NGO statement

                                                                                                                                                                               

"European and African NGOs gathered in Benediktbeueren, Germany, 15th April 1999 welcome the fact that the European forest owners associations have shifted their position from a total denial of certification towards a more proactive approach. However the undersigned NGOs state that they do not support the PEFC for the following reasons:

  1. The PEFC system will not lead to a meaningful improvement of forest management in Europe. There are not provisions for developing performance-based standards. The Criteria and Indicators fall short in a number of areas. The environmental standards are extremely weak; i.e. logging in Europe’s last old growth forests is still allowed. Rights of indigenous peoples and workers rights are not addressed.

 

  1. The PEFC system does not give equal representation to all stakeholders. Since UNCED 1992, all Major Groups should be part of decision-making processes. Currently the statutes indicate that the vested interest (i.e. the private forest owners associations) control all decision-making processes.

 

  1. The PEFC system is a purely European System, which does not address the forest problems in the rest of the world.

    In addition to the issues in point 1 the FEFC does not provide a credible label for consumers. There are no clear provisions for a chain of custody and for control of the implementation of the standard at the forest management unit level.

    We would also like to highlight the fact that the FSC has always been open to forest owners and industry - and it remains open to all parties aiming at improving forest management."

    23 sign-ons