CLIMATE MITIGATION – CONSERVATION FORESTRY

1.1) Covers a min. period of 10 years and is continuously updated 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’(40). The forest management plan or 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.

1.2) Management goals, including major constraints* 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(41);

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.

1.3) General strategies and activities planned to reach the management goals, including expected operations over the whole forest cycle 1.2. b. general strategies and activities planned to reach the management goals, including expected operations over the whole forest cycle;

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.

1.4) Definition of the forest habitat context, including main existing and intended forest tree species, and their extent and distribution 1.2. 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.

Indicator 1. Forest management planning at a level appropriate to the size and scale of the operation, including: b. a periodic or ongoing forest inventory

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.

1.5) Definition of the area according to its gazetting in the land registry 1.2. d. definition of the area according to its gazetting in the land registry;

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.

1.6) Compartments, roads, rights of way and other public access, physical features including waterways, areas under legal and other restrictions 1.2. e. compartments, roads, rights of way and other public access, physical features including waterways, areas under legal and other restrictions;

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.

1.7) Measures deployed to maintain the good condition of forest ecosystems 1.2. f. measures deployed to maintain the good condition of forest ecosystems;

1.8) Consideration of societal issues (including preservation of landscape, consultation of stakeholders in accordance with the terms and conditions laid down in national law) 1.2. g. consideration of societal issues (including preservation of landscape, consultation of stakeholders in accordance with the terms and conditions laid down in national law);

1.9) 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 1.2. 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;

1.10) All DNSH criteria relevant for forest management 1.2. i. all DNSH criteria relevant for forest management.

See DNSH criteria

1.11) Definition of SFM matches (choose) 1.3. The forest management plan or the equivalent instrument:

a. shows a primary designated management objective(52) that consists in protection of soil and water(53), conservation of biodiversity(54) or social services(55) based on the FAO definitions; b. promotes biodiversity-friendly practices that enhance forests’ natural processes; c. includes an analysis of: i. impacts and pressures on habitat conservation and diversity of associated habitats; ii. condition of harvesting minimizing soil impacts; iii. other activities that have an impact on conservation objectives, such as hunting and fishing, agricultural, pastoral and forestry activities, industrial, mining, and commercial 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.

SFI Section 14 - Definitions sustainable forestry: 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.

SFI certification would satisfy the approach in A

1.13) The activity does not involve the degradation of land with high carbon stock 1.5. The activity does not involve the degradation of land with high carbon stock(44) .

SFI has requirements that address conversion of forest cover types (PM1.2), prompt reforestation (PM 2.2) and conservation of biological diversity including FECV and old growth forests (PM 4.2) and ecologically important sites PM 4.3).

1.14) 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* 1.6. 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.

The SFI Forest Management Standard at Objective 11 requires legal compliance and therefore addresses risk of illegal logging and related regulatory requirements for forest management operations.

1.15) 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 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.

3.1) Forest status is guaranteed by classification (chose) 3.1. In accordance with national law, the forest status of the area in which the activity takes place is guaranteed by one of the following measures: a. the area is classified in the permanent forest estate as defined by the FAO(46); b. the area is classified as a protected area; c. the area is the subject of any legal or contractual guarantee ensuring that it will remain a forest.

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.

3.2) Commitment on future updates to the forest management and to compensate any reduction in the climate benefit 3.2. In accordance with national law, the operator of the activity commits that future updates to the forest management plan or equivalent instrument, beyond the activity that is financed, will continue to seek the climate benefits as determined in point 2. Besides, the operator of the activity commits to compensate any reduction in the climate benefit determined in point 2 with an equivalent climate benefit resulting from the conduct of an activity that corresponds to one of the forestry activities defined in this Regulation.

The SFI 2022 Forest Management Standard does require long-term sustainable management of forests, but it cannot account for future disposition of forest lands to a new owner. They can be no way to guarantee ongoing financing of the climate benefits after a change in ownership.

4.1) Audit (third-party certifier or by national authorities) 4. Within two years after the beginning of the activity and every 10 years thereafter, the compliance of the activity the substantial contribution to climate change mitigation criteria and the DNSH criteria is verified by either of the following: a. the relevant national competent authorities; 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.

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.

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.

DNSH4 - Circular Economy 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-based products with long-term circularity potential; this criterion may be demonstrated through the climate benefits analysis referred to in point (2) 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-based products with long-term circularity potential. This criterion may be demonstrated through the climate benefits analysis referred to in point (2).

DNSH5 (3) - Pollution Prevention Pollution of water and soil is prevented and cleaning up measures are undertaken when pollution occurs. Pollution of water and soil is prevented and cleaning up measures are undertaken when pollution occurs.

Performance Measure 11.2. Certified Organizations shall comply with all applicable social laws at the federal, provincial, state, and local levels in the country in which the Certified Organization operates.