CLIMATE ADAPTATION – REHABILITATION AND REFORESTATION

The economic activities in this category imply no change of land use and occurs on degraded land matching the forest definition as set out in national law, or where not available, is in accordance with the FAO definition of forest (23).

Performance Measure 1.3. Certified Organizations shall not have within the scope of their certification to this SFI Standard, forest lands that have been converted to non-forest land use.

Performance Measure 1.4. Certified Organizations shall not afforest in locations which negatively impact ecologically important natural communities, threatened and endangered species, or native natural communities which could be at risk of becoming rare.

Where an economic activity in this category complies with the substantial contribution criterion specified in point 5, the activity is an enabling activity as referred to in Article 11(1), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, provided that it meets the technical screening criteria set out in this Section.

Addressed by responses to criteria below.

1. The economic activity has implemented physical and non-physical solutions (‘adaptation solutions’) that substantially reduce the most important physical climate risks that are material to that activity.

Addressed by responses to criteria below.

2. The physical climate risks that are material to the activity have been identified from those listed in Appendix A to this Annex by performing a robust climate risk and vulnerability assessment with the following steps: (a) screening of the activity to identify which physical climate risks from the list in Appendix A to this Annex may affect the performance of the economic activity during its expected lifetime;

Performance Measure 9.1 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address the climate change risks to forests and forest operations and develop appropriate adaptation objectives and strategies. Strategies are based on best scientific information.

(b) where the activity is assessed to be at risk from one or more of the physical climate risks listed in Appendix A to this Annex, a climate risk and vulnerability assessment to assess the materiality of the physical climate risks on the economic activity;

Performance Measure 9.1 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address the climate change risks to forests and forest operations and develop appropriate adaptation objectives and strategies. Strategies are based on best scientific information.

(c) an assessment of adaptation solutions that can reduce the identified physical climate risk.

Performance Measure 9.1 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address the climate change risks to forests and forest operations and develop appropriate adaptation objectives and strategies. Strategies are based on best scientific information.

The climate risk and vulnerability assessment is proportionate to the scale of the activity and its expected lifespan, such that: (a) for activities with an expected lifespan of less than 10 years, the assessment is performed, at least by using climate projections at the smallest appropriate scale;

Performance Measure 9.1 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address the climate change risks to forests and forest operations and develop appropriate adaptation objectives and strategies. Strategies are based on best scientific information.

(b) for all other activities, the assessment is performed using the highest available resolution, state-of-the-art climate projections across the existing range of future scenarios (24) consistent with the expected lifetime of the activity, including, at least, 10 to 30 year climate projections scenarios for major investments.

Performance Measure 9.1 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address the climate change risks to forests and forest operations and develop appropriate adaptation objectives and strategies. Strategies are based on best scientific information.

3. The climate projections and assessment of impacts are based on best practice and available guidance and take into account the state-of-the-art science for vulnerability and risk analysis and related methodologies in line with the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports (25), scientific peer-reviewed publications and open source (26) or paying models.

Performance Measure 9.1 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address the climate change risks to forests and forest operations and develop appropriate adaptation objectives and strategies. Strategies are based on best scientific information.

4. The adaptation solutions implemented: (a) do not adversely affect the adaptation efforts or the level of resilience to physical climate risks of other people, of nature, of cultural heritage, of assets and of other economic activities;

Performance Measure 1.1. Certified Organizations shall ensure that forest management plans include long-term harvest levels that are sustainable and consistent with appropriate growth-and-yield models.

Indicator 1. Forest management planning at a level appropriate to the size and scale of the operation, including: i. consideration of non-timber issues such as recreation, tourism, pilot projects and economic incentive programs to promote water protection, carbon storage, bioenergy feedstock production, or biological diversity conservation, or to address climate-induced ecosystem change.

Performance Measure 9.1 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address the climate change risks to forests and forest operations and develop appropriate adaptation objectives and strategies. Strategies are based on best scientific information.

