FSC approves risk assessment for Chilean plantations

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has approved a national risk assessment for sourcing FSC Controlled Wood from plantations in Chile.

The risk assessment will be mandatory for all companies sourcing FSC Controlled Wood from any Chilean plantation.

Chile currently has 2.1 million ha of exotic species forest plantations, but FSC said enforcement body the National Forestry Corporation did not have the necessary financial or human resources to sufficiently enforce forestry-related legislation.

FSC looked at plantations by county level, rather than regional or national level as they were easier to identify, evaluate and monitor and would confer uniformity to the risk assessments.

Companies which have already conducted risk assessments for Chilean plantations will have up to 12 months after approval to align their Controlled Wood programme to the new requirements.

FSC Chile is also developing a national risk assessment for natural forests.

For more information on the risk level of plantation wood in different counties, visit www.fsc.org.