The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to support the project “Enhancing sustainable land use among Kola Saami communities”, developed by NEPCon in cooperation with Saami communities in the Kola Pensinsula.

The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to support the project “Enhancing sustainable land use among Kola Saami communities”, developed by NEPCon in cooperation with Saami communities in the Kola Pensinsula.

The project will develop sustainable land use methods that enable the Kola Saamis to improve their livelihoods. Its main focus will thus be on specific income-generating activities related to land use, including reindeer herding, fishing, and handicraft production. Capacity building of Kola Saami communities to set up business cooperatives will also be provided.



Finally, the provision of legal support to facilitate the restoration of land use rights to Kola Saamis forms an important part of the project. This will prevent future development threats to the area and thus ensure a permanent incentive for Kola Saamis to employ sustainable land use metods.

The project is expected to run from February 2006 through September 2007.

The Danish Minister of Environment decided last year to certify two Danish state forest districts – Kronborg and Fussingø – according to the national FSC and PEFC standards. The certification of the two districts, comprising altogether around 12,000 hectares, covering around 12,000 hectares in total, should be seen as a pilot test providing an opportunity for the Danish Forest and Nature Agency to gain experience with certification. The end goal is to certify all forests managed by the Agency.

The Danish Minister of Environment decided last year to certify two Danish state forest districts – Kronborg and Fussingø – according to the national FSC and PEFC standards. The certification of the two districts, comprising altogether around 12,000 hectares, covering around 12,000 hectares in total, should be seen as a pilot test providing an opportunity for the Danish Forest and Nature Agency to gain experience with certification. The end goal is to certify all forests managed by the Agency.

Together with the Swedish company BMG Trada and the American organization Rainforest Alliance, NEPCon conducts the forest management evaluation which may lead to FSC and PEFC certification, respectively. Field evaluation is expected to take place during the second part of November. NEPCon encourages any organization and individual having comments to the forest management implemented by the two districts, to contact NEPCon (see below).

Both FSC and PEFC certification are based on independent third-party evaluations of the quality of forest management. The two systems verify that the management fulfills a number of requirements regarding social, environmental and economic issues. Even though FSC and PEFC are often viewed as competing systems, certification according to both systems may make good sense to the individual forest owner. The combined cost of simultaneous FSC and PEFC certification is relatively low compared to the cost of two individual certification processes, and provides access to almost the entire market for certified forest products.

NEPCon’s Director Peter Feilberg, leader of the asssessment team, says: ”After having been involved in the FSC certification of approximately 6 million hectares of state forests in other countries around the Baltic Sea, it is a special pleasure for us to participate in the certification process of the first state forests back in Denmark. It is impressive that a small forest-poor country like Denmark is now also taking this concrete step, thereby clearly signalling that it recognizes its share of responsibility for the sustainable development of the world’s forests”.

The Danish state forests are currently in a process of conversion into close-to-nature managed forests. Among the expected impacts of this conversion, the share of native tree species will increase, and the individual stands will become more varied. In order to support forest nature, in future the forests will contain more very old trees and more dead wood.

The certification process of the two districts, NEPCon has already conducted a pre-evaluation of the two districts in order to identify any needs for adjustment of the forest management. The main asssessments are expected to take place during the second part of November.

More details about the certification process are available in the stakeholder notification.

Contact

Anne-Sofie Forfang, NEPCon

E-mail: asf@nepcon.net

Phone: + 45 9866 6132
Phone (NEPCon in Danmark): + 45 8618 0866

On 26 September 2005 NEPCon – representative of FSC accredited SwartWood Program in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia – is starting the forest management pre-assessment of two Swedwood companies in Russia: Swedwood Tikhvin and Swedwood Karelia, situated respectively in Leningradskaya oblast and Karelia. The forest areas under assessment are 161,3 and 524,7 thousand ha. Both forest lands are federal property, whereas Swedwood owns harvest rights according to long term forest lease agreement.

