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| New study considers international recognition of Oregon forest products | ||
| 04/13/2006 | ||
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Distribution: Major Media Contact: David Morman PH: 503-945-7413 06-24 A new study will help policymakers explore a key question: Would Oregon forestland owners benefit if the state developed its own internationally recognized "certification" standard to assure consumers that Oregon wood is grown using sustainable, environmentally friendly techniques? While the answer may be “yes,” the study, funded by the Oregon Department of Forestry and conducted by the Pinchot Institute for Conservation, notes that Oregonians need to carefully weigh the costs and benefits of establishing an Oregon standard that meets international requirements. The study includes a general comparison of existing environmental laws and programs affecting Oregon private, state, and federal forest management to current international forest certification guidelines. It notes areas where Oregon requirements now appear to meet those guidelines, and areas where further measures by landowners would be needed. Increasingly, retailers are looking for certified wood products to sell to their customers. There are currently several certification systems operated by various organizations – each with its own set of forestry standards to ensure that lumber and other wood products come from well-managed forests. In retail stores, certified wood products are marked with a logo unique to the certification system under which they are produced. The Pinchot Institute study sought to determine the feasibility of an “Oregon Certification Standard,” meaning that wood products grown under the state’s current laws and rules for forest management could be endorsed by the international Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and be recognized in the global forest products marketplace. PEFC is an umbrella organization that provides a global framework for recognizing independent certification systems, assessing them according to internationally agreed-upon standards. If Oregon pursued PEFC endorsement based on its existing state laws and rules, it would be the first state in the nation to do so. PEFC is the world’s largest resource for certified wood, endorsing more than two-thirds of all certified forests globally. The organization endorses more than 464 million acres of certified forests in 21 countries. Canadian forests comprise more than 36 percent of the total global certified acreage recognized by PEFC; forests in the United States comprise 29 percent. Oregon is unique in that it already has very high environmental requirements for forest operations, including the nationally-recognized Oregon Forest Practices Act. The act’s comprehensive requirements include leaving forested buffer strips along streams and ensuring that harvested areas are replanted. Additional contributors to sustainability for Oregon’s forests include the state’s land-use planning system, which helps to prevent conversion of forestland to development and other uses, and the many voluntary measures undertaken by landowners, such as stream restoration activities through the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. In addition, the Oregon Board of Forestry has organized its statewide forest policies around an internationally recognized framework of sustainable forest management criteria and indicators. However, these laws and policies are often not readily apparent in the marketplace – and therefore not recognized by the average consumer as a standard for well-managed forests. A major component of the Pinchot study clarified how Oregon’s statutes and programs align with PEFC requirements and considered forestry practices on different land bases – federal, state, and private lands. Study results provided different answers for these three land bases, with federal lands conforming with all PEFC requirements, state forests meeting nearly all of them, and private forestlands meeting fewer requirements. However, it is important to note that the study of private lands only considered regulatory standards, not the voluntary measures that landowners often undertake that exceed those minimums. The study raised some important questions about how the state could facilitate increased participation of Oregon forest landowners in global wood products markets. These questions include what the costs and benefits would be of creating new state processes and introducing additional standards necessary to achieve PEFC recognition. Pinchot Institute spokesman Will Price said that the study is not a definitive statement of PEFC conformance, this would be determined by PEFC if Oregon sought endorsement under their system. “A more formal assessment would be needed,” Price said. “Oregon’s look into developing its own standard is new ground. It could be a novel way to both build on the strength of the Oregon Forest Practices Act, and address the growing interest in certification among landowners.” He also noted that the study was never intended to assess the effectiveness of the Oregon Forest Practices Act or any other statutes and programs in achieving their intended results. Rather, the findings are merely to advise the Department of Forestry on PEFC requirements and how they mesh with current laws and policies for Oregon’s forestlands. State Forester Marvin Brown said the study provides four options for the Oregon Board of Forestry to consider:
“This is a question for all forest landowners in Oregon and all stakeholders who care about how Oregon’s forestlands are managed,” Brown said. “We would like to hear feedback on whether an Oregon certification system sounds promising. Would such a system improve market access, ensure sustainable forest management, and increase pride in forestry in Oregon?” Board of Forestry Chair Steve Hobbs said that board members look forward to continuing discussions on certification of Oregon forestlands. “This study is an important piece of the overall certification puzzle that should help us move forward,” he said. “The ability of Oregon forest landowners to compete in the global wood products market is critical to Oregon’s economic future. It is also a priority for the board that is expressly stated in our strategic planning document, the Forestry Program for Oregon.” The study will be presented to the board at its meeting on April 28, and opportunities for public input will be provided. The study is currently available on the department web site at http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/STATE_FORESTS/FRP/RP_Home.shtml#PEFC_Study_of_Oregon_Forestlands ###
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