Certifying Forests to Achieve Sustainability in Industrial Plantations: Opinions of Stakeholders in Spain

Abstract

Forest certification is a practice that has been consolidated worldwide in recent years as a result of certification often being associated with sustainability. However, there is not much research available on the perception of stakeholders and experts of that association. This study evaluates how key stakeholders relate certification to sustainability, and its implications for forest management. A survey was implemented in the eucalyptus plantations of Galicia, northwestern Spain, to assess how forest managers; advisors; environmental organizations; researchers; and members from the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), PEFC (the Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification), and forest companies and associations, perceive this relationship. The opinions indicate that it should not be assumed that certified plantations are necessarily perceived as the most sustainable ones, that there is always a direct relationship between certification, nor that forest owners and managers certify their woodlands in order to guarantee sustainability. The results also showed that perceptions of certification and sustainability were not influenced by the opinions of different groups of stakeholders.

Perceptions by Smallholder Farmers of Forest Plantations in Malaysia

“…Most of the respondents are also concerned about the potential biodiversity loss due to forest plantations, although planting trees will contribute towards mitigating climate change. In this context, the study shares similar findings to that of the study by [27], which clearly stated that the certification of forest plantations should be supported to alleviate some of the risks associated with biodiversity loss.…”

“…As reported by [27,28], smallholder farmers were also aware of the fact that forest plantations are usually not successful if the area of cultivation is relatively small (Table 4). Most of the respondents are also concerned about the potential biodiversity loss due to forest plantations, although planting trees will contribute towards mitigating climate change.…”

Efforts toward Creating a Sustainable Business Model: An Empirical Investigation of Small-Scale Certified Forestry Firms in Taiwan

“…Forest owners who join forest certification programs perceive that their forestry practices lead to improved environmental practices [12,13]. However, according to a survey that focused on forest managers and related stakeholders of industrial plantations in Spain, less than 20% of forest managers and experts agree with the statement that "Plantations are certified to guarantee their sustainability" [14]. Klinberg (2003) suggests that certification may be perceived by forest owners only as a tool to communicate with consumers [15].…”

Challenges for FSC Forest Certification: Audits in the Context of Pandemic COVID-19

“…The need for a change in forest governance and management emerged after the United Nation Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992, promoting and encompassing sustainable forest management [1,2] through environmental, social, and economic filters [3][4][5][6]. The auditing process played the most important role in fulfilling these goals.…”