(b) favour nature-based solutions (27) or rely on blue or green infrastructure (28) to the extent possible;

Solutions (adaptation strategies) are based on the full suite of sustainable forest management requirements as contained in the SFI 2022 Forest Management Standard.

(c) are consistent with local, sectoral, regional or national adaptation plans and strategies;

Performance Measure 9.1 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address the climate change risks to forests and forest operations and develop appropriate adaptation objectives and strategies. Strategies are based on best scientific information.

(d) are monitored and measured against pre-defined indicators and remedial action is considered where those indicators are not met;

Performance Measure 9.1 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address the climate change risks to forests and forest operations and develop appropriate adaptation objectives and strategies. Strategies are based on best scientific information.

(e) where the solution implemented is physical and consists in an activity for which technical screening criteria have been specified in this Annex, the solution complies with the do no significant harm technical screening criteria for that activity.

Performance Measure 9.1 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address the climate change risks to forests and forest operations and develop appropriate adaptation objectives and strategies. Strategies are based on best scientific information.

5. In order for an activity to be considered as an enabling activity as referred to in Article 11(1), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, the economic operator demonstrates, through an assessment of current and future climate risks, including uncertainty and based on robust data, that the activity provides a technology, product, service, information, or practice, or promotes their uses with one of the following primary objectives: (a) increasing the level of resilience to physical climate risks of other people, of nature, of cultural heritage, of assets and of other economic activities;

Performance Measure 2.4. Certified Organizations shall manage to protect forests from damaging agents, such as environmentally or economically undesirable levels of wildfire, pests, diseases, and invasive species, to maintain and improve long-term forest health, productivity, and economic viability.

Performance Measure 10.1 On the forests they own or manage, Certified Organizations shall limit susceptibility to undesirable impacts of wildfire, promote healthy and resilient forest conditions through management techniques, actions and/or policies, and support restoration of forests following wildfire damage.

(b) contributing to adaptation efforts of other people, of nature, of cultural heritage, of assets and of other economic activities.

Performance Measure 10.2 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving government agencies, SFI Implementation Committees, Project Learning Tree, or other partners, engage in efforts to raise awareness of and take action towards benefits of fire management and minimization of undesirable impacts of wildfire.

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument 1.1. The activity takes place on area that is subject to a forest management plan or an equivalent instrument, as set out in national law or, where national law does not define a forest management plan or equivalent instrument, as referred to in the FAO definition of ‘forest area with long-term forest management plan’ (29).

Performance Measure 1.1. Certified Organizations shall ensure that forest management plans include long-term harvest levels that are sustainable and consistent with appropriate growth-and-yield models.

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument The forest management plan or the equivalent instrument covers a period of 10 years or more, and is continuously updated.

Performance Measure 1.1. Certified Organizations shall ensure that forest management plans include long-term harvest levels that are sustainable and consistent with appropriate growth-and-yield models.

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument 1.2. Information is provided on the following points that are not already documented in the forest management plan or equivalent system: (a) management goals, including major constraints (30);

Addressed by forest management planning processes as required by the SFI 2022 FM Standard.

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument (b) general strategies and activities planned to reach the management goals, including expected operations over the whole forest cycle;

Addressed by forest management planning processes as required by the SFI 2022 FM Standard.

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument (c) definition of the forest habitat context, including main existing and intended forest tree species, and their extent and distribution;

Performance Measure 1.1. Certified Organizations shall ensure that forest management plans include long-term harvest levels that are sustainable and consistent with appropriate growth-and-yield models.

Performance Measure 2.1. Certified Organizations shall promptly reforest after final harvest.

Performance Measure 12.2 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees, associations or other partners develop, contribute to, or use national, state, provincial or regional analyses in support of their sustainable forestry programs.

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument (d) definition of the area according to its gazetting in the land registry;

Addressed by forest management planning processes as required by the SFI 2022 FM Standard.

