ORGANIZATIONS FROM 8 COUNTRIES DEMAND THE FSC TO WITHDRAW CERTIFICATES

South Africa - Letter for the de-certification of FSC certified plantations in South Africa

We the undersigned wish to register our concern over the certification of tree plantations by the FSC, which has granted a green label to monoculture plantations that have proven to be socially and environmentally destructive.

We are aware that the FSC is carrying out a review of its plantation certification policy, and it is our hope that the result of this process will be an end to the certification of these types of plantations by the FSC in the future.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that the FSC has already certified large areas of monoculture tree plantations in South Africa, and we believe that their certification should be re-assessed as part of the current review process in order to determine whether they deserve to keep the FSC label.

There are well-documented cases of plantations that never should have received this label and clearly merit de-certification.

As proof that the current review process is genuinely aimed at a profound change in plantation policy, environmental and community based organizations world wide are calling for the immediate de-certification of industrial timber plantations that blatantly violate the FSC’s mission.

We therefore demand the immediate de-certification of all industrial timber plantations in South Africa which have been inappropriately certified by the FSC.

There are 24 FSC certificates in South Africa, and a total area of 1.665.418 ha certified. Some of the largest certified companies include Global Forest Products, Komatiland Forests, Mondi, NCT Forestry and Sappi Forests. For a complete list visit www.fsc.org


Sincerely,

Philip Owen
GeaSphere S,A,

Glen Ashton
Ekogaia Foundation
Cape Town, S.A.

Patrick Bond
Professor, University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Development Studies and Director, Centre for Civil Society
Durban, S.A.

David Hallowes
Grahamstown, SA.

Francis Darvell
Five Assegais Country Estate
Machadodorp, S.A.

Wally Menne
TimberWatch Coalition
Durban, S.A.

Desmond D'Sa
SDCEA Chairperson
Durban, S.A.

Prof. A.E. van Wyk
Department of Botany
University of Pretoria, S.A.

George Dor
Jubilee S.A.
Johannesburg

Eben Cilliers
GeaSphere
Nelspruit, S.A.

Dr Bob de Laborde
Hilton, S.A.

Nicole Hemphill
GeaSphere
Nelspruit, S.A.

Bobby Peek
GroundWork
Pietermaritzburg, S.A.

Vera Ribeiro
GeaSphere Mozambique
Maputo, Mozambique

Sandile Ndawonde
Green Network
PieterMaritzburg, S.A.

Owen Wiggins
Nelspruit, SA

David Fig
Johannesburg, S.A.

Liane Greeff
Environmental Monitoring Group
Cape Town, S.A.

Fred Daniel
Nkomazi Wilderness
Badplaas, S.A.

Bryan Ashe
Earthlife Africa eThekwini
Durban, S.A.

Jean Moore
AlienPlantWatch
Durban, South Africa

Cecil Moore
WESSA Durban Branch
Durban, RSA

Christina Potgieter
NU Herbarium, University of KwaZulu-Natal,
Pietermaritzburg, S.A.

Peter Hitchins
Meerensee, S.A.

Harald Witt (PhD)
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, S.A.

Stephan Schoeman
Nelspruit, S.A.

Rose Williams
Durban, S.A.

John Blessing Karumbidza
Timberwatch Coalition
KZN S.A.

Peter Hitchins
Meerensee, S.A.

Leigh Voight
Schagen, S.A.

Philip and Laura-ann Keates
Kilmorna Manor
Schoemanskloof, S.A.

Muzi Mdamba
Empangeni, S.A.

Anabela Lemos
Director, JA! Justica Ambiental
Maputo, Mozambique

Patrick Dowling
WESSA:WC
Cape Town, S.A.

Prof Ben C W van der Waal
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Venda, Thohoyandou, S.A.

Helen Duigan
Rhenosterspruit Conservancy
Gauteng, S.A.

J.W.Hayward
Parkmore, S.A..