FSC® Extends Usage of Company Risk Assessments
The Forest Stewardship Council® has extended the usage of
company prepared Controlled Wood risk assessments indefinitely. These assessments were intended to be phased out at the end of
 2015 with the development of national risk assessments. FSC will now phase out their usage along with the development of the new FSC Standard for Company Evaluation of FSC Controlled Wood (FSC-STD-40-005) that will take place sometime in 2016. You can read more about the announcement on FSC US's website here.
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ATFS Partners with GreenBlue
The American Tree Farm System®, through the American Forest  Foundation, has partnered with GreenBlue to connect family forest landowners with retailers of sustainable wood products. The initial thrust of the partnership will be a meeting in January to bring together the beginning and the end of the forest products supply chain to mutually benefit both parties. The discussion will focus on woodland owner's and retailer's needs and challenges to meeting both party's goals of sustainable forest management. You can read more about the announcement on AFF's website here.
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FSC CoC Standard Comment Period Open
The second draft of the FSC chain-of-custody standard is now open until October 31. The revision will affect all
 29,000 FSC CoC certificate holders across the globe. The new revision also aims to meet five CoC motions passed at the last FSC General Assembly. The five motions relate to evaluating pre-consumer material, more transparency about the 'Mix' label, address small enterprise certification, improve the standard for retailers, and clarify the intent of the credit system. You can read more about the standard revision process, including the released draft, at FSC US's website here.
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Center Sponsors and Support
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, Central Appalachian Forestry Alliance, Mountain Association for Community and Economic Development, and Kentucky Division of Forestry. Sustaining contributions are also being provided by the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, 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 Industries Association, Tennessee Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee, Kentucky Chapter of the Association of Consulting Foresters, and the Kentucky Woodland Owners Association. For more information about our partners and how you can support the Center's mission, goals, and projects please visit here.
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The Center for Forest and Wood Certification is a partnership venture focused on enhancing wood and forest certification. The Center is provided direction by eight partners including University, non-profit, forest industry, and consulting foresters. The Center is housed at the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Department of Forestry and is funded through membership fees, grants, and gifts with oversight and management by Cooperative Extension Service personnel at the University of Kentucky.
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