Abstract
We assess whether the implementation of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification scheme in the Congo basin has had positive additional impacts—as compared to existing regulatory frameworks applied in noncertified Forest Management Units (FMU)—on (1) the working and living conditions of logging companies' employees and their families, (2) the effectiveness and legitimacy of the institutions and benefit-sharing mechanisms set up to regulate relationships between logging companies and neighbouring communities, and (3) the local populations' rights to and customary uses of forests. Results on (1) and (2) suggest that several significant differences exist between certified and noncertified FMUs. Results are instead mitigated on (3): Companies in certified FMUs tend to better enforce the law, but this may have unwanted negative impacts on customary uses. We discuss the reasons why several positive social outcomes materialised in certified vs. non¬certified areas, and suggest possible improvements as well as required further research. (Resume d'auteur)
Highlights
Forest certification emerged in the first half of the 1990s as a market-based response to the failure of intergovernmental processes to establish a global compact on forests
Working and living conditions can broadly be divided into two categories: those that exist in the workplace, such as the existence of clear written rules for the use of safety equipment, and those that exist at the base vie, such as written procedures for house occupancy
This article assessed the social performance of a set of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified forest management units (FMUs) and compared it with the performance of similar noncertified Forest Management Units (FMU) in Cameroon, the Republic of Congo and Gabon
Summary
Forest certification emerged in the first half of the 1990s as a market-based response to the failure of intergovernmental processes to establish a global compact on forests. Since it has been promoted as a means to tackle global deforestation and forest degradation, as well as to address the growing concerns for sustainability shown by part of the industry and civil society around the globe (Lambin et al 2014). The FSC scheme checks companies and forest management units (FMUs) against a set of principles, criteria and indicators to assess whether management is environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
