Is there a difference between FSC and other certification systems?

FSC is not the only certification system on the market. But it is – and has been for almost 15 years – the only one that is widely accepted and that offers sufficient safeguards for sustainable forest management. This conclusion is substantiated by lots of research by NGO’s, scientists and governments. These documents as well as summaries can be found at www.whyfsc.com.

Precious Woods does not attach much value to legality certificates either. Legal logging is often just as destructive as illegal logging, as was recently clearly illustrated by the report Legal Forest Destruction (2006) of WWF Netherlands, Greenpeace Netherlands, FOE Netherlands, ICCO, NC-IUCN and NCIV. For more information: www.whyfsc.com

What is the difference between selective cutting and sustainable forestry?

The term "selective cutting" simply means that only a few high value trees are extracted. It does not indicate whether or not the felling and hauling practices employed minimize damage to the surrounding forest. On the contrary: it is clear that logging has often been carried out in a reckless manner, needlessly destroying a great deal of additional vegetation. For decades it was customary in Brazil, Africa and Asia to extract only the most valuable trees and to subsequently abandon the forest, together with the access tracks, to its fate.

In contrast, however, there is legitimate hope that sustainable forest management undertaken in accordance with the criteria of the FSC actually does ensure that the forest is preserved. What selective cutting and sustainable forestry both have in common is merely the relatively small amount of timber harvested. In every other respect they may be completely different.

An important aspect of FSC-certification is the application of Low Impact Logging methods. In sustainable forestry one must never harvest every single specimen of a valuable timber species. It is important to ensure that the species continues to exist and propagate. The survival of seed trees and the protection of young growth are central elements of sustainable forest management.

Why should one buy lesser-known species?

Up to now many companies operating in tropical forests have ruthlessly extracted - and continue to extract - only the best-known trees, thereby destroying the forests or leaving the way open for their destruction. In contrast, Precious Woods harvests more than 85 different timber species from its Brazilian forests.

In spite of the characteristics that make them very interesting for various applications, many species are still unknown in Europe. In close co-operation with many committed customers, Precious Woods Europe has successfully introduced new species of timber to the market for a variety of applications. Each new species introduced contributes to the economic viability of sustainable forest management and thus also to the preservation of the forests.

Three reasons to buy lesser-known species: