Number AD 65 QUALIFOR PROGRAMME Title FM Main Assessment Report Page 1 of 32 Associated Documents Issue 05 Q U A L IF O R Issued by Darius Sarshar Q U A L I T Y F O R E S T M A N A G E M E N T Date 05 April 2002

Forest Management Certification Public Summary Information

Project Number: 7623-CH Client: Waldwirtschaftsverband St. Gallen und Fürstentum Liechtenstein WVSFL (Forest Owner Association of St. Gallen and Fürstentum Liechtenstein) Country: Scope: Wälder im Kanton St. Gallen, Wälder in Besitz von St. Galler Waldeigentümern und Bewirtschaftung des St. Galler Forstdienstes Forests in the Canton of St. Gallen, forests owned by group members and managed by the St. Gallen Forest Service. Assessment date: 30 September 2002 Certificate Number: SGS-FM/CoC-1299 Date of Issue: 18.06.2003 Duration: 5 Years Forest type: Semi-natural Forest composition: Mixed broad-leaved dominant Species composition: All naturally occurring tree species Land Tenure: Communal, state and private Biome type: Temperate forest Annual production/Annual Approx. 200,000 m3 (average of preceding years) Allowable Cut: Forest products: Round timber, industrial and firewood, chips, benches, tables, fountains, posts, Christmas-trees from thinnings and plantations Forest-plants (indigenous tree-species and shrubs) Forest-honey, -fruits, berries and herbs Contacts: WVSG-FL Name: Mr. Christoph Kuhn Address: Waldwirtschaftsverband St. Gallen und Fürstentum Liechtenstein WVSG-FL Arbeitsgruppe Zertifizierung Gallusstrasse 14, CH 9000 St. Gallen SGS QUALIFOR, 58 St Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1ST, United Kingdom. Email: [email protected] Number AD 65 QUALIFOR PROGRAMME Title FM Main Assessment Report Page 2 of 32 Associated Documents Issue 05 Q U A L IF O R Issued by Darius Sarshar Q U A L I T Y F O R E S T M A N A G E M E N T Date 05 April 2002

Tel: 0041 (0)71228 85 71/ 0041 (0)79 286 24 30 Fax/Email: 0041 (0)71 228 85 75/ [email protected]

For Office Use Only 1. Report prepared by Initials FMK Date 2 October 2002 2. Report approved by Initials GM Date 1 May 2003 3. Report revisions Required? Complete 4. Logo pack Required? 5. Next surveillance Date due Log updated by

SGS QUALIFOR, 58 St Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1ST, United Kingdom. Email: [email protected] QUALIFOR Program Project 7623-CH Number

FOREST MANAGEMENT MAIN ASSESSMENT REPORT Company WVSG-FL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I - PUBLIC SUMMARY REPORT ...... 1 1. INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE...... 1 2. COMPANY BACKGROUND...... 3 3. FOREST MANAGEMENT SYSTEM...... 4 3.1. Bio-physical setting...... 4 3.2. History of use...... 5 3.3. Planning process ...... 6 3.4. Harvest and regeneration ...... 6 3.5. Silviculture ...... 7 3.6. Monitoring processes...... 7 4. SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT ...... 8 4.1. Social aspects...... 8 4.2. Environmental aspects ...... 8 4.3. Regulations...... 9 5. LOCAL STANDARDS ...... 9 6. THE ASSESSMENT ...... 9 6.1. Schedule...... 9 6.2. Team ...... 9 6.3. Peer Reviewers ...... 10 6.4. Process...... 10 6.5. Sampling...... 11 7. ASSESSMENT RESULTS ...... 14 7.1. Issues related to the QUALIFOR Group Certification Program (Requirements for the Group Representative) ...... 15 7.2. Findings related to the general QUALIFOR Program and the Local Standard ...... 16 7.3. Issues raised by Stakeholders...... 23 7.4. Issues raised by Peer Reviewers...... 25 8. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ...... 26 8.1. Strengths ...... 26 8.2. Weaknesses...... 26 9. CERTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION...... 28

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SECTION II - DETAILED ASSESSMENT FINDINGS

QUALIFOR CHECKLIST

APPENDICES

I. ITINERARY

II. ASSESSMENT TEAM CVs

III. NATIONAL STANDARD USED

IV. CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUESTS

V. STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTED

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SECTION I - PUBLIC SUMMARY REPORT

1. INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE This report presents the results of an assessment of forest management operations in the Canton of St. Gallen for the forests owned by group members and managed by the St. Gallen Forest Service. The assessment was carried out by SGS QUALIFOR during the period September 2 – 6, 2002 and finished with a visit at the office of the Forest Owner Association of the Canton of St. Gallen at September 30, 2002. The purpose was to assess all operations according to the requirements of the QUALIFOR Program, the SGS Group’s forest certification program accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council. The assessment covered all forest management operations in the following forest areas. See the FSC Handbook appendix 1.