On 26 September 2005 NEPCon – representative of FSC accredited SwartWood Program in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia – is starting the forest management pre-assessment of two Swedwood companies in Russia: Swedwood Tikhvin and Swedwood Karelia, situated respectively in Leningradskaya oblast and Karelia. The forest areas under assessment are 161,3 and 524,7 thousand ha. Both forest lands are federal property, whereas Swedwood owns harvest rights according to long term forest lease agreement.

Swedwood is an industrial group of companies whose primary function is to manufacture and distribute furniture. It is owned by IKEA, which has more than 180 stores in over 30 countries and an annual turnover exceeding EUR 12 billion. Most of Swedwood furniture goes to IKEA stores all over the world. The Swedwood group consists of more than 35 production units in nine countries, and employs a staff of more than 12,000. The value of its total production is currently MEUR 800, with Eastern Europe representing 70% of this amount.

The pre-assessment of Swedwood Tikhvin and Swedwood Karelia will be based on SmartWood interim standards for Leningrad oblast and for Karelia respectively. NEPCon´s lead auditor Kristjan Tõnisson will lead the team.
All stakeholders are invited to contact NEPCon and submit comments on the interim assessment standards and the forest management performed by Swedwood Tikhvin and Swedwood Karelia.

Further info is available from Kristjan Tõnisson (NEPCon), krt@nepcon.net and Sofia Cherepova (Swedwood), sofia.cherepova@swedwood.com.

NEPCon will carry out forest management and chain of custody assessment of Luninetski forest operation in Belarus. The assessment is sheduled for 10-12 October 2005 and will cover a forest area of 144 000 ha. Three timber industries of the forest operation will be assessed against chain of custody standard.

Read more in the public briefing paper.

NEPCon – SmartWood Program´s certification partner in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia – is starting a forest management and chain of custody pre-assessment of Mondi Business Paper Syktyvkarski LPK suppliers and forest lease areas in Komi Republic, Russia.

NEPCon – SmartWood Program´s certification partner in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia – is starting a forest management and chain of custody pre-assessment of Mondi Business Paper Syktyvkarski LPK suppliers and forest lease areas in Komi Republic, Russia.

The total area covered by pre-assessment is 1 151 400 ha. It is a state forest land managed by private companies according to long term lease agreement. The pre-assessment will be carried out from 5 to 15 September 2005 by two teams led by Kristjan Tõnisson and Nikolai Tochilov. Anna Nemchinova and Valeri Malyshev will bring local expertise to the teamwork. The forest management of the candidate operations will be evaluated against the SmartWood Forest Management Interim Standard for Komi.

This is a second stage of FSC certification of forest management areas in Komi arranged by Mondi Business Paper Syktyvkarskiy LPK. The company is committed to promoting sustainable forest management in the region and is one of the main drivers of certification process within the Republic.

So far two FSC forest management certificates have been issued in Komi, one to Priluzje Leskhoz and the other to a private logging company Komilesbiznes. With addition of the areas currently covered by Mondi-initiated certification process, the certified area is expected to exceed 3 million hectares in Komi.

More info is available from Nikolai Tochilov, email: nt@nepcon.net (NEPCon) and Alexey Klochikhin, email: Alexey.Klochikhin@mondibp.com (Mondi Business Paper).


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Mondi Business Paper´s suppliers and concession areas in the following Leskhozes of Komi Republic will be evaluated: Koigorodskiy logging company Ltd (in Kazhimskiy and Lokchimskiy Leskhoz), Noshulskiy logging company Ltd (in Letskiy Leskhoz), Udorales Ltd (in Ertomskiy, Surskiy and Vyiskiy Leskhoz) and lease areas in Kotkerosskiy, Syktyvkarskiy, Syktyvdinskiy, Ust-Kulomskiy, Storozhevskiy, Pomozdinskiy, Pruptskiy and Ust-Nemskiy Leskhoz.

On September, 19th NEPCon/SmartWood team will start with main FSC forest management certification assessment of five groups of forest enterprises in Belarus. The forest area under assessment covers 2,3 million ha. The pre-assessment was conducted in June this year. Additionally, 32 sawmills will be assessed against the FSC chain-of-custody standard. NEPCon/SmartWoood is waiting for your input.

NEPCon and SmartWood Program of the Rainforest Alliance are developing the local country specific standards based on new FSC requirements. In the Baltic region, the previously used Interim Baltic Forest Management Standard will be replaced by separate new standards for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

NEPCon and SmartWood Program of the Rainforest Alliance are developing the local country specific standards based on new FSC requirements. In the Baltic region, the previously used Interim Baltic Forest Management Standard will be replaced by separate new standards for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

In the new standards the wording of FSC principles and criteria will remain unchanged. For each applicable criterion NEPCon/SmartWood have developed indicators that detail the requirements considering the local context. The new draft standards may be modified to take into consideration stakeholder comments.

NEPCon/SmartWood invites all interested stakeholders to provide comments and suggest modifications to the standards.

Please download the new draft standards for Estonia and Latvia.


Contact info for comments and additional information:
NEPCon, info@nepcon.net
phone: +372 7 380 723, fax: +372 7 380 724

Relevant comments and suggestions may also be sent to the the FSC national Initiative (in countries in which there is such an initiative).

NEPCon - SmartWood representative in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia - has completed the certification assessment of Ust Pokshengskiy, Shalakushales and Velskoye LPP forest logging enterprises managing the area of 550 thousand hectares. The forest area certified is situated in Archangelsk oblast in the north-western part of Russia and is managed under long-term concession rights.

NEPCon/SmartWood Completed Certification of Three Forest Logging Enterprises in Archangelsk Oblast of Russia


NEPCon - SmartWood representative in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia - has completed the certification assessment of Ust Pokshengskiy, Shalakushales and Velskoye LPP forest logging enterprises managing the area of 550 thousand hectares. The forest area certified is situated in Archangelsk oblast in the north-western part of Russia and is managed under long-term concession rights.

The certified operations belong to Titan holding along with six additional forest logging enterprises and a „Sawmill 25", planned to be chain-of-custody certified by the end of this year. Titan Company is the main supplier of Archangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill, one of pulp and paper industry leaders in Russia. The mill is producing more than 800 thousand tons of pulp and more than 500 thousand tons of paper products and cardboard annually. After certification of Ust Pokshengskiy, Shalakushales and Velskoye LPP enterprises the share of certified production delivered to the “Sawmill 25” will be 25 per cent, whereas the share of certified material delivered to Archangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill - about 10 per cent of the total incoming timber volume. The company is considering FSC chain-of-custody certification according to the new volume credit system in 2006-2007.

“We see FSC certification as a clear sign of ecologically responsible business run by both forest logging enterprises in Titan group, as well as the whole Titan holding as organization. On the other hand, FSC certificate can be considered as a permit for entering the ecologically sensitive wood product markets in Europe and other countries”, - explained Oleg Korneichev, staff and certification director of Titan company.

Certification process of the three forest enterprises started in November 2003 when NEPCon´s auditing team conducted the pre-assessment to evaluate the overall compliance of performed forest management with FSC standard. The main assessment took place one year later, in October 2004.

“Archangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill, as well as Titan holding have contributed to sustainability of forest management. As a result of one and half year long certification process, three forest logging enterprises in Archangelsk oblast were granted FSC certificate demonstrating that certified operations have reached internationally acknowledged level of forest management”, - commented Kristjan Tõnisson, NEPCon´s Director in Russia.

Belarus Ministry of Forestry and NEPCon have signed agreement on the assessment of 1,8 million hectares of state forest and 25 timber industries according to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Principles and Criteria. Certification body was selected based on the results of the international tender conducted in August 2004. The pre-assessment of the forest operations will be carried out in June this year. Main assessment is expected in autumn 2005.

NEPCon/SmartWood will conduct FSC pre-assessment of 1,8 million hectares of Belarus State Forest in June

Belarus Ministry of Forestry and NEPCon have signed agreement on the assessment of 1,8 million hectares of state forest and 25 timber industries according to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Principles and Criteria. Certification body was selected based on the results of the international tender conducted in August 2004. The pre-assessment of the forest operations will be carried out in June this year. Main assessment is expected in autumn 2005.


The forest area of the Republic of Belarus is 9.2 million hectares. Ministry of Forestry is responsible for management of 86% of this territory. There are no private forests in the Republic. The dominant tree species is pine covering 57% of the forest area. All state forest is divided into six regions managed by Production Forest Regional Enterprises that are in control of more than 95 forest enterprises subdivided into 830 forest districts and other smaller units. About 17.500 people are employed by the state forest in Belarus. The Ministry of Forestry plans to have all forest enterprises FSC assessed during the coming years.

So far one FSC forest management and chain-of-custody certificate has been issued to a public land covering 106400 ha in Belarus as a pilot certification. The Ministry of Forestry has used this experience to prepare other forest enterprises for FSC certification.

The area to be evaluated is managed by 20 forest enterprises divided into 5 groups. During the pre-assessment NEPCon four member audit team will visit the head office in Minsk, regional offices as well as a selection of forest enterprises and wood industries. The team will also meet stakeholders including research institutions, authorities and NGOs in Belarus and neighbouring countries.

NEPCon is developing a draft Interim FSC Standard for Belarus according to the FSC procedures. The Standard will be tested in the field during the pre-assessment and a final draft will be published before the main assessment. All interested parties are encouraged to actively participate in Standard formulation process and submit comments and suggestions. Please contact NEPCon for the latest draft of the Standard. NEPCon/SmartWood also encourage everybody who has information on the forest management in Belarus and its compliance with the FSC standards to provide such information

On 9-10 June NEPCon will carry out the reassessment of Forest Owners Consulting Centre (FOCC) in Latvia covering 33 forest properties with total area of 634 ha.

On 9-10 June NEPCon will carry out the reassessment of Forest Owners Consulting Centre (FOCC) in Latvia covering 33 forest properties with total area of 634 ha. During the reassessment the auditors´ team will look into environmental, economic and social aspects of the forest management by FOCC. NEPCon invites all stakeholders to provide their comments on the mentioned issues. Read also the public briefing paper for more details.

SmartWood granting FSC certificates to forty Lithuanian state forest enterprises managing 1 million hectares of forest

Vilnius, Lithuania -- Today fourteen state forest enterprises (SFEs) are receiving their forest management and chain-of-custody certificates during a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. Together with these certificates, all Lithuanian state forest has achieved FSC certification. Certificates will be handed over by Benjaminas Sakalauskas, Director General of General Forest Enterprise.

SmartWood granting FSC certificates to forty Lithuanian state forest enterprises managing 1 million hectares of forest

Vilnius, Lithuania -- Today fourteen state forest enterprises (SFEs) are receiving their forest management and chain-of-custody certificates during a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. Together with these certificates, all Lithuanian state forest has achieved FSC certification. Certificates will be handed over by Benjaminas Sakalauskas, Director General of General Forest Enterprise.

“We have successfully completed FSC forest management certification of all Lithuanian forest enterprises managing Lithuanian forest. We consider it as a valid proof of responsible state forest management in our country, rational use of forest resources that is in compliance with international principles of stable and well-balanced forest management. We are pleased that international highly skilled experts evaluated the high level of our forestry standards”, commented Mr. Sakalauskas.

Forestland in Lithuania comprises about 2 million ha, approximately 31% of the entire country’s land area. State forests account for nearly half of the country’s forest area. The Lithuanian state forest is managed by 42 individual state forest enterprises, coordinated and supervised by General Forest Enterprise (GFE). The average size of an SFE is 24,000 ha. The forest management and chain of custody certificates have been issued by the SmartWood Program of Rainforest Alliance. Field assessment of forty SFEs was conducted by NEPCon - representative of the SmartWood Program in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia.

“This is an impressive achievement by the State Forests system. Lithuania is setting a very positive precedent for the Baltic Region and Europe in general. The process has been challenging; the results impressive and I extend my congratulations”, commented Richard Donovan, SmartWood’s Director.

The FSC certification process of Lithuania’s state forests was started in 2001, when two state forest enterprises were certified by SGS Qualifor. The process continued on a larger scale by the end of 2002, when NEPCon and sixteen SFEs signed contracts to go forward with the FSC assessment process. In May 2003, the first of the forty SFEs - Druskininkai - was proud to receive the FSC certificate, other SFEs followed. Next contracts were signed, and the work continued. Now the last of the forty state forest enterprises celebrate successful certification results.

The Czech FSC Working Group and foundation DOEN have initiated pilot certification project for wood processing companies in Czech Republic. The FSC Working Group has selected three companies for this project: Carman, a.s., Moravia Wood Product and sawmill Kinský – Chlumec nad Cidlinou. Certification assessment of these companies is starting in the coming days.

The Czech FSC Working Group and foundation DOEN have initiated pilot certification project for wood processing companies in Czech Republic. The FSC Working Group has selected three companies for this project: Carman, a.s., Moravia Wood Product and sawmill Kinský – Chlumec nad Cidlinou. Certification assessment of these companies is starting in the coming days.

There are 13 FSC chain-of-custody certified companies in Czech Republic and 14 557 ha of certified forest. The main bottleneck for getting certified products to the final customer is lack of certified sawn wood for secondary processing. The aim of the project is to address this issue. Companies participating in this project operate three sawmills, their certification would help to fill in the gap.

Carman processes sawn hardwood and softwood; produces standardized one-family houses, wooden inward doors, front doors, doorframes and fire-stopping doors. Morava Wood Products is a subsidiary of a Dutch company producing oak floorings for export. Sawmill Kinský-Chlumec nad Cidlinou is a modern sawmill built few years ago and mostly processing wood of different species from local forests.

NEPCon - representative of FSC accredited SmartWood Program in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia - was chosen to conduct the certification assessment. “Their offer was the most interesting for us, foundation DOEN and also for companies participating in the project”, - explained Michal Rezek, director of FSC Working Group in Czech Republic.

The foundation DOEN provides funding to organizations and projects in the fields of development cooperation and human rights, nature and environment, welfare and culture. The foundation provided funding for the companies’ training in FSC certification.

Václava Hrubá, manager of NEPCon office in Czech Republic and Slovakia commented: ”I am pleased to cooperate with Czech FSC Working Group and foundation DOEN. I believe that our work benefits the companies through opening new trade opportunities. All participants of the project - FSC Working Group, DOEN, NEPCon and the companies - are welcoming the possibility to support the sound forest management by means of FSC certification”.


Additional info:

NEPCon Czech Republic and Slovakia: Václava Hrubá, Tetèická LDS I/5, St¸elice u Brna, CZ-664 47, Czech Republic, tel: 00420 547 226 404, mobil: 00420 723 854 313, fax: 00420 547 226 444, email: cz@nepcon.net, www.nepcon.net

Czech FSC Working Group: Michal Rezek, Bratislavská 31, CZ-602 00, Brno, Czech Republic,
tel./fax: 00420 545 211 383, mobil: 00420 736 533 137, email: fsc@ecn.cz, www.czechfsc.cz

On 31st of January, the first public forests in Denmark received an FSC certificate. The County of Northern Jutland is the proud receiver. NEPCon - official representative of the SmartWood program of the Rainforest Alliance in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Russia - performed the FSC field evaluation.

On 31st of January, the first public forests in Denmark received an FSC certificate. The County of Northern Jutland is the proud receiver. NEPCon - official representative of the SmartWood program of the Rainforest Alliance in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Russia - performed the FSC field evaluation.

Mr. J¸rn Ussing, Head of Department in the County of Northern Jutland, says: “We are very happy that the certification is now a reality, and pleased to be the first public forest managers in Denmark certified according to FSC’s principles.

We believe that it is very important for us as a public body to step in front and demonstrate serious forest management based on principles of sustainability, taking the forest economy as well as other issues such as nature protection into account. We are sincerely committed to realize the principles of the FSC certification in our daily forest management”.

Most of the County’s forests were established as plantations during the last century, with even-aged stands dominated by exotic species such as Norway spruce, sitka spruce, larch and fir. The County is currently in a process of converting these areas into a close to nature forest with increased use of native species and establishment of more diverse stands.

