The largest DIY retailer in the UK, B&Q has signed a deal with the certification body SmartWood, a program of the Rainforest Alliance, to certify its key stores to the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) chain of custody standards.

The largest DIY retailer in the UK, B&Q has signed a deal with the certification body SmartWood, a program of the Rainforest Alliance, to certify its key stores to the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) chain of custody standards.

B&Q is targeting business customers such as Government and local authority purchasing departments as well as general trade customers who are increasingly demanding timber and manufactured wooden products from well managed forests.

Mike Cartwright, B&Q's Business to Business Manager said, "The key benefit to our business customers is to have the evidence to promote FSC certified products they buy from B&Q as traceable from the store right back to the forest."

Anna Jenkins, Director of FSC UK, said, "B&Q has shown unwavering support for the FSC system since its inception a decade ago. By taking this step B&Q further strengthen their commitment to source all timber and timber products from well managed forests. With chain of custody certification B&Q will be able to supply material to certified contractors for FSC projects, providing a welcome addition to the UK supply chain."

For well over a decade B&Q has spearheaded a programme to ensure its timber based products are from well managed resources and was the first retailer to be involved in the FSC. B&Q believes that the Forest Stewardship Council has the best standards and certification procedures, a view echoed by the government centre of excellence for timber (CPET). CPET has recently given FSC the rubber stamp as one of only two schemes world-wide to certify timber as sustainable and legal.

B&Q expects to achieve certification in the first half of 2005.

NEPCon is carrying out an FSC forest management and chain of custody certification assessment of Komilesbiznes forest operation. Komilesbiznes is a joint stock company, located in Komi republic in Russia, approximately 300 km north-east of Syktyvkar. Komilesbiznes is managing forest land based on three long term concession agreements. The main forest management certification assessment is scheduled to be carried out in 20-23 December, 2004.

NEPCon is carrying out an FSC forest management and chain of custody certification assessment of Komilesbiznes forest operation. Komilesbiznes is a joint stock company, located in Komi republic in Russia, approximately 300 km north-east of Syktyvkar. Komilesbiznes is managing forest land based on three long term concession agreements. The main forest management certification assessment is scheduled to be carried out in 20-23 December, 2004.

The forest management certification assessment covers environmental, economic and social aspects of the forest management in the forest area managed by Komilesbiznes forest operation, operating in the territory of Pomozdenskiy Leskhoz. The assessment will cover a forest area of 62 587 ha.

NEPCon is a regional partner and the official representative of the FSC accredited SmartWood Program of the Rainforest Alliance in Russia.

NEPCon is planning a forest management certification assessment of the Nordjyllands Amt county forest. This is the first public forest going for FSC certification in Denmark. So far only one FSC forest management certificate has been issued to a Danish forest property which is a 372 ha private forest holding.

NEPCon is planning a forest management certification assessment of the Nordjyllands Amt county forest. This is the first public forest going for FSC certification in Denmark. So far only one FSC forest management certificate has been issued to a Danish forest property which is a 372 ha private forest holding.

The assessment of the Nordjyllands Amt county forest will take place during 24-25 November 2004. The auditors´ team will be led by Peter Feilberg (M.Sc. Forestry) with assistance of Søren Ring Ibsen (M. Sc. Biology). Furthermore, Peter K. Kristensen from FSC will participate as representative from FSC Denmark. The forest management will be assessed against the “SmartWood Interim Standards for Denmark”, based on the draft FSC standards for Denmark.

Please read more in our public briefing paper.

The new chain of custody standard is valid from October 1, 2004 and shall be implemented by all chain of custody certified companies before the end of 2006. The main changes in the standard apply for manufactures that are producing or plan to produce products composed of a mix of certified and non-certified material.

The new chain of custody standard is valid from October 1, 2004 and shall be implemented by all chain of custody certified companies before the end of 2006. The main changes in the standard apply for manufactures that are producing or plan to produce products composed of a mix of certified and non-certified material.

