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Forest Certification in South Africa A Case Study of Plantation Forestry. Cori Ham Ukwazisa Consulting coriham@mweb.co.za. Content. Forestry in SA Certification background Challenges Reaction to certification Effects of certification Conclusions. Forestry in SA. Plantation Areas.
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Forest Certification in South Africa A Case Study of Plantation Forestry Cori Ham Ukwazisa Consulting coriham@mweb.co.za
Content • Forestry in SA • Certification background • Challenges • Reaction to certification • Effects of certification • Conclusions
Plantation area by Species Total – 1,351,402 ha
Plantation area by Ownership Privatised since 1999 Only 85 000 ha still Government 1 800 timber farmers 19 000 small/ micro growers 12 Timber companies 4 new from privatised plantations
Plantation area by Certification status Certified Area 1,088,071 ha (80.5% of total)
Processing industry • Total annual sale of forest products – R 13.8 billion • Net exporter of forest products – R11.2 billion per annum • 182 processing facilities • 113 Chain of Custody certificates
Reasons for certification • Show world that SA timber produced to international standards • Market expansion • Reaction to a demand for certified timber (B&Q) • Respondto domestic critics by demonstrating 3rd party audited environmentalstandards • Public relations - reputation
Company response • Initially slow • Vertical integration did play a role • Market -> Processing Divisions -> Forestry Divisions • Mondi Forests first in 1996
Institutional design • Government not involved in certification process • Forest industry driven as self regulatory process based on market forces • Need for set of regulatory minimum standards • National Forest Act of 1998 • PCI&S process started in 2001
Current standards • No national standard • Generic checklists of CBs • SGS Qualifor • Soil Association Woodmark • National standard documents • Forest Engineering & Environment • National laws
Small scale micro growers • Manage small areas (1 to 2 ha) • Illiterate – difficult to comply with administrative requirements • Costs • Company outgrower schemes • Independent growers • Could be derived of livelihood incomes
HIV/AIDS • Greatest risk to social and economic sustainability • Up to 39 % infection rates amongst forest workers • High rates of absenteeism • Medical costs, families • Deaths and training • Companies are reactive
SA Consumers • Totally ignorant about certification • No knowledge or demand
Supply chain FSC certified plantation CoC Primary processor CoC Secondary processors Garden furniture, knock down furniture, veneer, etc. Unspecified timber to local wholesalers/retailers (might be certified but not marked as such) Export certified timber, pulp, chips Export certified products to DIY stores in UK, USA, Germany, etc.
Environmental effects • Change in attitude • Embrace environmentally sustainable management • Better forest management • Water monitoring • Riparian zones • Roads • High conservation value areas • Biodiversity
Social effects • Speed of social change • Stakeholder consultation and social benefits • Incorporation of outsourced operations
Economic effects • Market advantage but no premiums • Securing existing markets • Improved marketability • Transparency
Power dynamics • Large companies forced to consult with communities and other role players • Marginalise small scale timber growers • Could make it impossible for them to do business
Conclusions • Certification is approaching maturity • Critical issues: • Small-scale timber growers • Lack of national standard • HIV/AIDS • Lack of domestic market and interest in certification
Conclusions (2) • Positive attitude towards certification • Seen as way of effectively managing plantations • SA forest industry could serve as example for others in terms of speed of adoption