Unit (Forestry Enterprise or District) Area Public Area Private Forest Owners Forest (ha) (ha) Alt St. Johann 733 2 Altstätten-Eichberg 840 9 Andwil 295 7 Bad Ragaz 575 2 Berschis -Walenstadt 1291 4 Buchs 402 2 Ebnat-Kappel 853 8 Flawil 147 4 Flums-Berg 800 2 Flums-Dorf 700 1 Gams 477 1 Gommiswald 399 2 Gossau 317 4 Grabs 1131 1 Hemberg 127 6 440 1 Kirchberg 91 7 Krummenau 553 1 Lichtensteig 203 2 Lütisburg 27 2 Magdenau 372 1

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Mels 1186 2 Mels-Weistannen 197 1 Mittelrheintal 309 5 Mogelsberg 1333 3 Mosnang 197 3 Murg 375 2 Nesslau 377 3 Oberbüren 176 5 Oberriet 524 8 Ortsbürger Gemeinde St.Gallen 1130 1 Pfäfers 779 3 Quarten 877 2 386 1 Rieden 409 1 Rorschach 289 6 Rüti 392 3 Sargans 540 3 Schänis 768 5 107 1 Sennwald 850 6 Sevelen 704 2 St. Gallen 235 5 St. Gallenkappel 111 2 St. Margrethen 278 6 Stein 313 1 Uzwil 97 3 Valens 582 3 Vättis 1237 2 Vilters-Wangs 320 1 Wartau 974 4 317 4 Weesen- 1250 2 Wil 414 1 Wildhaus 252 1 Total 29057 170

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The areas refer to the state and community forests themselves and to the small private forests located in the community area. The production is an average of around 200,000 cubic meters per year. In 2000, about 350,000 cubic meters were harvested to cope with the storm damage. This information refers to all forests of all types of ownership. Detailed information about the individual communities is available. The types of ownership and the distribution of the area of the current participants are as follows on the cutoff date of September 30, 2002:

Type of Ownership Number of Number of Participants Participants Communities (civil communities) 73 21677 Communities (political communities) 19 1470 , foundations, private organizations Federal forest (Waffenplatz) 1 181 State forest 1 1294 State institutions 5 559 (public establishments, nursing- homes) Private organizations 22 2477 (alp association, farmers cooperative) Private forest 12 1399 Total 170 29057

Thereof are 1000 ha located in the adjacent Cantons (Ausserrhoden 537, Innerrhoden 256, Thurgau 99, Graubünden 5, Schwyz 25 und Zurich 14).

2. COMPANY BACKGROUND The Forest Owner Association of the Canton of St. Gallen, which is a collective member of the Forestry Association of Switzerland, is a consolidation of currently 143 public and 20 private forest owner in the Canton of St. Gallen. Every member has one vote. The highest body is the general meeting, which meets annually in the fourth quarter. The board of directors consists of seven members. The Canton forestry superintendent is a member due to his official position. The various forestry functions and regions are to be appropriately represented on the board of directors. Statutes of the WVSG-FL dated January1, 2002, FSC Handbook appendix 2.2.

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The government functions are exercised by the Canton forestry superintendent and the heads of the forestry districts, the heads of the technical forestry administrations and the forest rangers. Each of the public forestry enterprises, which account for about two-thirds of the total forest area, has a forest ranger as the manager. The forest rangers are employees of the forestry partnership but are responsible to the district forest offices for technical matters. From a jurisdictional aspect, they are also responsible for the private forest owners and conduct the management at many locations. This is done through the personnel employed by the civil and public communities, the state or the forestry enterprise partnerships or through the personnel monitored by the manager such as private solicitors, piece workers and contractors. The goal of the Forest Owner Association of the Canton of St. Gallen (WVSG-FL) for the certification according to the FSC was to consolidate all interested forest owners in the Canton in a group certification. The Association took over the leadership, employed a certification working- group and is responsible to the SGS QUALIFOR for the maintenance of the certification requirements. Christoph Kuhn, who is the forestry and the property manager for the city of St. Gallen, is the head of the certification working group. The certification working group includes eight voting members and a consultant (FSC Handbook appendix 2.3).