The standard introduces a new “FSC credit” system that allows manufactures and processors to label the proportion of their products that corresponds to the proportion of FSC certified raw material used in the product group.

FSC also introduces new labels for marking certified products. Read more in our client letter.

Download new CoC standard

NEPCon is carrying out an FSC forest management and chain of custody certification assessment of Shalakushales, Ust-Pokshengski and Velskoye forest operations. All three operations are joint stock companies, former governmental forest management and logging enterprises privatized in 1990-ies.

NEPCon is carrying out an FSC forest management and chain of custody certification assessment of Shalakushales, Ust-Pokshengski and Velskoye forest operations. All three operations are joint stock companies, former governmental forest management and logging enterprises privatized in 1990-ies. They all have a lease agreement on the territories they manage. This assessment will be carried out by NEPCon - a regional partner and the official representative of the SmartWood Program of the Rainforest Alliance in Russia. A forest management certification pre-assessment was conducted by NEPCon in November 2003. The main forest management certification assessment is scheduled to be carried out during 11-29 October, 2004.

Read more...

SmartWood is conducting the first resource manager certification assessment in Czech Republic

Krakow, Poland. – NEPCon has signed agreement for forest management assessment of Association of Communal and Private Forest Owners Svitavy (ACPFO). The pre-assessment was carried out by NEPCon in April 2004. The main assessment is planned to start in June 2004. NEPCon is authorized representative of SmartWood in Czech Republic

SmartWood is conducting the first resource manager certification assessment in Czech Republic

Krakow, Poland. – NEPCon has signed agreement for forest management assessment of Association of Communal and Private Forest Owners Svitavy (ACPFO). The pre-assessment was carried out by NEPCon in April 2004. The main assessment is planned to start in June 2004. NEPCon is authorized representative of SmartWood in Czech Republic

ACPFO have currently 11 members covering 1324 ha of forestland. Most important members are Town Forests Bøezová nad Svitavou (200 ha) and several communal forest: Karle (201 ha); Hradec nad Svitavou (164 ha); Èistá (152 ha); Brnìnec (117 ha); Jedlová (108 ha); Kamenná Horka (104 ha). Other members are all than 100 ha of forestland.

The Association’s members are located in the East Bohemia which is 190 km E of the capital Prague. The forests is located from 400 to 660 meters above sea level and mostly composed of spruce and pine with a mix of hardwoods such as birch, beech, ash and sycamore. The forests are extremely dispersed to small enclaves in cultural landscape due to complicated tenure and historical reasons. The group practice a small patches shelter wood system with permanent forest cover combined with small scale clearings. Natural regeneration is used, supplemented by planting if needed.

"We have two important reasons in the Association for going forward with certification according to FSC Principles and Criteria. First, we want to expose our forest management to independent assessment from ecological, social and economical point of view to ensure best forest practices. Second, we believe that certification with the worldwide most acceptable and credible certification system will help us selling our products" - commented Milan Hron, chief forest manager of Association of Communal and Private Forest Owners Svitavy.

Forests in the Czech Republic cover 2.6 million hectares - 33 per cent of the total land area. Of these, 63 per cent are state forests, 22 per cent private and 14 per cent community owned forests. Currently there is only one FSC certified area – Training Forest Enterprise Køtiny of Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry and 12 wood industry companies, which possess Chain-of-Custody certificates.

SmartWood (www.smartwood.org) is a forest certification program of the Rainforest Alliance, an international conservation organization that works to protect endangered ecosystems and the people and wildlife that live in them by transforming land use practices, business practices, and consumer behaviour. Established in 1989, SmartWood is the oldest, most extensive certification program in the world, and is accredited by the FSC. SmartWood is behind more than 40 pct of all FSC Forest Management certification in the world.

NEPCon, which will execute main assessment, is SmartWood partner in Eastern Europe, Russia and Scandinavia. NEPCon has succesfully finished assessments of 31 forest managers covering more than 4 million hectares and more than 200 wood industry companies in Denmark, Poland, Baltic countries, Russia, Romania and Czech Republic.

