SUSTAINABILITY
International certification standards needed as key markets emerge
Academic and Head of European Sustainability and Stakeholder Outreach with Asia Pulp & Paper, academic Elizabeth Wilks, explains the challenges associated with forestry certification schemes as they apply to companies like APP, which are doing their best to be responsible and accountable producers in emerging markets
developing countries is booming. This global growth in the trade of pulp and paper products has thrown up many questions about the forest management practices of operators in developing countries, particularly as other concerns, both social and economic must be taken into account by these emerging
T
he demand for sustainable and competitively priced forestry products from
nations. More than ever before, there is a greater emphasis on the transparency of timber legality and traceability standards from those countries importing these products, including the European Union.
The rise of Indonesia Indonesia is one country that is currently experiencing increasing demand for its pulp and paper products. And with this demand,
Indonesia’s economy is quickly emerging. Forestry and related industries contribute 3.3% of Indonesia’s GDP – this equates to more than triple the average across Asian countries – of 1.1%. The industry is responsible for 600,000 jobs directly and indirectly, generating billions of dollars in income for the country. Alongside employment, the industry plays an important role in meeting the Government of Indonesia’s commitment to reducing poverty as part of its support for UN Millennium Development Goals through community support programs. However, many, including some NGOs, still believe that Indonesia does not have credible policies and standards in place to protect the environment and local community – this is not the case. Indonesia Pulp and Paper Association (APKI) acknowledge that fair trade is interlinked with two main aspects: buyers having confidence in the products that
62 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2011
they purchase; as well as benefitting the citizens of that country. Foreign countries importing wood-based products from Indonesia can have complete assurance that Indonesian products adhere to the country’s chain of custody certification program, enacted in 2009. This system – Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK) – certifies that wood products exported from the country are legal and traceable to verified points of origin. SVLK certification is designed to
ensure that the industry will only receive and process timber from legal sources according to the regulations of Indonesia, covering aspects of licensing, harvesting, transporting and processing for the industry. SVLK is an important step towards achieving full Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) certification. These standards define requirements for preserving High Conservation Value Forest, restrictions for
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