Why Forest Management?
All over the world and especially in the European Union countries in the last century, the rapid industrialization movements that took place without considering the environment brought about the destruction of the natural environment. Especially after the Second World War, this destruction has become more visible. From the 1960 onwards, public reactions to the destruction of nature have increased in many parts of the world, especially in industrialized countries. The United Nations mobilized and 1972 held the first global environmental conference in Stockholm. At this conference, all countries agreed to take immediate action to protect nature. Despite this, the destruction of nature was still continuing in the 1980 and had not taken adequate measures. This time the United Nations established the World Environment and Development Commission in 1983. At the end of the four-year work of this commission, it prepared a report in 1987. In this report, environmental problems are dealt with on the axis of poverty and inequality.
As a result of global developments and efforts at European level, the responsible ministers of all European countries in forests gathered in Strasbourg, France in 1990. In this meeting, policy decisions were taken, especially the current situation of European forests.
Two years after this meeting, this time, the Environment and Development Conference was held in Rio de Janeiro with the participation of the United Nations member countries globally in 1992. In this meeting, it was aimed to make an environmental agreement with the scope of conservation of nature and forestry occupying an important place. However, such an agreement could not be reached when the developed and developing countries disagreed. Instead, countries have concluded small-scale agreements on biodiversity, climate change and combating desertification. The real success is the agreement adopted by the United Nations Forestry Forum at its meeting in 2007, but not legally binding.
At the meeting of the United Nations in 1992, it was agreed to carry out the work at the regional level. Among these processes, our country continues its activities within the processes of both the European Countries (FOREST EUROPE) and the Near East countries (FAO-UNEP).
Forest Management Council (FSC) and Protection Chain Certificate (CoC)
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent organization established in California in the year 1990 to operate in the protection and management of world forests. Non-governmental organizations operating in the field of human rights and natural conditions took part in the Forest Management Council, which was formed by people and organizations that came together to produce, distribute and use forest products. The overall objective is to create a responsible and sustainable forest management system. This approach, which acts with the sense of responsibility for the protection of forest resources and leaving a more livable world for future generations, has quickly spread all over the world and has become an international organization.
CoC stands for Chain of Custody Certification, which stands for a Chain of Conservation Certificate in English, and is a Forest Management System standard that emerged through the efforts of the Forest Management Council. Today, FSC label is put on forest products obtained by appropriate methods and this label is highly recognized among countries. Forests, which are our valuable natural assets, are processed without risk and by the right methods thanks to the principles determined by the Forest Management Council.
As of the year 2008, the Forest Management Council certified the 80 in the vicinity of 100 to more than million hectares of forest area in compliance with the standards. Forest products with the FSC label make a difference in:
- FSC label prevents the destruction of natural forests and various vegetation on earth
- Prevents unconscious use of pesticides with very high danger levels
- Prevents cultivation of genetically modified trees
- Respects the rights of indigenous peoples living on earth
- Forest Areas that have been granted a Protection Chain Certificate (CoC) are inspected at least once a year by the Forest Management Council.
Environmental awareness is increasing and many organizations, acting with a sense of responsibility, are trying to obtain raw materials and semi-processed materials from well-managed forests. This assurance is provided by accredited international certification firms. The Forest Management Council Protection Chain Certificate (FSC-CoC) is proof that products reach consumers by incorporating production, transformation and distribution processes starting from the forest.
In short, the FSC-CoC Forest Management System certificate proves that the right product is obtained in the right ways, while consumers receive accurate information about the source of the product. In other words, the FSC-CoC certificate confirms that the product is obtained from controlled sources and well-managed forests and does not interfere with products produced from unsupervised trees.
FSC-CoC certification works for wood, timber and their by-products, as well as paper and newspaper, magazine, cardboard, paper packaging and similar paper-based products and all kinds of furniture, wooden toys, wooden pencils, musical instruments and many more products .
FSC-COC Forest Management System Certificate
By having FSC-CoC Forest Management System certificate, many benefits are provided for businesses, consumers and consumers as well as the ecological balance of the earth. People and organizations are now more aware of this and demand the protection of natural life and the use of forests in the right way. Earnings from applying this standard can be listed as follows:
- Forests, one of the most valuable treasures in the world, have started to be used with the right methods without jeopardizing its future.
- Businesses have access to markets that are more sensitive to the use of forests.
- Official organizations, forest workers, enterprises using forest products, people using these products and various non-governmental organizations have come together in a common purpose and these parties are still working.
- Future generations have also benefited from forests and have not been deprived of these rights.
- Thanks to the system, the importance of owning forests and operating the right methods is more accepted than ever.
- The fact that FSC-CoC certified products are obtained from well-forested areas and within the framework of legal regulations gives the producers a serious competitive advantage.
- The rights and interests of the people and forest workers living in the forest regions have started to be protected.
- Necessary measures have been taken to protect the endangered wildlife and forest lands.
- This system also facilitates the receipt of domestic and foreign support.
