FSC certification more effective than protection in Guatemala - April 3rd, 2008

FSC forest management certification has proven to conserve the rainforest more effectively than strict protection in Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve. These are the findings of a new Rainforest Alliance study.

The report shows dramatically less forest destruction and fire damage in FSC certified forest concessions compared with other areas within the Maya Biosphere Reserve - even lands designated for strict protection.

The Maya Biosphere Reserve is an area of tropical forest in Guatemala's northern Petén region. By late 2007, nearly 60 percent of the land where timber harvesting is allowed in the reserve was FSC certified. This equals nearly a quarter of the reserve's total area.

Fire incidences in the FSC certified forest concessions were down to 0.1% in 2007 from 6.5% in 1998 when the first FSC certificate was issued. During the same period, fires affected 7-20% of the rest of the Reserve.

The average annual deforestation rate in FSC certified forest concessions between 2002 and 2007 was 20 times lower than the deforestation rate within the protected areas where harvesting of wood and non-timber forest products is prohibited.

"These numbers show that certification is a real tool for the market and for conservation," said José Román Carrera, Central America coordinator for the Rainforest Alliance's TREES program, which works with communities in Petén. "In these communities, FSC certification has helped strengthen business structures, fire prevention measures and low-impact harvesting practices."

Communities are seeing their businesses grow and livelihoods improve as demand for certified wood and non-timber forest products grows. In 2007, the forest products sector in the reserve supported about 2,500 jobs and sales of FSC certified timber surpassed $5 million. Gibson Musical Instruments, for example, buys certified wood from communities within the reserve to build their guitars.

The study also shows a number of other changes forestry communities and companies made to meet FSC certification standards. Amongst these, they have created fire control and prevention plans, improved living and working conditions for workers, increased the use of safety equipment, decreased social conflict as a result of better land-use mapping, and created committees to manage land-use.

The government of Guatemala created the reserve in 1990 to conserve its unique natural and cultural value. With some 2 million ha, the reserve is rich in biodiversity and home to hundreds of species of animals including jaguars, brocket deer and scarlet macaws. Some environmentalists called for a complete logging ban in the entire reserve. The government classified about 40% of land as protected and logging prohibited. The remaining 60% under forest management were required to earn FSC certification. Besides responsible forest management as defined by FSC standards, the study identifies a number of other enabling circumstances leading to the successful maintenance of forest cover in the FSC concession area. Continued donor support and the activities of numerous government and non-government organisations promoting environmental awareness, community vigilance programs, and responsible economic activities have been the most important.

To read the full report, 'Impact of FSC Certification on Deforestation and the Incidence of Wildfires', visit www.rainforest-alliance.org/resources.cfm?id=research_ analyses. For further information contact Gretchen Ruethling at gruethling@ra.org.

Based on Rainforest Alliance Press Release 24/03/08

< Back

Back to top