Forest certification not good enough

The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) has decided to leave the Board of FSC Sweden. The decision, to be effected immediately, came after an investigation about FSC and the role of SSNC in the forest certification organization.

- FSC functions badly in Sweden. The standard is weak, the lack of observance is substantial and the forest companies will to improve FSC is weak. As the Swedish government currently cuts down the money allocated for nature conservation and lowers the environmental ambitions of their policy, we make new prioritisations in the forest area, Mikael Karlsson, President of SSNC says.

Remains a member of FSC Sweden

SSNC initiated Sweden's first FSC standard in the mid 90's. Since then the organisation has invested large resources in working with FSC. For the time being, SSNC remains a member of FSC Sweden in order to influence FSC from the inside.

- When leaving the Board we liberate resources for reviewing the forestry. This is important as the legislation regarding nature considerations too often is omitted by the forestry sector. However, large companies such as SCA are even less observing the FSC standard, which their customers would expect, Mikael Karlsson, President of SSNC says.

Aiming to improve the system

For a long time SSNC has pointed out a number of areas where FSC needs sharpening. Examples are: deficient conservation levels, relations between certifiers and the forest companies, insufficient possibilities for sanctions and the poor influence of local populations.

- The environmental level of FSC is somewhat higher than the legislation, unfortunately that is rather a proof of the weakness of the latter than a strength of FSC. We will continue to influence FSC in Sweden and internationally, aiming to improve the system, Jonas Rudberg, Forest campaigner and SSNC's representative in the FSC Board until now, says.