The outcome of the follow-up audit conducted in February by the certification firm SGS of SCA’s forestry operations, is that SCA will continue to be FSC certified. During an audit last autumn, SCA was cited for deficiencies in nature conservation, among other comments. A follow-up audit shows that these shortcomings are rectified or are in the process of being corrected.
”It is positive that the measures we have taken have yielded results,” says Jerker Karlsson, President of SCA Skog. ”However, I wish to emphasize that we have only just started work that is far from completed. We will ensure that we have a high and uniform level of quality in terms of nature conservation in our forestry operations and that we fulfill the commitments we have made.”
A number of shortcomings were noted in the FSC audit during the autumn, which demanded an extra follow-up audit within three months. The requirements for systematic work environment efforts for temporary silviculture personnel had not been fulfilled and biodiversity value trees had been felled. Both of these deficiencies had been noted in earlier audits. Should these deficiencies not have been corrected, SCA’s FSC certificate would have been suspended. In addition to this, adequate nature conservation in final fellings had been lacking in other respects.
The follow-up audit included random sample inspection of ongoing felling sites and interviews with field personnel. Since silviculture work is not performed during winter, the audit could only ensure that routines and instructions were posted during their follow-up. A regular FSC audit this summer will check to ensure that they are actually being followed. The auditors have in their sample not noted any felled biodiversity value trees, why they regard this deficiency as rectified. SCA’s measures regarding other shortcomings in nature conservation in final fellings will be checked again during the regular FSC audit the coming
summer.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international organization aimed at supporting development of responsible forest management worldwide. The FSC has developed principles and criteria for responsible forest management, which are monitored by independent certification companies. SGS Qualifor is the auditing firm that is monitoring SCA’s fulfillment of the FSC standard.
SGS Sweden's Result of FSC audit (PDF)
Sundsvall, 25 February 2008
SCA SKOG AB
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