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument (e) compartments, roads, rights of way and other public access, physical features including waterways, areas under legal and other restrictions;

Managers are required to addresses these requirements in their GIS systems referenced in their forest management plan and impacts of such features are required to be addressed.

Performance Measure 1.1. Certified Organizations shall ensure that forest management plans include long-term harvest levels that are sustainable and consistent with appropriate growth-and-yield models.

Performance Measure 2.3. Certified Organizations shall implement practices that protect and maintain forest and soil productivity and soil health.

Indicator 6. Road construction, skidding layout, and harvest plans designed to minimize impacts to soil productivity and soil health.

Performance Measure 3.2. Certified Organizations shall implement water, wetland, and riparian protection programs based on climate, soil type, terrain, vegetation, ecological function, harvesting system, state best management practices (BMPs), provincial guidelines and other applicable factors.

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument (f) measures deployed to maintain the good condition of forest ecosystems;

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument (g) consideration of societal issues (including preservation of landscape, consultation of stakeholders in accordance with the terms and conditions laid down in national law);

Performance Measure 1.1. Certified Organizations shall ensure that forest management plans include long-term harvest levels that are sustainable and consistent with appropriate growth-and-yield models.

Indicator 6. Assessment of the local or regional social, environmental, and economic effects of forest management operations contained in the forest management plan.

Performance Measure 8.1. Certified Organizations shall recognize and respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument (h) assessment of forest related risks, including forest fires, and pests and diseases outbreaks, with the aim of preventing, reducing and controlling the risks and measures deployed to ensure protection and adaptation against residual risks;

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument (i) all DNSH criteria relevant to forest management.

See DNSH criteria

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument 1.3. The sustainability of the forest management systems, as docu­ mented in the plan referred to in point 1.1, is ensured by choosing the most ambitious of the following approaches: (a) the forest management matches the applicable national definition of sustainable forest management;

SFI defines sustainable forestry as: To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by practicing a land stewardship ethic that integrates reforestation and the managing, growing, nurturing, and harvesting of trees for useful products and ecosystem services such as the conservation of soil, air and water quality, carbon, biological diversity, wildlife and aquatic habitats, recreation, and aesthetics.

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument (b) the forest management matches the Forest Europe definition (31) of sustainable forest management and complies with the Pan-European Operational Level Guidelines for Sustainable Forest Management (32);

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument (c) the management system in place complies with the forest sustainability criteria laid down in Article 29(6) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, and as of the date of its application with the implementing act on oper­ ational guidance for energy from forest biomass adopted under Article 29(8) of that Directive.

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument 1.4. The activity does not involve the degradation of land with high carbon stock (33).

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument 1.5. The management system associated with the activity in place complies with the due diligence obligation and legality requirements laid down in Regulation (EU) No 995/2010.

Performance Measure 11.1. Certified Organizations shall comply with applicable federal, provincial, state, and local forestry and environmental laws and regulations.

1. Forest management plan or equivalent instrument 1.6. The forest management plan or equivalent instrument provides for monitoring which ensures the correctness of the information contained in the plan, in particular as regards the data relating to the involved area.

Performance Measure 1.1. Certified Organizations shall ensure that forest management plans include long-term harvest levels that are sustainable and consistent with appropriate growth-and-yield models.

Performance Measure 17.1. Certified Organizations shall establish a management review system to examine findings and progress in implementing the SFI 2022 Forest Management Standard, to make appropriate improvements in programs, and to inform their employees of changes.

2. Audit 2. Within two years after the beginning of the activity and every 10 years thereafter, the compliance of the activity with the substantial contribution to climate change mitigation criteria and the DNSH criteria are verified by either of the following: (a) the relevant national competent authorities;

2. Audit (b) an independent third-party certifier, at the request of national authorities or the operator of the activity. In order to reduce costs, audits may be performed together with any forest certification, climate certification or other audit. The independent third-party certifier may not have any conflict of interest with the owner or the funder, and may not be involved in the devel­ opment or operation of the activity.

