments and consideration of findings in
  planning and management activities

34
Objective 7. Efficient Use of Forest Resources

• Management of harvest residue must consider
  environmental factors

35
Objective 11. Promote Conservation of Biological
Diversity, Biodiversity Hotspots and Major
Tropical Wilderness Areas

• Elevated to Objective level for added emphasis
  for this important issue
• Added Alliance for Zero Extinction, WWF, WRI and
  CI as resources for development of programs to
  promote conservation of biological diversity when
  procuring raw material from areas outside the
  United States and Canada
• Updated guidance document will include additional
  information

36
Mike BranchManager Forest SustainabilitySmurfit
-Stone
37
2010-2014 Fiber Sourcing Objectives

• Objective 8 from the 2005-2009 SFI Standard
  contained all fiber sourcing requirements
• New approach uses elements from the old Objective
  8 and new Objectives for emphasis on key fiber
  sourcing issues
• New approach has 6 fiber sourcing Objectives
  (8-13)
• Landowner outreach, use of harvesting and logging
  professionals, Best Management Practices,
  conservation of biological diversity, and
  avoidance of illegal logging and controversial
  sources

38
Objective 8. Landowner Outreach

• New indicator for program to address FECVs in
  purchased stumpage
• Additions to information or services supplied to
  family forest owners
• Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value
• Afforestation
• Residue management
• Invasive exotic plants and animals
• Special sites
• New indicator to encourage landowner
  participation in forest management certification
  programs

39
Objective 9. Use of Forest Management and
Harvesting Professionals

• Added new definition on certified logging
  professionals
• Added new provisions encouraging the use of
  certified logging professionals where they are
  available
• Program to promote the use
• Maintenance of lists

40
Objective 10. Adherence to Best Management
Practices

• Strengthened provisions for using qualified
  logging professionals (QLPs)
• Program for purchase of raw material from QLPs
• Purchased stumpage harvests require conformance
  with BMPs
• New indicator requiring the use of BMPs to be
  included in contracts for raw materials purchases
• Removed requirement to evaluate the results of
  promoting reforestation

41
Objective 12. Avoidance of Controversial Sources
including Illegal Logging

• Elevated to Objective level for added emphasis
  for this important issue
• Provisions in Objective 12 were formerly in
  performance measure 8.5
• Conservation of biological diversity for
  procurement outside the United States and Canada
  provisions were used to create the new Objective
  11
• Fully consistent with new fiber sourcing, chain
  of custody and labeling requirements (Annexes 1
  2)

42
New Definition

• certified logging professional A person with
  specialized skills in timber harvesting gained
  through experience or formal training who has
  successfully completed wood producer training
  programs recognized by SFI Implementation
  Committees and has successfully completed, and is
  a member in good standing, of a logger
  certification program.

43
New Definition

• controversial sources Use of controversial
  sources are not allowed in SFI-labeled products.
  Controversial sources include illegal logging and
  fiber sourced from areas without effective social
  laws.
• -illegal logging the theft of timber or logs
  and cutting in parks, reserves, or other similar
  areas where otherwise precluded by law. See
  Annex 1 (Appendix 2) and Annex 2 (Appendix 4) for
  SFI Inc.s policy on illegal logging.
• -fiber sourced from areas without effective
  social laws The United States and Canada have a
  strong legal framework. Fiber from countries
  without effective laws addressing the following
  will need a risk assessment
• 1. workers health and safety
• 2. fair labor practices
• 3. indigenous peoples rights
• 4. antidiscrimination and anti-harassment
  measures
• 5. prevailing wages and
• 6. workers right to organize.

44
New Definition

• qualified logging professional A person with
  specialized skills in timber harvesting gained
  through experience or formal training who has
  successfully completed wood producer training
  programs recognized by SFI Implementation
  Committees as meeting the spirit and intent of
  performance measure under Objective 8 of the SFI
  Standard.
• a. For a logging crew to be considered trained,
  each crew must operate under the direction of an
  individual, with on-site responsibility, who has
  completed the SIC approved state or provincial
  logger training program.
• b. All of the components of a training program
  could take several years to carry out,
  determining the point at which a logger is
  considered a "qualified logging professional"
  should be based on an individual loggers
  commitment to the program. That is, if a logger
  completes all the components or modules offered
  in a given year, that logger should be considered
  as a "qualified logging professional." If all
  available components or modules are not
  completed, then the logger is no longer
  considered trained until all available components
  are completed.

