The seminar took place in Křtiny Castle near FSC-certified forest ŠLP Křtiny in November. FSC shared its national strategy to increase forest certification in the Czech Republic. Presenters showed the benefits of FSC certification for forest biodiversity and ecosystem stability, management requirements of FSC standards. They also highlighted the market benefits of FSC certification for forest owners, their customers, and wood product manufacturers.
Participants engaged across the supply chain, and discussed challenges, barriers, successes, and opportunities of FSC certification. The event followed a workshop earlier this year that addressed concerns from foresters about the benefits of FSC certification. Since then, FSC has certified an additional 2,500 ha and engaged seven new owners in the FSC Czech Republic group certificate.
FSC Czech Republic and the New Approaches for Smallholders and Communities Certification project will offer a joint training session in mid-2019. The training will focus on how to practice responsible forest management as a group to achieve the benefits of FSC certification.
To reach the FSC national representative in the Czech Republic, please contact Tomáš Duda at tomas.duda@czechfsc.cz.
For more information regarding the New Approaches project, please contact Vera Santos, Project Manager, at v.santos@fsc.org.