Felicity Henman-Weir inspects operational plans in-field while conducting an FM audit. Image © Warren Nelson.

The first draft National FSC Standard has been released for public consultation and can be downloaded HERE. This is the first phase of a of a 6-month consultation period – download the timetable HERE or view it in our previous SDGSA News post.

The consultation period for Version1.0 is 4 January to 29 February 2016.

Explaining the draft standard and how to give feedback

The draft SA indicators are listed under the international FSC Principles and Criteria version 5.  Each Principle is on a separate TAB (P1-P10) in the excel file.

The SDG invites comments and inputs on the draft indicators from all interested and affected people. You may:

1. Provide feedback in writing, either directly on the excel sheet in the column headed COMMENTS (Column E) or in an email to the SDG Co-ordinator or your chamber representative.

2. Get in touch with your Chamber representative/s on the SDG to arrange direct engagement on the draft Standard.

SDG-SA Members

Environment
David Lindley
dlindley@wwf.org.za
(083) 222 9155

Steven Germishuizen
steve@aes.co.za
(082) 824 5242

Economic
David Everard
David.Everard@sappi.com
(083) 229 2855

Karen Kirkman
gecko@net4all.co.za
(082) 808 9977

Social
Cathy Sutherland
Sutherlandc@ukzn.ac.za
(083) 382 7274

Jeanette Clarke
SDG Coordinator
SDGSAinfo@gmail.com
(082) 453 9800

Note that the international FSC v5 Principles and Criteria are not subject to consultation during this national consultation process. Please restrict your comments to the draft SA indicators.

Explaining how the draft indicators were developed

• For each Principle, define meaning and intent of each criterion (between 4 and 10 criteria per principle).
• Interpret criterion for SA conditions and translate it into language that we are familiar with in South Africa.
• Conduct risk assessment where relevant. Decide what are the most important elements of each principle and its criteria in the SA context and describe the risks and opportunities for improvement. Analysis of drivers.
• Develop indicators that talk to the SA interpretation of the criterion.
• See if there is an IGI that is equivalent.
• Write justification if IGI is not used or modified.
• Write guidance for application where necessary. Must clarify terms, put the issue in perspective (get the emphasis right), define what constitutes compliance or otherwise.

Further information and resources:

For further detail on these steps refer to the following:

The FSC International Generic Indicators (IGI) that form the basis for the national indicators. Click on the IGI link provided on this page: http://igi.fsc.org/approved-documents.60.htm

The risk assessment that informs the selection and wording of the draft national indicators can be downloaded HERE. Comments and inputs to the risk assessment are also invited. If you would like to discuss the risk assessment approach or outcome directly, please contact Steven Germishuizen on steve@aes.co.za.

An overview of the SA FSC National Standards transfer process can be downloaded HERE.