Performance Measure 2.1. Certified Organizations shall promptly reforest after final harvest.

Performance Measure 9.2 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address opportunities to mitigate the effects associated with its forest operations on climate change.

Performance Measure 10.1 On the forests they own or manage, Certified Organizations shall limit susceptibility to undesirable impacts of wildfire, promote healthy and resilient forest conditions through management techniques, actions and/or policies, and support restoration of forests following wildfire damage.

3. Group Assessment 3. The compliance with the DNSH criteria may be checked: (a) at the level of the forest sourcing area (34) as defined by Directive (EU) 2018/2001;

The compliance with the DNSH criteria is verified for all forests within the scope of the SFI Forest Management certificate.

3. Group Assessment (b) at the level of a group of holdings sufficiently homogeneous to evaluate the risk of the sustainability of the forest activity, provided that all those holdings have a durable relationship between them and participate in the activity and the group of those holdings remains the same for all subsequent audits.

Performance Measure 2.1. Certified Organizations shall promptly reforest after final harvest.

Performance Measure 9.2 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address opportunities to mitigate the effects associated with its forest operations on climate change.

Performance Measure 10.1 On the forests they own or manage, Certified Organizations shall limit susceptibility to undesirable impacts of wildfire, promote healthy and resilient forest conditions through management techniques, actions and/or policies, and support restoration of forests following wildfire damage.

Detailed information referred to in point 1.2. (i) includes provisions to comply with the criteria set out in Appendix B to this Annex. Appendix B Environmental degradation risks related to preserving water quality and avoiding water stress are identified and addressed with the aim of achieving good water status and good ecological potential as defined in Article 2, points (22) and (23), of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) and a water use and protection management plan, developed thereunder for the potentially affected water body or bodies, in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Performance Measure 3.1. Certified Organizations shall meet or exceed all applicable federal, provincial, state and local water quality laws and meet or exceed best management practices.

Performance Measure 3.2. Certified Organizations shall implement water, wetland, and riparian protection programs based on climate, soil type, terrain, vegetation, ecological function, harvesting system, state best management practices (BMPs), provincial guidelines and other applicable factors.

The silvicultural change induced by the activity on the area covered by the activity is not likely to result in a significant reduction of sustainable supply of primary forest biomass suitable for the manufacturing of wood products with long-term circularity potential. This criterion may be demonstrated through the climate benefits analysis referred to in point (2).

Performance Measure 2.1. Certified Organizations shall promptly reforest after final harvest.

Performance Measure 9.2 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address opportunities to mitigate the effects associated with its forest operations on climate change.

Performance Measure 10.1 On the forests they own or manage, Certified Organizations shall limit susceptibility to undesirable impacts of wildfire, promote healthy and resilient forest conditions through management techniques, actions and/or policies, and support restoration of forests following wildfire damage.

The use of pesticides is reduced and alternative approaches or techniques, which may include non-chemical alternatives to pesticides, are favored, in accordance with Directive 2009/128/EC, with exception of occasions where the use of pesticides is needed to control outbreaks of pests and of diseases.

Performance Measure 2.2. Certified Organizations shall have a program to minimize chemical use required to achieve management objectives while protecting employees, neighbors, the public and the environment, including wildlife and aquatic habitats.

The activity minimizes the use of fertilizers and does not use manure. The activity complies with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 or national rules on fertilizers or soil improvers for agricultural use.

Performance Measure 2.2. Certified Organizations shall have a program to minimize chemical use required to achieve management objectives while protecting employees, neighbors, the public and the environment, including wildlife and aquatic habitats.

Well documented and verifiable measures are taken to avoid the use of active ingredients that are listed in Annex I, part A, of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 (35), the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior informed consent procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in inter­ national trade, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and of active ingredients that are listed as classification Ia (‘extremely hazardous’) or Ib (‘highly hazardous’) in the WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard. The activity complies with the relevant national law on active ingredients.

