Dear Stakeholder
Re: Stakeholder Consultation for re-certification of forest management practices carried out by Coillte Teoranta Irish Forestry Board (SA-FM/COC-00706). Sites to be visited this year have yet to be selected (suggestions welcome).
I am writing on behalf of Woodmark, the Soil Association's forest certification programme. The Woodmark forest certification programme is accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to evaluate forest management against the FSC's internationally recognised set of principles and criteria for responsible forest management.
These principles and criteria provide a definition of socially beneficial, environmentally appropriate and economically viable forestry which aim to encourage responsible forest management. Forests that meet the standard can then promote their products with the FSC Logo – you may have seen this on wood and paper products in DIY stores and supermarkets. More information about FSC is available via their web site www.fsc.org.
As part of our forest management evaluation, we aim to contact people and organisations who may have an interest in or be affected by the forest management practices under assessment. We use both positive and negative comments to inform the certification process. We would very much like to hear your views on forest management practices carried out by Coillte Teoranta Irish Forestry Board. In addition we welcome your comments on the Forest Management Standard that we will be using during the assessment and how these apply to the region. For this evaluation we will be using the Woodmark Generic Standard Adapted for use in Ireland (v7.0; 2010). A copy of this is available at www.soilassociation.org/woodmark.
Comments must be submitted using the questionnaire by the 14th March 2011 if they are to be taken into account in the evaluation. All comments remain anonymous though a summary of the main issues raised by consultees and how they are addressed will be presented in the certification report. The report can be accessed at www.soilassociation.org/woodmark once the evaluation is complete. You may also submit comments to the FSC National Initiative in Ireland who can be contacted via www.irishforestcertification.com.
If you know of any other organisations or individuals that you think would be willing to act as consultees please let us know. Thank you in advance for your help.
Yours faithfully
Gus Hellier
Certification Manager
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Soil Association Woodmark, Bristol, UK
+44 (0) 117 9142435
www.soilassociation.org/woodmark
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(See attached file: 2011-01 Stakeholder Consultation Form.doc)
Feb 2, 2011
FSC Stakeholder consultation - Coillte Teoranta Irish Forestry Board
