These objectives have clearly not been achieved, and certification in tropical forests remains challenging for FSC. On 16 and 17 May 2013, FSC International hosted a meeting in Bonn with members, stakeholders, forest owners and scientists representing the timber industry, environmental NGOs, workers and smallholders’ interests, who discussed reasons for challenges and success, to inspire the development of FSC’s Strategy for forest management in tropical countries.
“FSC needs a supporting environment to deliver better results: International mechanisms such as FLEGT and EUTR can contribute to the identification and eradication of illegally logged tropical wood competing on the markets with responsible forestry. FSC’s finance program for smallholders, the Modular Approach Program (MAP) towards full FSC certification program, and the Online Claims Platform (OCP) to track certified materials, as well as a better cooperation between FSC, ENGO and industries will facilitate a better uptake of certification in the tropics” said Kim Carstensen, Director General of FSC.
As part of the commitment to this challenge and to growing FSC certification in Africa and in the Congo Basin in particular, FSC has invested in the establishment of an Africa Regional office, with sub-offices and dedicated staff in the Congo Basin and East Africa. Chris Burchmore has been appointed as the African Regional Director. The Congo Basin Website provides a dedicated resource for stakeholders, members and others working in the Congo Basin.