3. FOREST MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

3.1. Bio-physical setting The Canton of St. Gallen is situated in the northeast of Switzerland and covers an area of 195,056 ha. It borders in the north on the Canton of Thurgau and Lake Constance, in the east the Rhine and the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, Liechtenstein, in the south the Canton of Graubünden and in the west the Cantons of Glarus and Zurich. In its center lie the two half- Cantons of Appenzell, which are completely surrounded by St. Gallen territory. This ring-setting is unique in Switzerland. The geographical setting spreads from glaciers and alps to forest covered hills and lovely valleys to vineyard and the wide area of fields and meadows. Geologically the area consists of midlands molasse in the northeast, changing to the sub-alpine molasse, with its folds and overfolds, in the south. Further south the Alpstein (Säntis) and the Churfirsten make up the highest elements of the Helvetian cover, which extends south of the Walensee area as far as the Weisstannental. Underneath are found further south first the Sardona Flysch and then the Paraautochthon. In the Taminatal the oldest and deepest lying element of the northern Alps is located, with the crystalline base showing through due to erosion.

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Of the ca. 2700 known types of plants in Switzerland, about 2200 are found here. The area around Sargans and Werdenberg is known as the richest region botanically in Switzerland, and this is true for the forests as well. To be sure, beech forests, most of them used commercially, and the alpine spruce make up most of the forest area at higher altitudes. But one also finds a rich palette of other forest types with sometimes very rare types of trees. Stands of Swiss pine and dwarf mountain pine in the Murgtal BLN (BLN = Federal inventory of landscapes of national importance) area are probably the best known. Further small stands of Swiss pine can be found on the northern faces of the Churfirsten near the Wildhauser Gulmen. At the foot of the steep faces of the Churfirsten with southern exposure is found the largest forest with linden trees. The mild foehn climate enables oaks to thrive at an altitude of 1100 meters. In well- protected areas even the downy oak is represented. Many parts of the Steineichen scrub forest in the Seez and Rhine valleys have been replaced by vineyards. The few remaining stands are limited at present to areas with poor, dry soil. The edible chestnut, planted in linden type forests, served until the beginning of this century as food for the populace. At present there is an extended stand near Murg that is still managed. In the hilly areas of the Rhine valley and on the undercut slopes along the Thur and the Necker in the Toggenburg, relicts of pine stands can still be found. In the northern part of the Canton, warmth-loving corydalis-maple type forests are hardly ever found on steep slopes. Far more typical in the area near Lake Constance, with its deeply cut wooded ravines, are beech- fir forests and yew-rich beech forests on the steep slopes.

3.2. History of use The history of use of the forests in the Canton of St. Gallen and of the forests managed by the St. Gallen Forest Service in the adjacent Cantons is comparable with that in the surrounding Cantons and was not discussed in detail here. Evidence of the management practices from the last 50 to 100 years can be seen clearly. This includes in particular, remains of pure coniferous stands with classic age composition and mixed forests and pure hardwood forests and riverside forests with an almost natural composition. At present, a large number of the stands show a broad species variety and the management is based on the tree species spectrum from the plant- sociological mapping of the soil (not yet available for all regions). Regeneration has been taking place for some time with natural tree species and mostly in a natural way. The fast-growing sites mostly in the northern part at locations on the foot of the slopes of the hills and in the Neckertal and Sittertal, the Toggenburg, Gasterland and Walensee district, and at the slopes of the hills of the Alpstein and Churfisten have been used for a very long time for the production of round timber. The steep slopes, particularly in the higher

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locations, serve for the production of firewood. Forestation of former agricultural areas from the turn of the century provides evidence of the alternating demands placed on the soil by earlier migrations of the population.

3.3. Planning process The Canton Forestry Office and the District Forestry Offices are responsible for the planning in the forest. The Canton Forestry Office handles the Canton forest plan and the forest inventory and the District Forestry Offices, handle the forest development planning in coordination with regional stakeholders and the forest enterprises handles the management plans according to the guidelines from the Canton Forestry Office. Since surveys and studies of the forest and game are also the responsibility of the Canton Forestry Office the long and mid-term planning processes are led by this office. The basic national data such as the state forestry inventory and BLN properties, the basic Canton data such as the planning guidance with groundwater protection areas and natural priority areas etc. along with the survey data, which they collect themselves, such as plant-sociological soil mapping, surveys of standing crop and growth and browsing form the basis for forest planning. The annual planning for the forestry enterprises is done through the implementation of the management plans and the economic plans in close coordination with the district forestry offices. Forest cropping requires approval (article 33 VzEGzWaG). The marking off is the task of the responsible forester and is conducted jointly with the district foresters, in cases where production exceeds 50 cubic meters..

3.4. Harvest and regeneration The basis of the harvesting is the management plan and the prescribed annual allowable cut in the management plan. The harvest is done manually with a chainsaw in most cases. In flatter terrain with fewer slopes, harvesters and processors, on steep slopes mobile and long- distance skyline cranes are used in thinned stands and for the provision of energy wood. As a rule, this work is carried out by specialized contractors. The use of third parties such as piece workers and other contractors for felling varies significantly for the individual enterprises and depends on the number of their own personnel as well. Skidding tracks are established for hauling and in steeper terrain, machine roads are made, if these have not been established already during tending work. The regeneration technique depends primarily on the silvicultural planning and the game pressure. Femel felling, border felling, shelter wood felling and an increased use of individual tree removal based on target diameter

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thinning takes place. The type of regeneration is based primarily on the target tree species for the regeneration. The attempt is made to use naturally occurring tree species as a basic principle. If necessary, tree species are planted, which are desired, but do not grow naturally. Area planting is the exception in stands, which are to be converted from pure softwood to hardwood requiring more light.

3.5. Silviculture

The Canton Forest Law, which became effective on January 1, 2000, prescribes very explicitly near natural forest management in Art. 32 of the associated regulation (VzEGzWaG). This includes: · preference for site-indigenous tree species · promotion of natural regeneration · a variety of stand types and ages · biodiversity and habitat diversity The selection of the silvicultural methods is left to the owner. In some enterprises, conversion has been made some time ago from age-class management to differentiated continual forest management. However, small-area femel and border felling are used widely. The plant-sociological site mapping (to be completed in the next six years) created an early instrument, which provides forest rangers with a useful basis for the spectrum of the tree species selection. The stocking goals are presently based primarily on the natural tree species composition, but do provide a certain latitude of freedom for the use of economically interesting exotic tree species. Exotic tree species are placed in recreational forests close to the city to make the forest appearance more interesting but they are not of any economic importance.

3.6. Monitoring processes

According to the law and the structure of the environmental area of the Canton of St. Gallen, the Canton Forestry Office, supplemented with the technical office of nature protection, exercises very extensive monitoring functions. Surveys and studies of the forest such as the state forest inventory, Cantonal forest inventory, Cantonal forest plan, communal forest function planning, inventory of the nature priority areas at the Cantonal and communal level, plant-sociological site mapping, recording of browsing, supervision of the community forests, consultation functions for private forests and the marking off of felling larger than 50 cubic meters by the

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district forester give the Canton Forest Service extensive responsibilities for all matters of forest management in the Canton of St. Gallen and the cooperatively supervised forests in the bordering Cantons. As far as work safety in the forestry enterprises is concerned, the enterprises of the WVSG-FL have joined the branch solution forest for the implementation of the EKAS guidelines for work safety.

4. SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

4.1. Social aspects The biggest social importance of the forests in the Canton of St. Gallen is without doubt the protective and recreational functions due to the close relationship between the populated areas and the forests. The second social aspect encompasses forestry and forestry enterprises as employers. Some community forest enterprises employ, in addition to the forest ranger, their own forestry teams and train apprentices. However, much work is outsourced to specialized forestry contractors and temporary local piece workers. The employment of these personnel is done under the supervision of the management, mostly for individual steps of the harvesting chain such as skidding, or as piecework such as the contracting of the entire felling. Outsourcing of entire fellings, such as the sale on the stump, is rarely done. The wood processing branch has an economic importance in the predominantly agricultural Canton of St. Gallen and in most cases these are local, small commercial businesses such as sawmills, woodworking and carpentry businesses etc. In addition, there is also a CoC-certified industrial processor for posts. 4.2. Environmental aspects The following environmental aspects have been identified as important: · Forest nature protection (special forest sites and reservation concept) · Management of high conservation value forest · Protection of moors · Protection of groundwater, soil quality and air · Storage and handling of fuels and polluting substances · Sheltered and remote areas (e.g. lynx), game reserves (e.g. wood grouse) · Negative effects of recreational activities on the forest

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4.3. Regulations Detailed legal regulations exist for the commercial use of forests in the Canton of St. Gallen. Principles of commercial use are outlined in the declaration accompanying the introductory law (Art. 32). The Canton of St. Gallen has based its forestry legislation (introductory law of the federal forestry legislation of 29 November 1998 and declaration accompanying the introductory law of 7 December 1999) on the Federal Forest Law of 4 October 1991. The St. Gallen Forest Law emphasizes forest organization (division and function of the districts), protection of the forest from intrusion (clearing, construction, trespassing and motorized vehicles as well as events) and also care and use of the forest. The applicable legal regulations are available at the area forestry offices and from the district foresters. An overview of all the relevant legal principles is to be found in Appendix 1.1 of the FSC handbook. Commercial use of St. Gallen-owned forests in Canton Appenzell Outer Rhodes is regulated in a state treaty (November 1888).

