Collaborating under the name of PAFC Congo Basin, our members for the Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Gabon have jointly developed the regional forest certification system.
This system is the first to contain two new requirements linked to current climate issues: the mapping of the carbon stock in a forest, and a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions assessment linked to forestry operations.
Born during the standard development process, the innovative requirements are a response to the new expectations that companies and forests owners are facing.
From theory to practice
Forestry and environment consulting firm TEREA, supported by the PPECF and PEFC, has developed a methodology to map the carbon stock in a forest, as well as an audit tool for GHG emissions, to help forestry companies meet the two requirements introduced in the PAFC standard.
The first tool is a methodology allowing companies to map the estimated aerial carbon stocks of their forest, identify particularly important carbon stocks, and establish a quantification of GHG emissions from their forestry activities. The second one is an Excel-based calculator to estimate the GHG emissions balance of forestry companies.
Both tools have been designed to be easy to use, and mostly use information that foresters are already collecting, to keep the additional work to a minimum.
A hotline will be put in place to support the companies in the use of those tools, verify the information and help with the interpretation of the results.
Further information on the new tools can be requested at coordination@pafc-certification.org or thomas.seyvet@pefc.org.
Better together
Our national members for Cameroon, Congo, and Gabon joined forces under the name of PAFC Congo Basin to develop this regional certification system. The shared language and the similar forestry conditions in the three neighbouring countries enables them to share one system.
By developing a regional system, our members can maximise their impact and reach, share resources and knowledge, and reduce the costs in developing and running a forest certification system.
- By PEFC International, a leading global alliance of national forest certification systems.
