Geneva Awarded FSC Certification for its Forests
WWF - Forests For Life
December 4, 2000
Press Release
Geneva, Switzerland - WWF, the conservation organisation, today announced that the State of Geneva has certified 1,600 hectares of it forests under the Forest Stewardship Council's high environmental and social standards. This now brings the total certified area in Switzerland to more than 70,000 hectares.
Under the slogan "Geneva, let's leave our children oaks for the future!," the State government offered this FSC certification as a Gift to the Earth to symbolize joining others who have made similar efforts towards sustainable forest management worldwide. WWF's Director General, Claude Martin was present to accept this Gift to the Earth.
The presentation ceremony took place in the Environment House, the European Headquarters of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and home of the Geneva Environment Network. This network of UN agencies and NGOs briefs the Geneva based international community on Environmental issues. The presentation gave the network an opportunity to brief its public on the benefits of FSC certification among other issues.
As symbol of this Gift to the Earth, the Geneva Environment Minister, Robert Cramer, presented Claude Martin oak acorns that will be planted in several Swiss cities by local schoolchildren. Oak is the main tree species in Geneva and the emblem of its forests. "Certifying our forest is in line with our engagement for the common well being through the presence in Geneva of the United Nations, and especially of its Working Group on Indigenous People," stated Mr. Cramer "we see certification also as an act of solidarity with the communities fighting for a sustainable use of their traditional resources."
While the Swiss forest covers an average of 29% of the country, in Geneva it is a mere 10%. Half of it belongs to the State, 5% to municipalities and 45% is privately owned. The Geneva forest suffered many clear cuts in the past when firewood was badly needed. It was also exploited for acorns, which fed farm animals, and exploited for bark, which was used in the leather industry, an important activity in Geneva up to the nineteenth century.
"By choosing FSC certification, foresters ensure the sustainable use of their asset and add value to their production," said Damian Oettli, head of the Forest Campaign of WWF Switzerland. Due to the low prices of commodities, the Swiss forestry industry is losing an average 20 to 30 Swiss francs (12 to 16 US dollars) on each felled cubic meter of wood. In Geneva, the value added by the FSC certification will cover the management cost of the forest, even though it markets only a small amount of wood.
The Sate of Geneva is inviting the other forest owners to certify their property and have created a counseling structure that offers municipalities and private owners a simple access to forest certification.
For further information, please contact:
Michel Chevallier, communication officer, WWF Switzerland, phone +4122 939 39 74, email: michel.chevallier@wwf.ch
Notes to the Editors :
1. Geneva is the fifth Swiss canton to certify its forest this year, after Solothurn, Aargau, Zürich and Graübunden and more cantons are now considering forest certification with the FSC.
2. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the international organisation co-ordinating the independent certification of good forest management. Visit the FSC web site for more information: http://www.fscoax.org
3. For more information on WWF and FSC visit WWF's Forests for Life web site : http://www.panda.org/forests4life