“I am pleased to conduct first SmartWood forest assessment in Czech Republic and I am sure that the members and its partners and stakeholders will benefit from new possibilities from a third party certification according to internationally agreed standards” - says Dr. Andrzej Czech, director of NEPCon Poland.

The certification assessment will be based on the SmartWood Interim Standard for Czech Republic, which are available on NEPCon's homepage (http://www.nepcon.net). SmartWood team will appreciate any comments on the Standards and on the forest management conducted by ACPFO. Anyone with related information or comments is encouraged to contact SmartWood - see the contact details below.

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For further information, please contact Dr. Zdenek Hruby from NEPCon, SmartWood’s Certification Partner in Czech Republic, phone +420 547 226 404, mobile +420 723 854 313, email: nepcon@centrum.cz, or download public briefing paper.

NEPCon Poland Ltd. conducted certification audit of the publishing and printing company MEGRAF from Brwinow, Poland. After successfully completed certification process, NEPCon issued the certificate, that conforms that the Quality Management System of MEGRAF meets the requirements of the ISO 9001:2000 standard.

NEPCon Poland Ltd. conducted certification audit of the publishing and printing company MEGRAF from Brwinow, Poland. After successfully completed certification process, NEPCon issued the certificate, that conforms that the Quality Management System of MEGRAF meets the requirements of the ISO 9001:2000 standard.

MEGRAF is a printing company with 10 years of experience. It offers full range of publishing and printing services with help of high quality equipment. MEGRAF employs over 20 people.
More information about MEGRAF: www.megraf.pl

For further information please contact: NEPCon Ltd., Czapinskiego 3/311, 30-048 Krakow, Poland
tel. +48 12 295 03 73, fax +48 12 295 03 74
e-mail: poland@nepcon.dk
www.nepcon.net

NEPCon DK is a partner in two consortia which have just been selected as winners of projects in Poland and Lithuania. Both projects are strongly focused on the development of management plans for Natura 2000 sites, and both are financed by the EU PHARE Program.

NEPCon DK is a partner in two consortia which have just been selected as winners of projects in Poland and Lithuania. Both projects are strongly focused on the development of management plans for Natura 2000 sites, and both are financed by the EU PHARE Program.


Lithuania: Finalization of the Lithuanian Natura 2000 process

A consortium consisting of Ramboll and NEPCon has been selected as winner of a project regarding the full-scale implementation of Natura 2000 in Lithuania.

The project’s main aim is to finalize the Natura 2000 process in Lithuania in the course of 18 months. This implies development of management plans for 60 designated Natura 2000 sites as well as proposals for institutional adjustments and a strong element of training and capacity building of relevant staff.

The project is the third consecutive project assisting the implementation of the Lithuanian Natura 2000 process. NEPCon has also been strongly involved in the two previous projects, which spanned a total period of 4½ years. NEPCon has thus been involved in the Lithuanian Natura 2000 process right from the beginning, and through this project will follow it to the elaboration of specific management plans for protected areas.

NEPCon provides project management as well as technical assistance to the training and management plan components of the project.

Poland: Management Planning Methodology for Natura 2000 Sites

NEPCon DK, as part of a consortium, has just been selected as winner of a project tendering process in Poland. The project aims to produce model management plans for 7 selected Natura 2000 sites in Poland, representing a wide range of habitats and species covered by the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. The project will thus provide standard planning tools for the full range of natural areas included in the Polish Natura 2000 Network.

The project also stresses the aspects of capacity building, communication, and stakeholder involvement. The planning process will take place in a participatory and transparent manner, involving local planning committees with representatives of local stakeholders, and including a series of public meetings and consultations.

The consortium consists of the Italian company Agrotec (leading company), IUCN-Poland, the Polish company ABC, and NEPCon.

NEPCon broadens the scope of its services and starts certification of implemented quality, environmental, and occupational health and safety management systems against ISO 9001:2000, 14001:1996, and OHSAS 18001:1999 accordingly.

