Impacts of the ISO 14000 management system on sustainable forest management in South Africa

Abstract

The implementation of the International Organization for Standards (ISO) series of environmental standards (ISO 14000) within the South African forestry industry will, over time, result in a forestry management standard equal to, or superior to, the levels demanded by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. This is despite the fact that the two systems have very different philosophies and starting points, and despite the fact that ISO does not impose any pre-defined performance levels that must be met. Two aspects within the ISO system and the environment in which forestry operates within South Africa are the reason for this. ISO, as a management system ensures that there is discipline over the management of environmental issues; it also uses systems approaches to ensure continuous improvement. The combination of the South African forestry and environmental policy, the fact that we have a strong environmental NGO sector, and the fact that South African forestry is plantation forestry are all issues that will lead to a unique ISO implementation within the country. ISO 14000 is not a product certification. As such it does not help companies market their products where ‘green labelling’ is becoming the norm. It is probably for this reason that ISO implementation is greater in companies supplying predominantly to the pulp and paper sector, with companies supplying hard wood timber to international markets opting for FSC. Unless market forces change, companies supplying saw timber will need a certification system other than ISO to satisfy market requirements. ISO may, however, still be implemented as a tool to reach and maintain other certification levels of environmental management. ISO and FSC are not competing systems, but rather complementary approaches. FSC does not require an ISO Environmental Management System (EMS), but does require that companies have an EMS system. ISO could be a powerful mechanism to help companies both achieve and maintain FSC certification