Performance Measure 2.2. Certified Organizations shall have a program to minimize chemical use required to achieve management objectives while protecting employees, neighbors, the public and the environment, including wildlife and aquatic habitats.

Indicator 5. The World Health Organization (WHO) type 1A and 1B pesticides shall be prohibited, except where no other viable alternative is available.

Indicator 6. Use of pesticides banned under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2001) shall be prohibited.

Pollution of water and soil is prevented and cleaning up measures are undertaken when pollution occurs.

Performance Measure 2.2. Certified Organizations shall have a program to minimize chemical use required to achieve management objectives while protecting employees, neighbors, the public and the environment, including wildlife and aquatic habitats.

Performance Measure 11.1. Certified Organizations shall comply with applicable federal, provincial, state, and local forestry and environmental laws and regulations.

In areas designated by the national competent authority for conservation or in habitats that are protected, the activity is in accordance with the conservation objectives for those areas.

Performance Measure 11.1. Certified Organizations shall comply with applicable federal, provincial, state, and local forestry and environmental laws and regulations.

There is no conversion of habitats specifically sensitive to biodiversity loss or with high conservation value, or of areas set aside for the restoration of such habitats in accordance with national law.

Performance Measure 1.2. Certified Organizations shall not convert one forest cover type to another forest cover type unless an assessment has been conducted to determine ecological impacts and provide appropriate justification

Performance Measure 1.3. Certified Organizations shall not have within the scope of their certification to this SFI Standard, forest lands that have been converted to non-forest land use.

Performance Measure 4.2. Certified Organizations shall protect threatened and endangered species, critically imperiled and imperiled species (Forests with Exceptional Conservation Values), and natural communities, and old-growth forests.

Detailed information referred to in point 1.2.(i) includes provisions for maintaining and possibly enhancing biodiversity in accordance with national and local provisions, including the following: (a) ensuring the good conservation status of habitat and species, main­ tenance of typical habitat species;

Performance Measure 4.1. Certified Organizations shall conserve biological diversity.

Performance Measure 4.2. Certified Organizations shall protect threatened and endangered species, critically imperiled and imperiled species (Forests with Exceptional Conservation Values), and natural communities, and old-growth forests.

(b) excluding the use or release of invasive alien species;

Performance Measure 2.1. Certified Organizations shall promptly reforest after final harvest.

Performance Measure 2.4. Certified Organizations shall manage to protect forests from damaging agents, such as environmentally or economically undesirable levels of wildfire, pests, diseases, and invasive species, to maintain and improve long-term forest health, productivity, and economic viability.

Performance Measure 4.1. Certified Organizations shall conserve biological diversity.

(c) excluding the use of non-native species unless it can be demonstrated that: (i) the use of the forest reproductive material leads to favourable and appropriate ecosystem conditions (such as climate, soil criteria, and vegetation zone, forest fire resilience); (ii) the native species currently present on the site are not anymore adapted to projected climatic and pedo-hydrological conditions;

Addressed with SFI Forest Management Standard, Performance Measures 2.1, 2.4 and 4.1.

(d) ensuring the maintenance and improvement of physical, chemical and biological quality of the soil;

Performance Measure 2.3. Certified Organizations shall implement practices that protect and maintain forest and soil productivity and soil health.

(e) promoting biodiversity-friendly practices that enhance forests’ natural processes;

(f) excluding the conversion of high-biodiverse ecosystems into less biodiverse ones;

(g) ensuring the diversity of associated habitats and species linked to the forest;

(h) ensuring the diversity of stand structures and maintenance or enhancing of mature stage stands and dead wood.

Performance Measure 4.1. Certified Organizations shall conserve biological diversity.

Indicator 2. Development of criteria and implementation of practices, as guided by regionally based best scientific information, to retain stand-level wildlife habitat elements such as snags, stumps, mast trees, down woody debris, den trees and nest trees.