Only the Forest Stewardship Council and Canadian Standards Association satisfy the government’s contract definition of sustainable forest management, according to the findings of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber Procurement (CPET).
CPET’s conclusions, which followed a review by retained consultants of the five best-known certification schemes in the UK, were this week unveiled by environment minister Elliot Morley.
The other schemes assessed – the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) – have been classed as evidence of “legal” but not sustainable sourcing.
The CPET verdict has come in for criticism from supporters of these other schemes, but Mr Morley urged them to collaborate with CPET to provide sustainability assurance. They are being given a “grace period” of six months to achieve this. After that, government departments will start using the CPET review to distinguish between schemes when procuring timber and wood products; giving preference to those judged as proof of sustainability and then moving down to those proving “legality” if that is the only way to obtain the timber required.
He said: “The government is not saying that forests certified under the PEFC, SFI and MTCC schemes are not well managed – just that the schemes as they currently work don’t provide adequate assurance that our particular requirements are fulfilled.”
PEFC said it had hoped to meet with government officials to express its objections to being downgraded in the CPET review before any announcements were made. Spokesperson Jaroslav Tymrák hinted that PEFC may seek UKAS technical help to argue its case.