45
Objective 16. Training and Education

• Additions to wood producers training requirements
• Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value
• Invasive exotic plants and animals
• Special Sites
• Awareness of emerging technologies and markets
  such as bioenergy feedstock removal and carbon
  offsets

46
Brian KernohanManager, Wildlife and Forest
StewardshipForest Capital Partners, LLC
47
Climate Change Carbon and Bioenergy

• Context included in new preface
• Bioenergy harvesting not new
• Growing interest renewable energy policies
• SFI Standard requires the same performance
  measures and indicators related to forest
  management, regardless of final product
• Scope does not include short rotation woody crops
• Carbon sequestration is natural by-product of
  tree growth important component of climate
  change mitigation
• Opportunity to monitor information on ecosystem
  adaptation as science and policies emerge

48
Climate Change Carbon

• Climate change recognized as a potential agent
  for productivity changes in indicator 1.1.4
• Role of forests in carbon storage recognized in
  Objective 2
• Climate change research for both adaptation and
  mitigation added to list of research topics
• New performance (15.3) for broadening the
  awareness of climate change impacts on forests,
  wildlife and biological diversity

49
Carbon Bioenergy

• Bioenergy feedstock definition added
• Added ecological impacts of bioenergy feedstock
  removals on productivity, wildlife habitat, water
  quality and other ecosystem functions to list of
  potential research topics
• New language in Objective 7 regarding exploration
  of markets for underutilized species and
  low-grade wood and alternative markets such as
  bioenergy and carbon offsets

50
New definition

• bioenergy feedstock - Biomass used for the
  production of renewable energy. Biomass includes
  any organic products and by-products derived from
  trees, plants and other biological organic
  matter, including limbs, bark, and other
  cellulosic material, organic byproducts from wood
  pulping, and other biologically derived
  materials.

51
Stephen VinnedgeStewardship ForesterWest
Fraser
52
General Forest Management Context1

• Forest companies primarily operate on Crown land
  within provincial legal framework. Private
  holdings are limited.
• Most companies holding timber harvesting rights
  on Crown land operate manufacturing facilities.
• In exchange for timber harvesting rights,
  companies pay stumpage to the Crown and provide a
  forest management service.
• Multiple companies can hold timber harvesting
  rights on the same forested area.
• Regulated right to practice forestry by
  professional foresters in BC, AB, ON and QC.

1 Western Canada perspective (BC and AB)
53
Objective 1. Forest Management Planning

• Clarification that management plans are required.
• Management plans are a legal requirement for
  operations on Crown lands.
• Management plans are consistent with objectives
  developed under multi-stakeholder land use plans
  approved by Government.
• Climate change and bioenergy feedstock production
  as considerations in determining sustainable
  harvest levels.
• Sustainable harvest levels on Crown Land are
  approved by government and take into account
  environmental, social and economic
  considerations.

54
Objective 2 Forest Productivity

• New indicator that requires consideration of
  ecological impacts of planting trees in
  non-forested landscapes.
• Afforestation has limited application on Crown
  lands in Western Canada.
• Where applicable, prescribing professionals will
  need to exercise the necessary level of due
  diligence to be in conformance with this
  indicator.

55
Objective 3. Protection and Maintenance of Water
Resources

• Ecological function when developing riparian
  protection measures.
• Some key attributes to consider with respect to
  ecological function include, but are not limited
  to the presence or connectivity to fish habitat,
  temperature sensitivity, habitat dependence on
  continued Large Woody Debris input, and channel
  morphology and stability
• Vernal pools of ecological significance, not size
  require identification and protection.
• Some vernal pool habitat is significant by
  default due to habitat association with species
  at risk that already require protection under SFI
  Objective 4.

