Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
21.6.3
Certification of Smallholder Wood Products
A major challenge facing policy makers worldwide today is the development of
appropriate policy instruments and regulations to address the pervasive improper
and unsustainable exploitation of the world's natural forests. One such policy
instrument is the certification of forest practices and derived products. Certification
can be important for the range of stakeholders mentioned in RMA and ReV Chain
subsections. Increasingly, market premium for certified products provide incentives
for tree growers and forest owners to seek certification for their management prac-
tices and forest products. Certification is also increasingly forced upon producers
through threats of boycotts by activists, buyers, and consumers.
Whereas the tendency towards sustainable forestry certification is true for devel-
oped countries, conditions in developing countries are less conducive to forestry cer-
tification. In a study addressing the global perspective on why countries certify, van
Kooten et al. (2005) report that, in addition to factors such as forest export and GDP,
the presence of politically, economically and socially advanced institutions has a
positive effect on the likelihood that forest growers will seek certification voluntary.
In addition, their results show that gender is a major factor in explaining countries'
inclination to certify forest practices. In countries where women have little or no
effective voice in civil society, the likelihood that tree growers and forest owners will
seek certification is significantly reduced. Women in developing are mostly affected
by environmental degradation and therefore more inclined to contribute to protective
measures. If women's voices are hardly heard, concerns about the environment and
need for environmental protection receives less attention (van Kooten et al. 2005).
Udo de Haes et al. (Chapter 10, this volume), using the Philippines as a case
study discusses sustainable forestry certification for smallholder tree growing in
developing countries. They conclude that there is potential for the certification of
smallholder producers given that the market specifications for high-quality lumber
can be met. This possibility is linked to providing smallholder access to the quality
germplasm and technical assistance summarized above and details by Roshetko
et al. (2007a, b). Once successfully implemented, certification of smallholder systems
will create opportunities for value-adding wood processing activities that, in turn, will
diversify perspectives with regards to rural economies. Other niches at the interna-
tional market can be tapped, generating more income, where international consumer
needs and standards are met. Before reaching this stage in sustainable forestry
development, however, actions must be taken towards organizing the market and
finding donor and government support in order to undertake such transition process
(Udo de Haes et al., Chapter 10, this volume).
21.6.4
Equitable Corporate-Smallholder Partnerships
As discussed above, demand for forest productions continues to increase as the
world human population and incomes grow. The world's area of natural forest is
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