NEPCon broadens the scope of its services and starts certification of implemented quality, environmental, and occupational health and safety management systems against ISO 9001:2000, 14001:1996, and OHSAS 18001:1999 accordingly.

The services we offer comply with international standards set in ISO/IEC Guide 62:1996 (General Requirements for Bodies Operating Assessment and Certification/Registration of Quality Systems), which constitutes basis for European standard EN-45012:1998 under the same name.

NEPCon cooperates and employs high qualified auditors and experts that have necessary experience and qualifications, which enable them to comprehend the technological context of audits being conducted.

NEPCon maintains its quality system, plans and conducts certification processes, and selects auditors using methods and techniques required by the international standard ISO 19011:2002 “Guidelines for quality and/or environmental management systems auditing”.

More information about ISO certification can be found on our website www.nepcon.net. You can learn more about:
- quality, environmental, OH&S management systems and relevant ISO standards,
- certification process step by step,
- benefits of implementing and certification of ISO management systems.


For further information please contact: NEPCon Ltd., Czapinskiego 3/311, 30-048 Krakow, Poland
tel. +48 12 295 03 73, fax +48 12 295 03 74
e-mail: poland@nepcon.dk
www.nepcon.net

Gemer Private Forest Owners Association from Slovakia has entrusted certification process to Smartwood

[Slovakian version of press release] [Slovakian version of public announcement] [Slovakian version of SmartWood interim standards for Slovakia]

Gemer Private Forest Owners Association from Slovakia has entrusted certification process to Smartwood

[Slovakian version of press release] [Slovakian version of public announcement] [Slovakian version of SmartWood interim standards for Slovakia]

Krakow, Poland – NEPCon, authorized representative of SmartWood in Slovakia, has signed agreement for forest management assessment of Gemer Private Forest Owners Association (GRZVNL) in Slovakia. The pre-assessment was carried out in October 2003. The main assessment is planned to start in April 2004.

A group of Gemer GRZVNL members has decided to go for FSC certification of four forest holdings occupying 27.216 ha: Kosice town forest, Dobsina town forest, community forest of Slavosovce village and community forest of Borka village.

The forest holdings of the Association’s members are located in the Eastern part of Slovakia from 300 to 1200 meters above the sea level. The holdings belong to mixed temperate forest type with hardwood (oak, beech, ash, hornbeam, birch, maple and sycamore) and softwood species (spruce, pine and fir) of natural or semi-natural origin. These areas can be characterized by natural distribution of age classes with older stands being up to 140 years old. Shelter wood harvesting system with natural regeneration accounting for over 70 % of all regeneration is dominating.

"There are two main reasons for GRZVNL decision to go forward with certification according to FSC Principles and Criteria. First of all, through independent assessment of ecological, social and economical aspects we would like to prove that our forests are managed well and their management complies with the worldwide accepted principles of sustainability. Secondly, certification will secure our members the enhanced access to value added markets in Western Europe", - commented Ing. Jan Lach, vice-chairman of GRZVNL.

Forests in the Slovak Republic cover approximately 1.9 million hectares, which is 41 percent of the whole land area. Of these, about 39 percent are state and 61 percent - non-state forests. Currently there is one FSC certified area - Presov State Forest District and ten Chain-of-Custody certified wood processing companies.

“I am pleased to conduct the first SmartWood assessment in Slovakia and believe that Gemer Private Forest Owners Association, as well as its partners and stakeholders will benefit from a third party certification conducted in accordance with internationally agreed standards, from new challenges and possibilities”, - says Dr. Andrzej Czech, director of NEPCon Poland, SmartWood certification partner in Slovakia.

The certification assessment of the GRZVNL will be based on the SmartWood Interim Standards for Slovakia, which are available on NEPCon's homepage (http://www.nepcon.net), also in Slovakian version. NEPCon will appreciate any comments on the Standards and on the forest management conducted by GRZVNL. Anyone with related information or comments is encouraged to contact NEPCon - see the contact details below. Public information about certification process is to be found here.