“By converting our plantations into a more natural forest environment, we will create more attractive areas for the public and improve habitats for animals and plants,” comments Mr. Ussing.

Apart from timber harvesting, the forest is used for harvesting of moss for decoration purposes. The forests are heavily used for outdoor life by the local communities.


Breakthrough for FSC forest certification in Denmark

Currently, one private forest in Denmark is FSC certified and 55 Chain of Custody certificates are held by wood processing industries and timber traders.

The decision by a public Danish administrative unit to become FSC certified reflects the commitment of the Danish authorities to support sustainable forest management worldwide.It is already official Danish policy to give preference to FSC certified products in public procurement of tropical timber. Looking further ahead, the Danish Minister of Environment has recently decided to certify Danish State Forests managed by the Danish Forest and Nature Agency.

NEPCon’s Director Peter Feilberg considers the certification of the County of Northern Jutland’s forests to be a breakthrough for FSC forest certification in Denmark. Mr. Feilberg comments: ”Being a certification service company with roots in Denmark, it has been interesting to meet the great interest in FSC certification shown by major wood-producing countries such as Sweden, the Baltic countries and Poland. In these countries, the state forests are already FSC certified. Now the first public forests in Denmark are certified, too. And as certification of the Danish state forests is now also in the pipeline, Denmark may soon enter the club of countries where the public authorities clearly commit themselves to a well documented, sustainable forest management. Many companies in the Danish wood-based industry are already committed to FSC certification. For example, Denmark is internationally leading regarding FSC certification of printing houses. A very positive development within the Danish forestry and wood industry sector”.

For additional information, please contact Mr. Peter Feilberg at pf@nepcon.net or mobile phone + 45 4036 0866.
Mr. J¸rn Ussing from the County of Northern Jutland may also be contacted at amt.ju@nja.dk or phone no. + 45 9635 1660.

SmartWood has granted first FSC Forest Management group certificate in Slovakia to Gemer Private Forest Owners Association (GRZVNL). Now FSC certified forest area in Slovakia has increased more than twice.

SmartWood has granted first FSC Forest Management group certificate in Slovakia to Gemer Private Forest Owners Association (GRZVNL). Now FSC certified forest area in Slovakia has increased more than twice.

The certificate covers 27216 ha of four community forest enterprises: Kosice town forest, Dobsina town forest, as well as community forests of Slavosovce and Borka villages. “A group scheme is an important tool to make certification more accessible and cost- effective for small and medium forest owners who manage the majority of 1.2 million hectares of non-state forests in Slovakia. I hope that the first group demonstrates other community and private forest enterprises in Slovakia the way to join the only globally recognized certification system, ruled by the standards broadly supported by major green organizations, trade unions and the biggest players on the international timber market”- commented Juraj Vysoky, FSC contact person in Slovakia.

The certification decision was taken in October 2004 on the basis of results from the assessment carried out in April 2004 by NEPCon, authorized representative of SmartWood in Slovakia. Four-member international team of Slovak, Polish and Czech experts in forestry and biology assessed forest management practices of the group members based on the SmartWood Interim Standards for Slovakia.. The team inspected different stands, silvicultural sites, conservation zones, as well as current and potential future harvest sites.

Director of NEPCon´s representative office in Poland and the assessment team leader Dr. Andrzej Czech told that Gemer Asccociation is known for its involvement in forestry development, especially among private and community forest owners in Slovakia: “I believe that all member communities and stakeholders will benefit from this FSC certification. There is also great interest and demand for the certified wood from Slovakia among Polish companies”.

The certified forests of the group are located in the eastern part of Slovakia in wide range of nature conditions that can be found between 300 to 1200 meters above the sea level. Beach (Fagus sylvatica) is the dominant species, however other hardwoods and various softwoods can also be found in this area.

“We are proud to reassure our good forestry practices by FSC certificate awarded to four of our members. Our group is widely open for other communities and private forest properties. Procedures are prepared to admit new members from any corner of Slovakia to benefit enhanced access to environmentally sensitive markets”, commented Jan Lach, vice-chairman of GRZVNL.