Grave concern on timber certification linking to foreign control body

Conditions set by Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme for export of timber a big constraint to development of timber industry in the state

KUCHING: Members of Sarawak Timber Association (STA) express grave concern over the recent call by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on all state governments to adhere to conditions set under Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) in harvesting and export of timber.

The STA members said the development of the state’s timber industry will be constrained under MTCS as it was endorsed by Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification ( PEFC) in 2009 thus placing it under the rules of this international certification scheme and

Invariably as an international scheme, its principles and criteria are multi-faceted and complex, spreading over a wide spectrum of stakeholders’ interests. As a result, it goes beyond the interests of the timber industry in Sarawak.

detrimental to the wellbeing and autonomy of the timber industry in Sarawak.

MTCS started off as a Malaysiandeveloped forest certification scheme by Malaysian Timber Certification Council ( MTCC) in 2001 to facilitate Forest Management Certification (FMC) and chain of custody certification by independent certification bodies.

In fundamental and practical sense, FMC embraces legality, and sustainability of the timber resources with due care to either minimize or have a positive impact on the forest environment, its inhabitants, flora and fauna amid viable economic/commercial activities.

MT CC first sought and subsequent ly obtained an endorsement by PEFC of its certification standard for natural forest in 2009.

PEFC which originated from Europe ( now based in Geneva, Switzerland) was established in 1999 and currently has 46 members, including major members such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Japan, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, New Zealand and Russia whereas MTCC, established in 1998, is Malaysia’s own national certification organisation in charge of developing, operating and periodically reviewing the Standards under MTCS.

PEFC is one of the two better known international certification schemes. The other one is Forest Stewardship Council( FSC) . Invariably as an international scheme, its principles and criteria are multi- faceted and complex, spreading over a wide spectrum of stakeholders’ interests. As a result, it goes beyond the interests of the timber industry in Sarawak.

MTCC’s quest to seek endorsement by PEFC for its timber certificating scheme was a short cut or tag along strategy to attain recognition in the same markets or countries as those that accept PEFC.

However, STA members pointed out that like any short cut or tag along approach, there was a price attached.

“In this case, MTCS lost its identity and ownership by default in its certification stewardship and instead surrender itself to domination by international bodies with wider spectrum of interest and agendas.

“At this point, the obvious difference is that our imminent and meaningful objective is to achieve market recognition of our sustainable forest management through the effort of FMC. PEFC on the other hand emphasise on environment and social principles above economic viability, “the members added.

STA members

They added that while it was important to exert sound forestry practices and strive for every opportunity to do so, it was equally important to defend the nation’s integrity on how to manage or use our forests and our land.

By disqualifying any tree plantation area after 2010 is a glaring example of blatant disregard of our effort to preserve our natural forest through replacement by trees from planted forests.

The members wanted all local stakeholders to strive for good forestry practices including sustainability, environment and social wellbeing and do so equitably in a transparent and accountable manner without jumping on to and let the bandwagon lead us.

“To put it bluntly, our interest is to achieve sustainable forest activities giving due and equal regard to legality, sustainability of timber resources, environmental and social wellbeing amidst economic viability,” said the STA members.

PEFC on the other hand emphasizes precedently on conservation and social aspects. Our interest is to co- exist whereas PEFC is a containment approach.

For example, under PEFC, no forest plantation established after 2010 will be allowed irrespectively. Yet certification is not the commandment for forest sustainable management. Certification is a voluntary initiative anticipating added benefits of market access and share.

Certification alone will not increase the value and quality of timber as explained by the minister.

Furthermore, the minister misunderstood that market requires certified timber, when in actual fact these markets only require legal timber.

These markets had enacted their lawsbasedonregulatoryframework in the country of harvest, to ensure that only legal timber can be imported, namely the US Lacey Act 2008, European Union Timber Regulation 2013, Australia Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 and Japan’s Promotion of the Use and Distribution of Legally Harvested Timber and Timber Products (in short known as Clean Wood Act).

In Sarawak, the government has established extensively the Sarawak Timber Legality Verification System (STLVS) and various efforts, enactments and laws to administer the wellbeing of our environment and social justice system.

It is important to conserve the ownership to our land and its resources and steer our destiny to meet the need of our people and our future generation instead of joining the bandwagon.