| HAPPY HOLIDAYS |
Dear Reader,
The UN International Year of the Forest is almost over, but the focus will remain on the world's forests, says NEPCon CEO. The COP-17 climate conference confirmed the central role forests play in climate change. We thank all of you who have committed to supporting responsible forest management! And to top this year's final newsletter off, we share an inspiring story of dedication which we hope will encourage you to never give up building sustainability into your everyday business.
Happy holidays and our best wishes for a great year ahead!
Your newsletter team |
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| MARKET DEVELOPMENTS |
Outlook 2012: sustainability trends in the timber market
During 2011, certification again proved itself to be a viable business lever for sustainable forest management and a great market differentiator. Will this still be the case in the face of continued financial uncertainty? According to NEPCon CEO Peter Feilberg, the future looks bright for those who are committed to forest- and climate-friendly business Read more
Environmental devotion propels success for greeting cards
As the festive season begins, shoppers across North America, Australia and the United Kingdom can send their loved ones messages on a unique line of FSC-certified greeting cards that has garnered a dedicated following and won numerous awards thanks to its environmental devotion Read more
Corruption Index: nine EU countries “unspecified risk” for legality in the FSC Controlled Wood system
New figures for the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) imply that Lithuania and Costa Rica are now listed as “unspecified risk” for timber harvesting legality under the FSC Controlled Wood system. Nine EU countries fall into this category, which raises the question of how the EU Timber Regulation will affect operations located in these countries Read more |
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| COP 17 CLIMATE CONFERENCE |
Leadership needed in absence of global climate deal
Nations and industries urgently need to take leadership in the fight against climate change in the absence of a strong international, legally-binding agreement. NEPCon reports directly from COP17 in Durban on the impact and opportunities to the forestry and timber sectors Read more
The COP17 in pictures
Although busy participating in the Durban summit, NEPCon's climate expert Gertrud Kümmel Birk found time to exercise her photographic skills during the event. Get a feel for the buzz and beauty of this global event that brought together politicians and business leaders from around the world, seeking solutions to the biggest challenge of the century COP17 in pictures |
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| STANDARDS AND POLICIES |
FSC and PEFC requirements: update on key changes
A number of changes and amendments to the FSC and PEFC certification requirements were adopted during the past year, with deadlines towards the end of 2011 or during 2012. Other changes are in the pipeline and likely to be phased in during 2012. In this article, we provide an overview of the most important changes Read more
New standard for legal timber sourcing: join the consultation
NEPCon has developed a new standard for the sourcing of legal timber products. The standard effectively offers a framework and provides assurance for the quality and implementation of organisations' due diligence systems, such as required by the EU Timber Regulation Read more |
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| IMPACT |
| World Heritage Sites benefit from FSC certification
Many formally protected areas suffer from degradation due to lack of proper enforcement of the protection. A new report released by the Rainforest Alliance reveals that World Heritage Sites and other protected areas enjoy better protection when the surrounding areas are FSC certified Read more |
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| FOR YOUR CALENDAR |
| FSC Lead Auditor crash course in March, 2012
You can now claim your early bird discount by signing up for NEPCon's first 2012 FSC Lead Auditor training course. Our course is now approved as fulfilling FSC's auditor training requirements. The training, led by some of the world's most experienced FSC auditors, takes place in beautiful surroundings in Jurmala, Latvia on 12 - 16 March Read more |
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| UN INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE FOREST |
| Responsible timber trade: tears, sweat, and optimism
Imagine a company selling a product which is in short supply and for which there is no market. What odds would you give this business project? After ten years of seemingly impossible aspirations, prospects are looking up for Kasper Kopp, owner of TRACER ApS. He has all the perseverance it takes to open doors for his sustainable tropical timber products Read more |
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