The event was dedicated to the updated FSC Forest Stewardship Standard for Ukraine (FSC-STD-UKR-01.1-2024 V 1-1), which came into force on September 23, 2024.
The seminar brought together more than 120 participants, including representatives of forestry enterprises – FSC certificate holders. Representatives of non-governmental organizations, certification bodies, scientific and educational institutions also joined the event.
Pavlo Kravets, Director of FSC Ukraine, emphasized: «This seminar reflects the result of more than two years of work by the working group to develop additional criteria, indicators and verifiers that will strengthen the management system of those forestry enterprises that have faced the problem of contamination of territories with explosive objects. Excision of such areas from the scope of certification will help reduce risks to the life and health of employees».
Therefore, the key topic of discussion during the seminar was the new Annex J to the FSC FSS for Ukraine, which enables excision of areas contaminated by explosive objects from the scope of certification. This appendix is a response to the challenges faced by Ukraine's forestry sector in the context of the war and the contamination of territories by explosive objects. As a result of consistent normative decisions in the FSC system (see https://ua.fsc.org/ua-en/newsfeed/expecting-the-update-of-fsc-national-forest-stewardship-standard-of-ukraine), the amendments to the FSC standard are aimed primarily at supporting FSC certificate holders in Ukraine and protecting the integrity of the certification system, where the health and safety of forestry workers and other participants in the forest certification process are crucial, taking into account the FSC values.
The changes in the updated FSC FSS for Ukraine presented during the seminar and the outline of the stages of implementation of this standard oriented the participants in the key differences between the updated and previous versions of the standard, as well as in the timelines defined in the FSC system for their proper implementation. The changes made determine the possibility of excision of territories from the scope of FSC certification, where for reasons beyond the control of the responsible for forest management it is impossible to ensure compliance with the requirements of the FSC FSS for Ukraine, unlike the rest of the territory, where compliance with such requirements is possible and can be assessed by certification bodies.
The requirements to for excision of areas contaminated with explosive objects from the scope of certification were discussed during the seminar in terms of both criteria and indicators, as well as relevant management and operational processes, adaptation of which is necessary to ensure responsible forest management in accordance with the FSC FSS for Ukraine.
Undoubtedly, the updated FSC standard emphasizes the need for FSC certificate holders whose management units include areas contaminated with explosive objects to take a number of steps, including:
- adjustments in the decision-making system for planning and monitoring activities;
- proper identification, delineation and updating of the boundaries of such areas;
- identification and appropriate response to negative impacts and risks associated with such areas;
- ensuring public access to information about such areas, except for confidential information.
Timber from areas contaminated by explosive objects should not be included in FSC-certified supply chains, especially since the requirements of the Annex to the updated standard prohibit any field activities, including timber harvesting in such areas, except for the use of remotely controlled devices.
During the active discussion, the seminar participants highly appreciated the updates to the standard, in particular, in terms of promoting the safety of forestry workers and reducing risks to their health and life.
Certainly, identification, demarcation, clearance and return to use by forest users of areas contaminated with explosive objects remains an important area of focus in the forest sector. Dmytro Karabchuk, founder of the NGO «ForestCom», emphasized the legislative aspects of this issue during the seminar. The expert noted: «The legislation automatically considers the de-occupied territories as probably contaminated areas, along with a 20-kilometer-wide strip from the border with Belarus and Russia, as well as the line of military contact. So you can mark and plan your management taking into account the fact that we may not be able to return there very soon [to the 20-kilometer zone]».
The updates made to the FSC standard for Ukraine are a necessary step to adapt the FSC system to modern conditions. And Ukraine is the first country in the world where FSC certification is present to gain such experience.
The seminar was an important platform for sharing experiences and discussing practical aspects of implementing the new requirements. Participants received valuable information that will help them adapt their operations to the updated standard and ensure responsible forest management in the current challenging environment.