FSC National Standards Transfer Process

1. FSC National Standards Transfer Process The South African approach in summary January, 2016

2. SA Approach: Procedure for developing indicators: • For each Principle, define meaning and intent of each of the criteria (between 4 and 10 criteria per principle). • Interpret criterion for SA conditionsand translate it into language that we are familiar with in South Africa. • Conduct risk assessment where relevant. Decide what are the most important elements of each principle and its criteria in the SA context and describe the risks and opportunities for improvement. Analysis of drivers. • Develop indicators that talk to the SA interpretation of the criterion. • See if there is an IGI that is equivalent • Write justificationif IGI is not used or modified. • Write guidance for application where necessary. Must clarify terms, put the issue in perspective (get the emphasis right), define what constitutes compliance or otherwise.

3. Risk based approach • The basis of the standard is a risk assessment done through stakeholder engagement. • The risks of all plantation management activities on ecosystem processes, HCV’s and stakeholders are analysed and expressed with a catalogue of control measures as basis for indicators. • This approach will allow the standard to reflect the national sustainable plantation management priorities. • Emphasising the indicators for risky operations will also automatically ensure that small-scale and low impact management activities are correctly evaluated. • Specific indicators for small scale growers and the introduction of a landscape approach for communal areas

4. Opportunities to improve the SA standard • The FSC P&C are exhaustive, process orientated and can be interpreted to include any contingency. SDG’s may include any indicators that can be justified and have been accepted by stakeholders. It is up the standards developers and stakeholders to decide on the priorities. • A well designed standard will result in the important issues being addressed in a constructive way. • A well designed standard will help correct scale based biases to access of certification.

5. Opportunities to improve the SA standard • New approaches include the primacy of field or output based indicators. Management, planning and policy issues only emphasised when field compliance is found wanting. • This will be a way to reward operations for good field performance and reduce the risk of window dressing. • Mechanisms to target high risk activities and high risk forestry estatesintroduced, including algorithms for predicting high risk factors which get applied to monitoring intensity. E.g. use of contractors, remoteness of location, economic viability of unit.

6. Example issue Spread of invasive plantation species from plantation estates • Risk assessment identifies that invasive spreadpotentially impacts (amongst others): • Biodiversity See indicator 10.3, 4.5, x.y, • Water supply See Indicator 6.7.1. 10.3, 4.5 • Water quality See indicator 6.7.2. 4.5.2 10.3 The Organization* shall* only use alien species* when knowledge and/or experience have shown that any invasive impacts can be controlled and effective mitigation measures are in place. (C6.9 and C10.8 P&C V4) • 10.3.1 Alien species* are used only when direct experience and / or the results of scientific research demonstrate that invasive impacts can be controlled. • 10.3.2 Alien species* are used only when effective mitigation measures are in place to control their spread outside the area in which they are established • 10.3.3 The spread of invasive species* introduced by The Organization* is controlled. • 10.3.4 Management activities are implemented, in cooperation with separate regulatory bodies where these exist, with an aim to control the invasive impacts of alien species* that were not introduced by The Organization*.