Related sites in Slovakian:

[Slovakian version of press release] [Slovakian version of public announcement] [Slovakian version of SmartWood interim standards for Slovakia]

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For further information, please contact Dr Andrzej Czech from NEPCon, SmartWood Certification Partner in Slovakia, phone +48 12 295 03 73, fax +48 12 295 03 74, email: ac@nepcon.dk

NEPCon commenced audit of forest management and chain of custody of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Lodz and Radom, Poland. NEPCon is an authorized representative of the SmartWood Program in the Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia. SmartWood program belongs to the Rainforest Alliance. The audit will be implemented during 23 - 28 February, 2004.

NEPCon commenced audit of forest management and chain of custody of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Lodz and Radom, Poland. NEPCon is an authorized representative of the SmartWood Program in the Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia. SmartWood program belongs to the Rainforest Alliance. The audit will be implemented during 23 - 28 February, 2004.

Scope of the FSC Certification Audit – The forest management certification audit will check if the RDSFs complies with the environmental, silvicultural and socioeconomic requirements of FSC certification and meets certification conditions. Audit will be based on the “SmartWood Interim Baltic Forest Management Standards”. SmartWood will also capitalize, as a reference, on draft standards that have been developed for Poland by other parties. To obtain a copy of the applicable guidelines, please contact SmartWood by the telephone, FAX, email or website listed below.

Your Input Sought – As a part of the forest certification audit we invite stakeholders to offer comment and feedback on the management of the RDSF Lodz and RDSF Radom. We welcome input, either public or confidential, in whatever form is easiest and most secure for you. Your options for communicating your observations to us are as follows.

Contacting NEPCon

• Email – Andrzej Czech (ac@nepcon.dk)
• Worldwide Website – www.nepcon.net.
• Telephone – 0048 12 2950373
• FAX – 0048 12 2950374
Mail address – NEPCon, Czapinskiego 3/311, 30-048 Krakow, Poland

Today NEPCon commenced audit of forest management and chain of custody of the Latvijas Valsts Meþi, Latvia. NEPCon is an authorized representative of the SmartWood Program in the Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia. SmartWood program belongs to the Rainforest Alliance. The audit will be implemented during 19 - 23 January, 2004.

Today NEPCon commenced audit of forest management and chain of custody of the Latvijas Valsts Meþi, Latvia. NEPCon is an authorized representative of the SmartWood Program in the Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia. SmartWood program belongs to the Rainforest Alliance. The audit will be implemented during 19 - 23 January, 2004.

Latvijas Valsts Meþi manages in all 1,4 million hectares of forestland, subdivided into 8 forest holdings. The current FSC certification audit will cover forest areas of the following enterprises, certified by SmartWood in 2003:

Zemgale forest holding – 155 915 ha;
Rietumvidzeme forest holding – 201 671 ha;
Dienvidlatgale forest holding – 186 511 ha;
Ziemeïkurzeme forest holding – 235 688 ha.

Scope of the FSC Certification Audit – The forest management certification audit will check if the LVM complies with the environmental, silvicultural and socioeconomic requirements of FSC certification and meets certification conditions. Audit will be based on the “SmartWood Interim Baltic Forest Management Standards”. SmartWood will also capitalize, as a reference, on draft standards that have been developed for Latvia by other parties. To obtain a copy of the applicable guidelines, please contact SmartWood by the telephone, FAX, email or website listed below.

Your Input Sought – As a part of the forest certification audit we invite stakeholders to offer comment and feedback on the management of the LVM. We welcome input, either public or confidential, in whatever form is easiest and most secure for you. Your options for communicating your observations to us are as follows.


Contacting NEPCon

• Email – Peter Feilberg (pf@nepcon.dk) or Kristjan Tõnisson (krt@nepcon,dk).
• Worldwide Website – www.nepcon.net.
• Telephone – 00372 56640246/ 00372 56 918 728
• FAX – 00372 7 380724
Mail address – NEPCon, P.O.Box 520, 50002 Tartu, Estonia