【News】Aligning with Global Standards: The Only University in Taiwan Certified for International Forest Management

• category : Activity
• date : 2024-12-11
• views : 46

The Experimental Forest Management Office of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) oversees four experimental forests: Huisun Forest, Xinhua Forest, Dongshi Forest, and Wenshan Forest. These forests primarily serve as sites for teaching, experiments, and research, while adhering to sustainable forest management practices, respecting ecological systems, and fulfilling the university’s social responsibilities. To achieve the goal of sustainable forest management, the office has integrated the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system to ensure its practices align with internationally recognized principles and standards for sustainable forest management.

Upholding the Principles of Sustainable Forest Management
In alignment with the Forest Principles established during the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Experimental Forest Management Office began implementing FSC’s 10 principles at the end of 2022. This involved training personnel across the office and its forests, applying FSC standards to on-site operations, establishing monitoring systems, and implementing necessary adjustments. The office also revised and innovated its internal operations to create systematic procedures and forms, enabling effective application of sustainable forestry practices. This approach strengthens its ability to identify and address operational challenges, fostering a feedback mechanism for continuous improvement.

Achieving FSC Certification
On March 11, 2024, the Experimental Forest Management Office officially applied for certification from Preferred by Nature, an independent third-party certification body. From May 8 to May 10, 2024, the certification body conducted a comprehensive three-day audit led by Audit Team Leader Pratama Bagus Kurniaji. The results confirmed that the forest management practices of the office and its experimental forests met FSC’s international standards for Forest Management (FM), earning NCHU the FSC Forest Management certificate. The certification acknowledges the office's responsible and sustainable forest management, which adheres to international standards.

Advancing Sustainable Forest Management
With the FSC Forest Management certification, NCHU will continue to uphold international FSC standards while enhancing the operational performance of its Experimental Forest Management Office. Moving forward, the university aims to further align its forest management practices with global standards, achieving the dual goals of ecological conservation and community well-being. Additionally, NCHU will extend ESG-related services to businesses, contributing to the global effort for sustainable environmental development.

As a next step, the university plans to pursue FSC Chain of Custody (COC) certification. This certification will enable NCHU to provide certified forest products and serve as a model for establishing sustainable production and supply systems for forest products in Taiwan, driving sustainable development across the industry.

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• ： https://www2.nchu.edu.tw/en-news-detail/id/985/title/Aligning_with_Global_Standards:_The_Only_University_in_Taiwan_Certified_for_International_Forest_Management

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