Seal recognizes the responsible production of forest products, allowing consumers and companies to make conscious purchase decisions, benefiting both people and environment, as well as adding value to the business
Every tree that leaves the approximately 1.5 thousand hectares of eucalyptus forests from Paraná Wood Group (GPW) is FSC certified. That means the wood produced by Paraná Wood Indústria Madeireira is environmentally correct, protecting and preserving protection areas such as native forests, hydrologic resources, and biodiversity; socially beneficial, respecting the rights of workers, local community, and indigenous peoples in the region; and also, being economically feasible. GPW earned the FSC seal five years ago, and ever since, it holds annual audits to continuously improve the work it develops. In addition, it seeks to encourage producers in the region of São Jerônimo da Serra, in the north of the Paraná state, to do the same with their own forests.
But why is this certification so important? The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is an independent, non-profit, international organization created to promote the responsible forest management around the world. Through its certification system, the FSC seal recognizes the responsible production of forestry products, allowing the consumers and companies aware during their purchase decisions, benefiting both people and the environment, as well as adding value to the business. It is an answer to the growing illegal deforestation at a global level. For Brazilian tree producers, it is even more important, especially for those aiming at exporting or selling to timber exporting companies.
According to FSC Brazil executive director, Daniela Vilela, even though the certification is not mandatory for export, since it is not part of any law, it is a key pre-requirement. “Mainly due to all the international attention Brazil has in the world in relation to deforestation. And therefore, most of the purchasers have the certificate as a demand, for the timber to reach the foreign market with all checks and legal compliance” she states.
However, according to Daniela, the benefits of the certificate are not limited to those aiming at exporting. The FSC seal brings several benefits, with the first one being the incentive and encouragement for producers to always adopt the best practices. “This first bias looks from an economic point of view to the production, the efficiency to improve productivity. It encourages the producer to know his own forest, how much he will be able to produce, how he can extract the most benefits the forest can provide, together with what the forest can actually offer, finding a balance between both. And the best practices in preserving the soil, hydrological resources, and the balance with biodiversity”, she adds.
A second benefit is the legal compliance, the executive director says. “Here in Brazil, we have a robust legislation and, many times, the producer is not familiarized with it, and may end up being penalized by such lack of awareness, and be fined by it, for instance. The certification is based on the legislation. And with the certificate, the producer must be compliant with the legislation, and then, he will rarely be fined regarding any environmental or labor infraction, since he is one step ahead, adapting anything he must adapt”, she explains. In addition, the certification also helps the organization. “Since there is a certain bureaucracy to get it, it also helps them to become organized, to have all documents ready, all information at hand, in knowing what he has in the forest, knowing his business, and thus, it promotes management improvement”, she states.
And, according to Daniela Vilela, the certification opens up market opportunities the producer often has no access to. “He will be able to find markets buying uncertified wood, but there are several companies that will request the certification as a guarantee, as a way to prevent purchasing illegal wood, to avoid disrespecting labor laws, illegal deforestation, any type of non-compliance with legislations, social and environmental conditions”, she assesses. In her opinion, there is no premium price for certified wood yet. “Sometimes it happens. It is not common, but there are companies willing to pay a bonus on certified wood. However, it is very much related to the trade relationship between supplier and purchaser. But the opening of markets is still a benefit of the certification as a whole” she declares.