August 15, 2000
Letter to the Editor of the New York Times
"Clarification regarding FSC certification status of Mendocino Redwoods Company"
On August 15, the organization, Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap ran a full-page ad in which it was stated that Mendocino Redwoods Company's (MRC) "unsustainable forestry practices were denied certification by two separate evaluation teams from the independent Forest Stewardship Council." We wish to clarify the record.
First, there are not two separate evaluation teams. Under the aegis of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), MRC is in the process of being evaluated by a joint team of experts affiliated with both SmartWood and Scientific Certification Systems. This unusual step of engaging a joint evaluation team should be construed as a willingness of MRC to undergo scrutiny within the framework of voluntary, third-party certification.
Second, the certification events related to MRC that have occurred to date cannot be construed as conclusive one way or the other regarding the "sustainability" of the MRC management practices. The certification evaluation process is ongoing and the final outcome has yet to be determined. While MRC did not attain certification during the initial round of evaluations (a not uncommon occurrence), the reasons for that initial outcome should not be construed as a blanket indictment. MRC remains engaged in the process and is addressing issues raised in the initial evaluation. The evaluation process will resume later this summer.
Times' readers should be aware that MRC is voluntarily pursuing certification according to the standards and protocols of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC label on timber and timber products is a guarantee for consumers that the forest where the wood originated was evaluated and certified to be managed according to the highest standards of responsible forestry.
Hank Cauley, Executive Director
Forest Stewardship Council - U.S. (www.fscus.org)
Richard Donovan, Director,
SmartWood (www.smartwood.org)
Robert Hrubes, Senior Vice President,
Scientific Certification Systems (www.scscertified.com)
New York Times advertisement
Readers should visit www.fscus.org to learn more about the Forest Stewardship Council.
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