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Control Wood Update
The FSC US Control Wood Working Group is continuing meetings to develop a national control wood risk assessment recommendation for the FSC US board. It is clear that the process will take well beyond the initial one year target. The Center has provided comment on this situation indicating the need for an ex tension. In the US key issues revolve around how to assign risk designations associated with areas with eco-regionally significant High Conservation Value Forests (the Working Group is charged with refining the definition of eco-regionally significant) and areas  where forest conversion is beyond the FSC standard. Unfortunately the standard or threshold for maximum forest conversion rates states "conversion above 0.5% and no net conversion" is vague and confusing. The Center has indicated that there needs to be a clear and easily applied definition of conversion so that the US Working Group can effectively move forward. Further there are some issues associated with legality that have been discussed relative to some regions of the country. As this Newsletter goes out FSC International is finalizing decisions regarding national control wood risk assessment efforts. It is believed that company based risk assessments will be allowed for the next year or so until national risk assessments including the US are finalized. There will no doubt be some directives from FSC International will be issued regarding this situation shortly. Jeff Stringer with the Center for Forest and Wood Certification is a member of the FSC US Control Wood Working Group in the social chamber and any comments you have regarding Control Wood issues would be welcomed. Contact Jeff directly at stringer@uky.edu.
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The Center recently assisted Antique River Logs with getting logs submerged in lakes and rivers into the certified wood supply chain. These sinker logs originally were
 | | Photo courtesy: Kelly Lee Flora |
considered virgin material and not initially eligible to enter the certified supply chain. With assistance from the Center, ARL was eligible to place products from these sinker logs as controlled wood into the supply chain. Read more here to learn how the Center assisted in getting sinker logs designated as controlled wood. |
Southeast Region FSC Meeting
FSC - US has just announced a one-day meeting is being held in Atlanta, GA on October 24, 2012 to address opportunities and challenges in building the marketplace for FSC-certified products in the southeast. Please visit the Center's website to learn more about the meeting including lodging and contact information for the organizers.
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 Cooperating Forester
Training Completed
The Center for Forest and Wood Certification completed its first Cooperating Forester training on May 16 & 17, 2012. These foresters are immediately eligible to submit forest and woodland owner management plans for inclusion into the Center's Forest Stewardship  Council and American Tree Farm System group forest management certificates. A list of Cooperating Foresters that have completed the training is available. A review of the training can be viewed here. If you're considering getting your woodlands certified review the list of Cooperating Foresters an d contact them to get the process started!
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Better Know a Standard
A continuing online feature of the Center is the detailed discussion of a portion of a certification system's forest management or chain-of-custody standard. The issue's Better Know a Standard focuses on Criterion 1.5 from the chain-of-custody standard of the Forest Stewardship Council. This portion of the FSC standard deals with the requirement of the organization to have a public commitment to FSC values. Please click here to learn guidance and how the center can assist group members in meeting this specific portion of the standard.
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Center Sponsors and Supports
The Center wishes to thank our sustaining and supporting sponsors. Particular thanks are given to corporate sponsors providing sustaining multiple year commitments including Time Inc., Domtar Corporation, Kentucky Division of Forestry, and NewPage Corp. Sustaining contributions are also being provided by the Mountain Association for Community and Economic Development, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Department of Forestry, and the Kentucky Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee. Center also wishes to thank organizations for providing endorsement of the Center including the Kentucky Forest Industry Association, Tennessee Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee, Kentucky Chapter of the Association of Consulting Foresters, and the Kentucky Woodland Owner Association. More information about are partners and how you can support the Center's mission, goals, and projects please visit here .
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