56
Objective 4. Conservation of Biological Diversity
including FECV

• Clarification that Forests with Exceptional
  Conservation Value (FECV) are defined as
  critically imperiled and imperiled species and
  communities (Ranked G1 or G2 by NatureServe).
• SFI has fostered a greater awareness by forest
  managers of lower profile Species At Risk,
• including some G1 and G2 species, for which
  management objectives and strategies have not
  already been established by Government or through
  public land use planning processes.

57
Objective 5. Maintenance of Visual Quality and
Recreation Benefits

• Clarified language to make an exception to
  clearcut harvest size restrictions to ensure
  consistency with government legal requirements.
• change was largely in response to comments made
  by Canadian forest managers that are required to
  manage to legal landscape patch and seral targets
  established by government.
• cutblock size and appearance on Crown land is
  also typically moderated by legal visual quality
  objectives in areas of significant visual
  importance.

58
Objective 6. Protection of Special Sites

• New recognition of stakeholder consultation as a
  means of identifying special sites.
• Special sites can be identified though
  stakeholder consultation during multi-stakeholder
  land use management planning processes or during
  development planning.
• British Columbia has a legislated requirement to
  conduct information sharing with aboriginal
  peoples for the purpose of identifying cultural
  heritage resources and sites.

59
Objective 7. Efficient Use of Forest Resources

• Revisions requiring that harvest residue
  management considers economic, environmental and
  social factors.
• use of roadside debris for bioenergy products on
  increase.
• on Crown land 3rd parties can obtain permits to
  utilize logging waste generated by SFI certified
  companies.
• cooperation with the 3rd party is often required
  to facilitate utilization of waste material.

60
SFI Implementation Committees

• SICs represented on review group by
• Stephen Vinnedge, WCSIC Co-Chair
• Kevin Hoyt, TN SIC Chair
• Rik Aikman, Ontario SIC chair
• Removed indicator that required support for SICs
  to do broad public outreach (e.g. paid
  advertisements)
• Clarified that landowner education materials
  requirements can be met by a number of means,
  including websites, workshops, etc.
• Clarified that SICs can play a role in meeting
  research requirements

61
SFI Implementation Committees

• Clarified that SIC support by program
  participants includes financial support.
• New performance measure establishing the SICs as
  the local authority for recognition of credible
  logger certification programs.

62
Pat McElroyWashington State Forester,
retiredVice Chair, External Review Panel
63
External Review Panel Observations

• 15 member volunteer scientific advisory panel to
  the SFI Inc. Board and Resources Committee
• Representatives from social, environmental,
  academic and public agencies
• Reviewed all comments, task force analysis, and
  proposed revisions to the SFI Standard

64
External Review Panel Observations

• The External Review Panel believes very strongly
  that one of the critical elements of success for
  SFI is the commitment to continual improvement.
• The commitment to a systematic review of the
  Standard on a regular schedule, in spite of
  economic conditions or market turmoil, is a
  singular feature of SFI.

65
External Review Panel Observations

• ERP perspective began with revision of current
  standard
• Review public involvement process
• Mechanisms for soliciting input
• Length of review process
• Transparency
• Treatment of comments received

66
External Review Panel Observations

• All comments tallied and categorized to start
• One-general agreement to accept
• Two-significant discussion will be required
• Three-general, covered in other areas, or not
  acceptable
• Four-comments pending or being addressed
  elsewhere
• Comments from all sources treated equally
• Evidence trail on treatment of comments
• First public comments on website second round
  will be posted when the 2010-2014 Standard is
  published

67
External Review Panel Observations

• Confidence in process based on previous revision
• Focus on current revision was on the treatment of
  the comments
• Analysis of how the comments were treated
• Treatment of the comment was a product of the
  comment and not who made it.

68
External Review Panel Observations

• the External Review Panel is impressed with the
  commitment of SFI participants to continual
  improvement. The lengthy review process that
  will result in a revised SFI 2010-2104 Standard
  this fall has made important changes and
  improvements in the standard. That has been done
  in a process that has been a model of open,
  transparent and responsible consideration of
  public input, scientific and economic factors,
  and conflicting demands (emphasis added).

Source 2008 SFI Annual Progress Report letter
from the External Review Panel
69

• Questions?