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K. Freerk Wiersum, Shoana S. Humphries and Severine van Bommel Presentation for the conference on Taking stock of smallholders and community forestryMontpellier FranceMarch 24-26, 2010
Citation preview
Community forestry and certification:
Dealing with interfaces between global
standards and local community action K. Freerk Wiersum1, Shoana S. Humphries2 and Severine van
Bommel1 1Forest and Nature Conservation Policy group
Wageningen University, the Netherlands2FSC International, Bonn, Germany
Contents
Evolution in community forestry Development of community forest
certification Present status community forest
certification Experiences with community forestry
certification Conclusion
Institutional characterization of community forestry The ideal picture of
community forestry Community as a locality
with shared norms and local interdependencies
Options for local stimulation of forest conservation and poverty alleviation
• Devolution of forest management decision-making
• Socially embedded• Mobilization of community
experience
The reality in case of commercial timber production Combined processes of
devolution and increased regulation
Need for external inputs• professional knowledge to
meet standards• investment in equipment
and marketing
Evolving commitments regarding community forestry
From To
Create dual forest economyLarge-scale professional forestry versus small-scale community forestry
Incorporate CF in mainstream forestry developments
Forest conservationDecrease local use pressure on valuable forestsRehabilitate degraded lands
Local rightsPoverty alleviation
Basic needs Commercial production & income earning
Four phases in community development
Phase 1 Forest conservation through dual forest sectorLighten pressure on high value forests by meeting forest related needs of local people from village lands
Phase 2 Democratization and empowermentMeet basic needs of rural peopleRecognize rights and knowledge indigenous peopleStimulate local decision-making and control
Phase 3 Joint and collaborative forest managementStimulate multi-level decision-making and benefit sharing between public forestry administration and communities
Phase 4 Incorporation of CF in globalizing financial networksTrain communities in fulfilling global standards
Pathway of community forestry development
1
3
2
4
Commitment to basic needs
Commitment to meet
local forest needs
Commitment to incorporate CF in mainstream forestry
Commitment to income generation
1 – 4 =development phase
Outcome of evolution:Increasing role of multi-actor partnerships
NGO’s Internationalstandards
(amended from Lemos & Agrawal, 2006)
Experiences with application of global standardsThe example of certification of community forestry FSC certification Voluntary system promoted by
governments, NGOs and donors Status in 2008
120 certified CFE 13% of all 933 certified enterprises 3.7% of 103 million ha of certified forest area
Multi-level approach to standard setting
International AssemblyEqual voice and power for: social, environmental, and economic interests, North and South 10 Principles & Criteria Adaptation strategies to stimulate smallholder and
community forestry
National Working Groups National/regional Indicators & Verifiers Adjusted Indicators & Verifiers for smallholder and
community forestry
Present status of FSC certification
FSC Certificates by Area FSC Certificates by Number
Why does FSC care about communities and small producers? Social and ethical commitment to
distribution of certification benefits among different stakeholders.
Communities and small producers are critically important forest managers, controlling substantial forest resources around the world.
Different opinions on added value of certification
Certification as a development tool Highest score, especially amongst communities and NGOs Increased identity & recognition Improved contacts with external world
Certification as a marketing tool for commercial timber enterprises Medium score, relative highest amongst NGOs Better corporate image for timber merchants But no higher prices for producers
Certification as a means to stimulate combined forest conservation and local benefits Lowest score, relative highest amongst NGOs Source: R. Reguera
Challenges for community enterprises
Understanding and proving compliance with FSC certification standards
Paying for certification Difficulty engaging in certified forest products
markets and realizing market benefits Competing with industrial operations in certified
forest products markets.
How to proceed with CF certification:adding objectives or simplifying standards?
FSC Initiatives to stimulate certification for small & community producers
Initial initiatives• SLIMF (small & low
intensity managed forests)
• Eligibility standards
• Streamlined procedures
• Adapted standards
• Group certification
Recent initiatives• FSC-FLO joint
certification
• Community-origin label
• Modular approach to certification
• Contractor-Landowner joint certification
Developing CF certification:an actor-network activity
Local communities as forest managers and forest product sellers
Trading and manufacturing enterprises as marketing partner
Local/(inter)national NGOs as development partner
Independent standardization organisations as certification partner
Multiple contractual arrangements for CFE development
Contradictions between assumed and actual experienced benefits of certification
Conclusion 1
Single-loop learning Learning that does not
question fundamental design, goals and activities
Technical learning about instruments
• SLIM, group certification Common approach to
policy implementation
Double-loop learning Learning that does
question fundamental design, goals and activities
Conceptual learning about goals and strategies
Social learning about e.g. responsibilities, appropriate ways of interacting
Development of CF certification requires double-loopinstead of single-loop learning
Conclusion 2
From advocacy networks for stimulating CF certification Ad-hoc arrangements between
parties from different sectors• Without explicit marketing
analysis• Sometimes specific development
standards added to certification standards
Around pragmatic ideas of linking decentralisation trends and marketing chain development
Aimed at fulfilling global standards for sustainable forest management and international timber trade
To sustainable partnerships for dealing with community products Contractual arrangements
between parties from different sectors
Around integrated community development and conservation goals
Aimed at shared social learning on options for incorporating different types of ecologically responsible community-based production systems in various types of commercial networks
Double-loop learning for effective CF certificationrequires new institutional arrangements
Conclusion
The main focus of community forestry gradually changed From creating dual forest economy to embedding in mainstream forest policy From fulfilling basic needs to income generation through commercialization From advocating local knowledge and autonomy to participation in external
networks The nature of PES schemes is gradually changing
From voluntary schemes to formal government mediated schemes The advent of climate payments involves a partial redirection in
forest policy From decentralisation and devolution of forest policy to state mediation of
global standards In order to profit from climate payments community forestry
should further enhance their power of negotiation at national level
By forming strategic alliances• Development of umbrella organisations• Membership of multi-stakeholder partnerships
By recognizing the specific characteristics of different types of community forestry schemes
Conclusion: Achievements and future development scope
Community forestry has ‘come of age’ No ‘second (hand)’ management strategy in dual forest sector Accepted as socially-desirable and viable approach to forest
management Incorporated in external commercial and policy networks
Changing focus from decentralisation and devolution to multi-level governance
From focus on indigenous knowledge / practice and autonomous decision-making to focus on balancing local norms with fulfilment of professional norms / standards
From focus on organisation and decision-making at local level to focus on partnership arrangements with external organisations
Need to further strengthen role of community forestry organisations as partners in interactive development processes
Formation of strategic alliances• Umbrella organisations• Partnerships with civil society and commercial organisations
Adaptation of global standards to community conditions in a reiterative learning process
Thank you