Pefc Council  General Assembly

Last October 4 to 6, Pefc (www.pefc.it) held the 11th general assembly, with delegates from over 32 national forest certification schemes. The most important decision was the approval of the strategic plan for the next five years, the result of one year of consulting and following developments among members. PEFC expects that over the next ten years 45% of the world’s industrial roundwood capacity will be certified as coming from sustainably managed forests (currently 25%), whereby Pefc will account for 60% of certified wood. Certification is expected to develop most in Russia, Asia, South America and Africa. The Sociedad de Productores Forestales del Uruguay was unanimously accepted as a new national member of the Pefc Council, while the Cameroon and Holland schemes will only be accepted after both countries have met all requirements to become members. The Italian certification scheme for the sustainable management of poplar cultivation will be evaluated by postal vote by all Pefc members; the voting results will be communicated before Christmas.