Pristine habitat at Goat Cove in the Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada
Key weaknesses in the Canadian Standards Association
The CSA system, which certifies logging operations in Canadian forests, is currently facing heavy criticism from Canadian environmental and indigenous peoples' groups. In October 2004, these groups launched appeals against forestry operations covering over 13 million hectares of forest certified by the CSA. The appeals follow a systematic review of how CSA certified companies are failing to live up to the claims made within the standard.
Even when the CSA standard is being properly adhered to, no major environmental group in Canada working on certification believes that CSA can offer any real assurance that the timber is from sustainably managed forests. Under the CSA system, companies set their own forest management standards and no consistent minimum standard is required by the CSA. The scheme also fails to provide any reasonable measures to ensure that indigenous peoples' rights are respected and it allows large scale clear cutting of ancient forests.
For more about problems with CSA forestry certification, read Greenpeace Canada's report: "Forest certification: Green stamp of approval or Rubber Stamp of Destruction?"
Even when the CSA standard is being properly adhered to, no major environmental group in Canada working on certification believes that CSA can offer any real assurance that the timber is from sustainably managed forests. Under the CSA system, companies set their own forest management standards and no consistent minimum standard is required by the CSA. The scheme also fails to provide any reasonable measures to ensure that indigenous peoples' rights are respected and it allows large scale clear cutting of ancient forests.
For more about problems with CSA forestry certification, read Greenpeace Canada's report: "Forest certification: Green stamp of approval or Rubber Stamp of Destruction?"
