How to Choose Responsibly Sourced Forest Products at Your Zoo Or Aquarium
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A short guide How to choose responsibly sourced forest products at your zoo or aquarium Compiled by a sub-group of the WAZA Conservation and Environmental Sustainability Committee. Contents Background 4 Implementing an institutional policy for 6 responsibly sourced forest products A policy template for your organisation 9 Main forest-sourced products at zoos 13 and aquariums Responsibly sourced forest products audit 13 Communication 14 Creating partnerships 14 How to overcome some of the reported barriers 16 Engaging visitors and promoting change 18 Already sustainably sourcing - what more can 20 your zoo or aquarium do? Additional resources 23 Contributors Aim of this short guide Elaine Bensted This short guide was compiled (Zoos South Australia) by a sub-group of the World Association of Zoos and Becca Hanson Aquariums (WAZA) Conservation (Studio Hanson/Roberts) and Environmental Sustainability Committee to help WAZA Karen Fifield members understand and (Wellington Zoo Trust) support the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) / Gavrielle Kirk-Cohen Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) (WAZA Executive Office) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding sourcing paper Paula Cerdán and wooden products. Regardless (WAZA Executive Office) of the location of your zoo or aquarium, or the size of your Design and layout by budget, this guide contains simple Ryan Thomas steps to help you start changing (Zoos South Australia) the way your organisation sources A woman enjoys the serenity of a forest. forest products. We also drew inspiration and Photo © Parque das Aves material from two documents: • The WAZA Short Guide How to reduce single-use plastic at your zoo or aquarium • The BIAZA Forest Zoos Pack. Front cover photo © kazuend on Unsplash 2 3 Background Each institution relies on the use of wood Who determines what is “sustainable”? Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) FSC-certified forests must be managed to the highest products for construction projects, food Many timber and paper suppliers promote that You will hear a lot about FSC in this guide. The Forest environmental and social standards. Trees that are services, office supplies, veterinary care their products are from “sustainable” or “managed” Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international, non- harvested are replanted or allowed to regenerate sources, but it can be challenging for individuals and governmental organisation dedicated to promoting naturally. The forests must be managed with due and furnishings. These days, much of it businesses to verify these claims. An independent, responsible management of the world’s forests. The respect for the environment, the wildlife and the is composed of recycled fibres or boards international certification system is one way of FSC certification scheme sets the highest standards people who live and work in them. FSC is the only but, at some point, all wood products providing greater certainty that you are doing for forest management. Products made with FSC- forest certification scheme endorsed by the WWF. In started as a tree growing in a forest or a everything possible to source forest products certified wood and/or paper can be purchased from many ways, the FSC could be considered as similar to managed woodlot. As zoos and aquariums responsibly. No system is perfect, and no system FSC-certified companies or identified by FSC labels. the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). is without its critics, but WAZA is confident that its are concerned about the state of the MoU with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) FSC has developed a system of forest certification The role of zoos and aquariums forest habitats that are home to many of provides a way forward for WAZA members on an and product labelling that enables people to easily Zoos and aquariums have a critical role to play in our cherished wildlife species, how do we internationally audited basis. identify responsibly sourced wood, paper and other the conservation of biodiversity and wildlife, both make choices in a way that multiplies our forest products. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the field and in their own facilities. They also individual impact? Conservation is a ripple effect. Imagine the recognises them as the “hallmark of responsible strive to engage people on the need to protect the immediate and positive impact that 7 billion forest management.” ecosystems upon which wildlife depends. With this The importance of forests “ humans could have if we made the simple in mind, the zoo and aquarium community should Forests are home to 80% of the world’s remaining switch to sustainable consumerism. One An FSC label on a wood or wood-based product actively champion the appropriate use of sustainably terrestrial biodiversity. Additionally, around 1.6 way to help us conserve wild chimpanzees, assures that it is made with, or contains, wood that sourced paper and wood products. We should also billion people rely on forests for shelter, livelihoods, gorillas and their forest homes is to only buy comes from FSC-certified forests or recycled sources, aim to raise awareness of how the daily decisions water, food and fuel security, including 300 million products with the FSC label. and that its chain of custody can be traced. Some of every individual, including our staff, visitors and people who live in forests, 70 million of whom are non-timber forest products such as bamboo, latex suppliers, can have a direct impact on biodiversity indigenous people. Forests are amazing places that Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of and cork also contain FSC labels. You will see five and to work towards converting this awareness into connect us to an older, wilder world; places that have Apes Research Fellow, David Morgan, Ph.D. ” registered trademarks on wood and other forest positive actions. purpose beyond profit. products around the world. Zoos and aquariums are respected and trusted The reality is, though, our forests are under threat, 4. ‘Forests For ’ voices for5. ‘Forestsconservation For and, increasingly,’ for primarily due to rapid and sustained conversion sustainability. This provides us with a unique to agriculture, urbanisation, the systemic effects 1. The FSC logo 4. ‘Forests For All Forever’ – full mark opportunity to promote the issue of sustainably of climate change and unsustainable harvesting sourced paper and timber products. Our practices. The wholesale use of forest products, communities expect us to lead the way in the drive including timber and paper, that are derived for sustainability. Amending our own business from these unsustainable practices practices can enhance employee engagement, drive contributes directly to this threat. The innovation, enhance community relations and offer sustainable use of forest products, on the marketing opportunities. We can lead from the front other hand, provides local livelihoods, 4. ‘Forests For ’ 5. ‘Forests For ’ by our own practices and also encourage our visitors and provides an avenue for increasing to change their own behaviour. Together we can scientific knowledge that can guide 4. ‘Forests2. The initials For 5. ‘Forests’ For All Forever’5. – ‘Forestslogo with text For make a significant’ difference for wildlife. further ecological management ® decisions. FSC In October 2018, at the 73rd World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Conference, the Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Forest 3. The name Stewardship Council (FSC). This included a goal Corroboree frogs that survived 4. ‘Forests For ’ 5. ‘Forests For ’ that 50% of WAZA members would develop a the Australian wildfires. Forest Stewardship policy by 2021 expressing a clear preference for Council® FSC-certified products and sourcing at least 70% Photo © Taronga Conservation Society FSC-certified materials in their procurement of paper and wooden products. 4. ‘Forests For ’ 5. ‘Forests For ’ 4 5 The WAZA/FSC Implementing an Case Study MoU has four institutional policy Responsible key goals: for responsibly sourcing of timber Joint communications in at least 25 products in Wildlife 1 countries communicating the benefits of sourced forest WRS is committed to ensuring all our consumable FSC certification for nature conservation Reserves Singapore timber products are sustainably sourced by and the protection of endangered species products 2021. We also favour procuring sustainable non- (this goal will be implemented over time Wildlife Reserves Singapore | Singapore consumable timber products, such as furniture and to eventually reach 25 countries). Developing an institutional policy on responsibly Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) embraces building materials, with a commitment to achieve sourced forest products provides direction and clarity sustainable best practices as one of our core values. 100% compliance by 2025. Aside from FSC-certified At least 50% of WAZA members have a to staff. Such a policy helps to identify tasks, roles We are committed to ensuring that timber products products, we include considerations that fit the local 2 policy expressing a clear preference for and processes associated with an improvement in used in our operations are sustainably sourced, context for non-consumables, such as procuring FSC in their procurement of paper and sustainably sourced paper and wooden products. wherever possible. Since 2013, we have been using locally harvested wood or materials certified under wooden products. FSC-certified paper across our four wildlife parks the Singapore Green Building Product Certification