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Forest certification is emerging as a tool for engaging more private landowners in stewardship. A July 19-21 planning meeting at The Johnson Foundation’s Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin focused on the potential for defining a common strategy for advancing family forest certification.

Through the links at the left, you are welcome to review the outline of the strategic plan that emerged through the discussions of the 38 conference attendees. And please let us know if you would like to contribute to this effort via the notice at the right throughor the contact below.

“Wingspread aims to convene stakeholders around the opportunities of sustainable business practices, responsible resource use, and conservation on private lands,” said Roger Dower, President of the Johnson Foundation.

The event, organized by the FSC Family Forests Alliance, brought together wood products companies, public agencies, non-profits, private interests, and landowner associations.

“This was an historic event for the FSC,” said Michael Conroy, consultant to the FSC International Center. “It brought together a strong interest and commitment from the industry with a common goal of increasing the supply of certified material from family forests.”

A key reason for holding the meeting was to respond to the demand for FSC certified paper and wood products, which is out-stripping supply in several markets.

“The organizing principle was to quickly and collaboratively advance the use of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification as a tool for improving the management of private woodlands and bringing value to small forest landowners,” said Kathryn Fernholz, Secretariat for the Alliance and Executive Director of Dovetail Partners, a non-profit based in Minneapolis.

“It is in our long term interest to see that responsible forestry is happening on family forests, and this market demand offers a great opportunity,” said Craig Liska, Vice President of Sustainability for Verso Paper, the first Founding Sponsor of the FSC Family Forests Alliance.

The certification of family forests has been trailing certification on other ownerships for several reasons. With the growth in market demand, the conference participants recognize that investments are needed to overcome obstacles and build capacity.

“This lays the groundwork for the future participation of the small landowner in emerging markets, including ecosystem services,” said conference participant Karl Dalla Rosa, National Program Manager for the Forest Stewardship Program of the USDA Forest Service.

“We really haven’t had this level of interest and engagement in the past, and this window of opportunity may not come along very often. The FSC needs to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Scott Berg, Principal with R.S. Berg & Associates, Inc.

The national agenda resulting from the meeting forms the action plan of the FSC Family Forests Alliance. The plan includes work around communications, providing resources to support certification efforts, and helping support strategic efforts by the Forest Stewardship Council, including a standards revision process.

“The conference participants have defined the need and opportunity,” says Fernholz. “The input that we have been given from a national group of committed individuals is of immeasurable value to the Alliance, and this is the start of an exciting time.”

The FSC Family Forests Alliance has been created to provide a national mechanism for bringing together individuals and organizations committed to promoting responsible forest stewardship through FSC standards. By creating a forum for communication, cooperation, and information sharing, participants in the Alliance can pursue issues of common interest, learn from one another, and enlarge the community of landowners and small businesses practicing responsible forestry. For more information: http://www.familyforestsalliance.org

The Core Alliance Team

Katie Fernholz, Ian Hanna, Harry Groot, John Gunn, Alyx Perry, Don Arnosti, Paul Catzanaro & Warren Gaskill