Results from workshop in Syktyvkar

The workshop is intended primarily for professionals responsible for certification of logging companies, but also be of interest to consultants, NGO representatives, auditors and anyone interested in voluntary forest certification.

Again, I'll repeat that it is a pity that there was no information or discussion about GIS technologies in forestry management. Though some representatives of huge logging companies said that they consider Geographic Information Systems as an important asset and mighty tool for reaching company's goals.

The main theme of the seminar was how to build a system of conservation, which combines all the environmental requirements of the Russian FSC Standard, such as:

• assessment of the impact on the environment;
• protection of rare and endangered species and their habitats;
• measures for the conservation of habitats of animals, referred to hunting;
• imitation of the natural dynamics of forests;
• program for the transition from large clearcuts to gradual and selection felling;
• identification and conservation of key habitats and key elements of the stand (on the plots);
• identification and preservation of representative (sites of reference) sites of ecosystems;
• maintenance of water conservation functions of forests;
• choice of method and time of harvesting, taking into account soil conditions to minimize soil erosion;
• identification of high conservation value forests and preservation of their features;
• monitoring the composition and observed changes in flora and fauna;
• monitoring of measures to conserve the characteristics of high conservation value forests.

The same attention was given not only to analysis of theoretical approaches to conservation, but also to such practical issues as:

• formulation of terms of reference for consultants;
• account of economic requirements for the development of environmental projects;
• application of scientific approaches in daily practice;
• staff training;
• application of GIS and satellite imagery in FSC forest certification (This was covered superficially).

There were representatives from two huge logging companies in Russia - Swedwood and Mondi, two employees of small local GIS consulting company, and one from SilverTaiga (local NGO).

To put it shortly, I was generally satisfied with the workshop and its results.
I anticipate we will hold events like this in future and attract even more participants from different geographical regions of Russia. I also hope that GIS topic will be included as 'MUST HAVE' in upcoming workshop's agenda.

 

Workshop at Syktyvkar

Our company holds a workshop about ecological aspects in FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) forest certification. It was scheduled to the 14...16th of December 2011.

The title of the workshop is "Implementing ecological aspects of FSC certification".

The most important thing is that there was a lecture about my passion - Modern GIS in forestry. And I would give a talk on this interesting topic.
BUT! It was canceled due to changes in seminar's agenda.

Anyways, I strongly consider that GIS technologies in FSC certification process (especially in ecological aspects) plays an important role. For example, it would be more difficult to prepare for an audit without a well-designed geographic information system. 

In long-term perspective, GIS system fully deployed in a FSC-enterprise would:

• rather reduce economic monetary expenditure,
• improve ecological sustainability in the region of forest harvesting,
• increase social prosperity.

 It is very sad that this particular workshop misses the rapport on GIS possibilities in FSC certification.

Self-improvement

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