PEFC suspends assessment of Myanmar forest certification system

On the eve of the United Nations International Day of Democracy, the assessment of the Myanmar forest certification system has been suspended with immediate effect due to concerns that Myanmar-based stakeholders are unable to participate in the assessment process.

Open, transparent, and meaningful stakeholder engagement is core to PEFC processes, which includes the ability of all participants to speak freely without fear of reprisal. Information received following the launch of the global public consultation, and integral part of the assessment process, indicates the risk of potential or actual self-censorship or self-imposed restriction by Myanmar-based stakeholders.

The recent arrest of Kyaw Min Htut, an environmental and democracy activist and former civil society representative on the Myanmar Forest Certification Committee, exemplifies the restrictions to speak freely.

Police reports state Kyaw Minn Htut was detained under Article 50 of the country’s Counterterrorism Law, and allege he supported and gave financial help to groups classified as terrorists by the military junta, according to the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). Kyaw Min Htut was also a member of the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade multi-stakeholder group and a member of the Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability network.

In addition, officials of the Building and Woodworkers Federation of Myanmar (BWFM) have pending warrants of arrest, their passports declared void by military junta and its local member unions are harassed by state security forces to disassociate from BWFM. BWFM is a recognised stakeholder in the MFCC and an affiliate of Building and Woodworkers International (BWI), a PEFC International Stakeholder member.

The assessment and thus the endorsement process of the Myanmar forest certification system is therefore suspended until further notice.

PEFC Board of Directors continues to monitor the situation and will review it at its next meeting in October 2021.
https://pefc.org/news/pefc-suspends-assessment-of-myanmar-forest-certification-system

Related Posts

Lecta Publishes Its New Responsible Purchasing of Wood and Forest-Based Products Policy

Lecta has published its new Responsible Purchasing of Wood and Forest-Based Products Policy, in keeping with the principles and criteria of its Integrated Management System that guides the company’s activity. With this document, Lecta strengthens its commitment and responsibility to communities and habitats where the company operates. Lecta is keenly aware of the critical role forests play for the planet and its inhabitants. Lecta also acknowledges that the wood used to manufacture all its products is a natural raw material that is both a great ally in preserving the environment as well as a source of income for many families and local communities. Wood is a renewable resource obtained from forests and forest plantations, and protecting these areas is vital for the carbon cycle. With this new policy, along with the PEFC™ and FSC® C011032 Chain of Custody forest certification systems that Lecta promotes and strictly adheres to, the company reaffirms its commitment to the purchase of responsibly managed wood and wood-based products. Lecta thereby contributes to better management of wooded areas used for forestry, environmental protection and the betterment of local communities.

Making a Sustainable Impact: Tronox Teams Plant Thousands of Trees in Australia

We’re thrilled to share the success of our recent tree-planting initiatives in Australia. In May, our Southern Operations colleagues joined forces with various organizations, including the Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre, to plant over 1,000 native seedlings near our Wonnerup Mine. Together, we built protective fencing to ensure the saplings’ growth. Continuing our commitment to environmental stewardship, a dedicated crew of 70 employees and their families, including visitors from the U.S., gathered at our Northern Operations. Over the course of the day, we planted a remarkable 8,500 seedlings along the Yalyal Brook, significantly contributing to the restoration efforts. We partnered with the Chittering Landcare Center for the 22nd consecutive year, resulting in an incredible 170,000 trees planted thus far.

Presenting a SlideShare on Resolute’s sustainable supply chain

When you buy pulp, paper and lumber from us, you know you are buying from a sustainable supply chain. The attached SlideShare tells that story in 14 simple slides, from the importance of asking where wood comes from to what responsible sourcing is and how chain of custody works. The work we do today all starts with responsible sourcing. That means 100% of the woodlands Resolute manages meet internationally-recognized standards for responsible and sustainable forestry. That’s where it starts, but chain of custody is where it continues. Having an unbroken trail of records that track the harvested trees from forest to forest product provides assurance that 100% of the wood purchased meets a minimum due diligence.
Back To Top
×Close search
Search