Published 05-04-15
Submitted by SCS Global Services
(Marketwired) - Leading third-party certifier and environmental standards developer SCS Global Services (SCS) announced that it has successfully completed an independent trial of Colombia's new national legally harvested wood verification standard. Once the verification program takes full effect, forest managers will be required to demonstrate that their timber operations comply with all national regulations for forest management and harvesting practices, and that products from these forests and plantations can be accurately tracked through the supply chain.
CARDER (La Corporación Autonoma Regional de Risaralda) selected SCS, an expert in forest management standards development and certification, to guide the development of the Colombian legally harvested wood verification standard, and to conduct the independent trial assessment. In February, SCS tested the standard by auditing three separate Forest Management Units and three forest product businesses, all located in the Department of Risaralda, Paisa Region. The final audit report was issued in late March.
"We congratulate Colombia on the development of this standard, and on completing the trial testing -- an important step toward ensuring that its forests and plantations are managed in accordance with clear legal standards," said Robert J. Hrubes, SCS Executive Vice President. "Tropical forests in Colombia are extremely rich in biodiversity, play a vital role in sequestering carbon, and are integral to the economic health and well-being of the country."
The verification program is part of an agreement between Colombia and the European Union (EU) that guarantees technical and financial support to the agency responsible for Forestry Governance in Colombia. Under a grant from the EU, a new Colombian standard for legal forestry was developed, along with legal instruments to provide a mechanism to assure compliance with this standard.
"We have appreciated SCS' knowledge and technical expertise during this entire process, and are very pleased with the progress achieved through the completion of the trial studies," said Rubén Darío Moreno, CARDER spokesperson. "This stage in the program's development was essential to demonstrate that our verification mechanisms could be independently corroborated, both at the level of forest operations and downstream in the chain of custody."
Verification of conformance to legal harvest protocols is increasingly sought by forest product customers around the world. The Colombian initiative will help assure that products from this region continue to have full access to world markets.
About SCS Global Services
SCS Global Services (SCS) has been providing global leadership in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for three decades. Programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in green building, manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, and more. SCS is a Certified B Corporation™, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. www.scsglobalservices.com, FSC license code FSC-A000521
About CARDER
CARDER is the lead governmental agency in the Department of Risaralda responsible for environmental protection. Among its areas of responsibility are forestry practices, water concession grants, management and control of materials coming from rivers and streams, control of water and industrial pollution, permits, waste management in major municipal cities, supervision of tree plantations, and sanitation.
SCS is a leading third-party provider of certification, auditing and testing services, and standards, founded in 1984. Our goal is to recognize the highest levels of performance in food safety and quality, environmental protection and social responsibility in the private and public sectors, and to stimulate continuous improvement in sustainable development.
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