Certifying Wisconsins Family Forests

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Certifying Wisconsins Family Forests

• Paul Pingrey
• WI DNR Forest Certification Coordinator
• April 25, 2008

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Certifying Wisconsins Family Forests

• What Ill Cover
• How Far, How Fast?
• MFL Tree Farm Group (2005)
• MFL SmartWood FSC Audit
• FSC Family Forest Revisions (Karen)

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How far, how fast?
Since 2004, 5,623,121 acres of DNR programs have
been certified under FSC, SFI or Tree
Farm. Thats 35 of Total WI Forest Area
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WI DNR Certified Forests
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2008 Public Lands Highlights

• County Forest annual audits adding 2-3 counties
  to FSC group
• 5-year re-certification of the State Forest
  Program (517,000 acres) with a full audit in fall
  2008
• DNR plans to add another million acres in Land
  and Water Division programs as a certification
  scope expansion

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National Forest Certification?

• Leadership, Collaboration Synergy in relation
  to other public land efforts to promote
  sustainable forestry
• Wood market assurances
• Legitimacy and confirmation of management
  practices by credible third-party organizations

CNNF 1.5 million acres
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Chain of Custody Participation

• Rapid Growth of Certified Product Lines is
  Boosting Demand!

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Certification is the High Road!
Aldo Leopold Legacy Center
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The Challenge

• At present, only about 12 of the WI forest is
  FSC certified.
• About 33 of the WI forest could be FSC/SFI
  certified if all public forests become dual
  certified.
• Any additional gain will need to come from
  private land.

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Certifying Wisconsins Private Forests

• Based on WI experience, there are three elements
  needed for success on a large scale
• Someone else will need to pay the cost of
  certification landowners wont
• Delivered by a trusted sponsor or program
• Immediate and tangible benefits

Initially, MFL fits the bill!
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Managed Forest Law

• Began in 1987, replacing previous incentive
  programs dating to 1928
• 25-50 year contract. 75 to 95 tax reduction.
• Management plan required
• Mandatory practices for harvests, water quality,
  regeneration, etc.
• 5 yield tax paid when timber is harvested
• Landowner can close up to 160 acres to public
  access remainder is open to access
• About 2 million acres of smaller family forests
  and 1 million acres of large ownerships

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MFL Group Certification
Step 1. ATFS and FSC Scoping Assessments for MFL
family forests were completed in March 2004.
Which Standard to Start With?
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MFL Group Certification
Step 2. With designation of the MFL-Tree Farm
Certified Group, Wisconsin has achieved the
Triple Crown of Forest Certification. WI
Governor Jim Doyle June 2005.
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MFL Group Certification

• Step 3. Achieve dual FSC-Tree Farm certification
  for MFL
• Only 587 landowners out of 42,000 MFLs have opted
  out of Tree Farm Group
• FSC step encouraged by the Council on Forestry to
  meet market demand

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MFL Group Certification

• FSC SmartWood field audit was completed March
  3-7, 2008
• Draft SmartWood report due by mid-May
• Final decision by summer 2008

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MFL Group Certification

• FSC 2008 Field Audit Details
• 68 MFL properties in 9 counties sampled
• 75 DNR Staff Interviewed
• 12 Cooperators Interviewed
• 12 Loggers Interviewed
• 6 Landowners Interviewed
• Over 650 mailed surveys pending

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MFL Group Certification

• Certification of an MFL Super Group could rock
  FSC but the outcome is far from certain.
• FSC indicators not well tuned to small private
  parcels Resolution of potential CARs will
  involve a lot of negotiation, but certification
  is within reach.

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MFL Group Certification

• How would FSC certification effect MFL Group
  Members?
• FSC prohibits some pesticides that are legal to
  use in Wisconsin
• Landowners might need to check if loggers have
  proper training and liability insurance

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MFL Group Certification

• How would FSC certification effect MFL Group
  Members?
• DNR may need to become more involved in active
  harvest monitoring
• Potential problems with older forestry plans
• Chain of Custody documentation could be tricky

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Examples of Poor Fit

• FSC auditors clinical application of existing
  standards can result in inefficiencies
• A
• B
• C

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FSC-US Family Forests Alliance

• Streamlining the FSC Criteria and Indicators for
  family forests in the U.S.
• and elsewhere

Karens Turn!