Sustainable Forestry

SUSTAINABILITY

Forests are an economic, environmental and social asset. Sustainability remains at the core of FIM's management practices.

At a time when there is increasing focus on global warming and sustainability issues, timber holds many advantages over other raw materials such as steel, brick and oil derivatives which require substantial amounts of energy to manufacture and have lower insulation properties.

Timber is a sustainable, renewable material, with many positive environmental benefits:

  • Absorbs carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming.
  • Stores carbon in the timber.
  • Creates valuable wildlife habitat and biodiversity.
  • Provides leisure opportunities.

There is increasing emphasis on forest certification to assure all stakeholders that forests are being run on a sustainable basis according to approved environmental guidelines. FIM properties are managed in accordance with the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS), which results in certification under the Forest Stewardship Council scheme (FSC).

UKWAS provides a single common standard for use within forest certification schemes operating in the UK. UKWAS certification ensures forests are managed on an environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and economically sound basis. The principal aim of certification is to improve forest management and enhance multiple values from forests. In addition certification will maintain and improve market access for forest products. Independent third party audits of the forest determine that the forest meets set standards.

Certification schemes provide a way of defining sustainable forest management as well as third party independent verification that a timber source meets the definition of sustainability. These schemes include a mechanism for tracing products from the certified source forest to the end use providing evidence that it is both legal and sustainable.

There are various forest certification schemes that operate around the world some of which are international and others which are limited to single countries or regions. The main international schemes are the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Sustainable Forestry Institute (SFI).

Of these the FSC is the most widely regarded scheme, which most effectively ensures that products bearing its label are sustainable. Each operation is audited annually to ensure compliance with the set standard. The FSC is the only certification system that is supported by all major environmental groups. Many certification assessments including the US Green Building Council only accept FSC as proof of sustainability.

Out of global forest resources of 4 billion hectares only about 400 million (10%) are certified. The FSC certifies 107 million hectares in 81 countries, which is around 7% of the worlds productive forest. Sales of FSC labelled products are worth over $20 billion per annum.