AF&PA Statement on EPA’s Finalization for Step One of WOTUS Repeal Rule

Technology has the ability to move boundaries and change how certification operates. Helping us to kick-start the PEFC Stakeholder Dialogue will be Sarah Crow from the American Forest Foundation, as she showcases the innovative ‘Forests in Focus’. To find out more, make sure you register to join us in Helsinki on 16-17 November, but in the meantime, here’s what Sarah has to say: What is your view of the potential of innovation and technology within forest certification? “I believe innovation is central to our success. In our experiences with forest certification, we have learned a huge amount about what customers, landowners, stakeholders, conservation partners and others are seeking.” Click Read More below for additional information.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), one of the largest biodiversity conservation NGOs in southern Africa, and Mondi, a global packaging and paper producer, announced a three-year partnership to map biodiversity footprints in Mondi South Africa’s forestry operations. This partnership will include a pilot assessment of the biodiversity footprint of Mondi’s operations in South Africa using the EWT’s Biological Diversity Protocol (BD Protocol). The BD Protocol is an accounting framework that consolidates site-based biodiversity data to calculate any company’s total, negative and positive biodiversity footprints, allowing users to set meaningful targets and track changes on the ground and disclose these to stakeholders. "By working together with Mondi, we can reduce their business risks and enhance the protection of habitats and species." Dr Gabi Teren, National Biodiversity and Business Network Programme Manager at the EWT

The Italian Forest Certification System has been submitted to PEFC for assessment. The public consultation, which is your chance to give your feedback on this revised system, will run from 26 June to 24 August 2023. PEFC Italy revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.