Formulation of a National Code of Practice (CoP) for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in Suriname

Until now the Suriname forest sector (both commercial loggers and community based forestry) lacks an appropriate set of rules and regulations for sustainable forest use and management.

Although there are provisions in the Forest Management Act, bylaws and guidelines to promote Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), the sustainability of timber harvesting and forest use (both commercial and at community level) is still hard to assess. Formulating and implementing a CoP will provide a 'reference' for sustainability, offering both commercial loggers and forest based communities clear and practical guidelines for forest operations and offering the authorities a tool for enforcing and monitoring sustainable forest management. Together with the earlier TBI Suriname project on the ‘definition of legality’ (2007) this CoP creates a solid base for (step wise) full SFM certification.

This present project aims at the formulation of the CoP and will gradually develop during which the following phases can be distinguished:

1.  Agreement among partners and stakeholders on the project, process and expected product(s); the 'kick-off' workshop,
2. Based on desk research, national, regional and international literature review; the formulation of a first draft of the CoP,
3. The identification of 'knowledge gaps', guiding the need for additional field research and practical scale testing, and
4. The enactment of the first draft and successive versions of the CoP.

Communication, capacity building and extension/awareness are core issues during the whole formulation process.

Both commercial loggers and forest dependent communities will directly benefit from improved and SFM. Not only does a 'workable' CoP ensure sustainable resource use, it may also create new possibilities for improved livelihoods and poverty alleviation.

If well structured, a CoP is not only a set of guidelines for wise forest utilization but also a tool to communicate this with markets (marketing tool). In this sense the CoP will sustain existing markets and create new ones. Both private and public actors will benefit from this.

Objectives 

The objective of the project is the formulation of a draft national Code of Practice for sustainable forest management and forest utilization, based on all relevant national legislation and international treaties, concepts of the CELOS Management System and the results of the previous Tropenbos 'legality' project (2007).

Duration

14 months (till July 2011)

Expected outputs /results

Deliverables by the end of the project are:

• A consensus based (draft) Code of Practice for sustainable forest management;
• Research and practical testing supports the practical use and socio-economic viability of the CoP;
• The CoP is embedded in the conditions under which timber licenses and concessions are granted;
• A consensus based system of enforcement, verification and monitoring is in place;
• Adequate capacity (knowledge and skills) is developed in the public and private sector and within communities in order to make the CoP contribute to sustainable forest management.

Implementing Partners

Foundation for Forest Management and Production Control (SBB) [8]