FSC’s Smallholder Fund is part of FSC’s commitment to provide access and support for smallholders and community forests. The fund goes towards helping small and community forests with preparing for FSC Certification, compliance with FSC’s Principles & Criteria, enhancing supply chain management and improving market access for FSC-certified products.
Scott Davis, Project Coordinator of the EOMF certification program outlined the importance of the certification. “Demand for certified forest products derived from community forests in southern Ontario is increasing. Buyers of timber are actively seeking certified credits to market and sell wood products.
The certification of GSCA’s forests will complement a growing network of certified forests forming across the landscape of southern Ontario under the EOMF’s Forest Certification.”
The EOMF’s Forest Certification Program extends across southern Ontario and includes private forest owners, community forests and urban forests, totaling more than 75,000 hectares. GSCA is the EOMF’s second certificate to achieve FSC-certification with assistance of the FSC Smallholder Fund.
In EOMF’s press release, Anne Lennox, Forestry & Wildlife coordinator for GSCA indicated that certification is a credible tool to implement diverse forestry objectives. “GSCA is the 4th largest Conservation Authority in Ontario, in terms of land base, and we actively manage our forests. Certification will provide assurance to local residents that we are operating to a recognized standard. It is important to demonstrate that our conservation authority lands are being managed to a set of Principles that have been tested worldwide.”
GSCA manages 11,450 hectares of land in Grey and Bruce Counties comprised of multiple tracts that include wetlands, natural forests, and plantations. GSCA’s mission, in partnership with the stakeholders of the watershed, is to promote and undertake sustainable management of renewable natural resources and to provide responsible leadership to enhance biodiversity and environmental awareness.
For more information on the EOMF forest certification program contact Scott Davis at (613) 258-8422 or sdavis@eomf.on.ca or visit www.eomf.on.ca
[Source: EOMF]