“What would certification mean – Experiences with other environmental certification systems”Prof. Dr. H. Vogtmann, President of theGerman Federal Agency forNature Conservation

What does certification mean?

The aims of certification

guarantee a certain (high) quality incl. environmental quality

improve quality

attract new resources by a high quality image:

new visitors and guestsnew customers of PA-products and services

additional public finance

new local entrepreneurs

new sponsors

What might be certified?

Objects of certification

Products and goods (incl. natural goods)

services

German „Blue Angel“, „green“ electricity, organic food, regional products e.g. from nature parks or biosphere reserves, protected areas

production processes

management systems

private and public-private partnerships / decision structures

Examples

in general and for PAs

Organic farming, forestry according to FSC criteria „Green“ financial services, ecologically sound tourism, fundraising organisations

Environmental management (i.e. ISO 14000, EMAS), quality management (i.e. ISO 9 000)

European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas

Elements of certificationElements of a promising certification process

widely acknowledged criteria

active marketing

independent examination

acceptable certification costs

Certification and PAs

Two examples:

                                                                  

Forest Stewardship Council:

Certification for timber and timber products

Certification for sustainable tourism development

FSC - Certification

Forest Stewardship Council : international non-profit organisation to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests.

international labeling scheme on timber and timber products, guarantees that the product comes from a well-managed forest.

independent certification of forest products as coming from forests that meet the internationally recognized FSC Principles and Criteria of Forest Stewardship (including general conservation aspects).

development of national and local standards that implement the international Principles and Criteria of Forest Stewardship at the local level.

Certified Forest SitesCertified Forest Sites endorsed by FSC (30.08.2002)

European Charter for sustainable tourism

A valuable and practical tool for ensuring that tourism development in PAs is sustainable:

5-year commitment to further that cooperation and to implement agreed joint actions with their partners

NOT: a quality label nor a conventional partnership agreement, but a combination of both

Awarded by EUROPARC Federation

PA demonstrates that it is cooperating with local stakeholders and tourism partners (permanent structure)

The Charter-Process

Agreement to the principles of sustainable tourism development

5-year-Action Plan and Strategy for sustainable tourism in the PA

Verification by the Charter Evaluation Committee

Assessment and evaluation of tourism in the protected area

Award of the CharterFocus: Participation of all relevant stakeholders

Opportunities of certification in PAs

financially self-supporting (partly or completely)

widely acknowledged

criteria

independent examination

active marketing

confidence

acceptance

enhancing protection activities

assisting sustainable economic

development

Up from September 9th onwww.bfn.de

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“What would certification mean – Experiences with other environmental certification systems”