5. LOCAL STANDARDS There is no "national standard" for Switzerland, which is recognized by the FSC. Based on the "national standards" for forest certification in Switzerland, BUWAL of June 1999, the general QUALIFOR requirements and the results of the pre-assessment, a checklist was prepared for the WVSG-FL. See part II of the whole report.

6. THE ASSESSMENT

6.1. Schedule The assessment included a pre-assessment by SGS QUALIFOR from 22 to 24 May 2002. This examined the general management practices and identified any gaps that might preclude certification. The information gathered was used to plan the main assessment and to identify the key stakeholders. The main assessment was carried out during the period of 2 to 6 and 30 September 2002. A detailed schedule is shown in appendix I of the full report. 6.2. Team · The Lead Assessor: is a Forestry engineer with 13 years of professional experience in the areas of forestry organizations, forestry technology, wood energy, ecological balances, environmental impact assessments and project management. A total of 12 certifications of forest management as co assessor or lead assessor. · The Second Assessor: is a Forestry engineer with 15 years of professional experience and of these three years in the assessment of

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forestry management. A total of 6 assessments of forestry management as co- or lead assessor. Curricula vitae are provided in appendix II of the full report. 6.3. Peer Reviewers Three independent specialists were selected to review this report. The specialists have expert knowledge in the following areas: forest ecology, silviculture, work safety and environmental questions in the area of forest and wood. 6.4. Process The main assessment was conducted in the steps outlined below. Preparation Using the results from the pre-assessment and the local standard, a project specific checklist was prepared based on the generic QUALIFOR checklist. Stakeholder notification A wide range of stakeholders (see FSC Handbook appendix 5.1) was contacted to inform them of the planned assessment and ask for their views on relevant forest management issues within the limits of the project. The organizations have interests in the areas of the environment, nature protection, hunting, recreation and forestry. See appendix V of the full report. Opening meeting An opening meeting was held with representatives of the Technical Commission. The scope of the assessment was explained and schedules were confirmed. See appendix I of full report. Document review A review of the main forest management documentation was conducted to evaluate the adequacy of coverage of the QUALIFOR Program requirements. These documents included models, economic and management plans, schedules and procedures, instructions and monitoring activities, the FSC Handbook prepared specifically for the certification and updated on July 1, 2001, in which assessors were on the distribution list according to appendix 8.1, and the master data list, which is the central compilation of the current member list and significant information concerning the sale of products, accidents the use of chemicals and corrective action requests. Field assessments Field assessments were conducted to determine how closely activities in the field complied with documented management systems and QUALIFOR Program requirements. Interviews were conducted with forestry personnel and contractors to determine their familiarity with and their application of

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policies, procedures and practices that are relevant to their activities. A randomly selected sample of stands was visited to evaluate practices as related to the required performance levels. See chapter 6.5. Stakeholder interviews No on-site meetings or telephone interviews were conducted with stakeholders during the visit. The issues raised are shown in section 7.3. Summing up and closing meeting At the conclusion of the field assessment, findings were presented to the group representatives of the Forest Owner Association of the Canton of St. Gallen: the board of directors and the certification working group. See appendix I for the whole report concerning attendees. The three non- compliances with the QUALIFOR requirements, were formulated in two differently weighted corrective action requests (CAR): · Major CARs - which must be eliminated and reassessed before certification can proceed. · Minor CARs - which do not preclude certification, but must be eliminated within an agreed time frame, and will be checked at the first surveillance visit.

6.5. Sampling The following field sites were visited during the assessment. Also see certification program, appendix I to the whole report.

Forest Enterprise of the Community of Mogelsberg, private forest of the Community of Mogelsberg: Focal Points: Membership procedures private forest owner and association Holz Mogelsberg (VAT-obligation). · forest enterprise of 1200 ha with a forestry ranger, personnel employed by state forest enterprise · Branch solution forest (safety management) established and assessed · Main complex of 900 ha is private forest with 370 owners, organized in the association Holz Mogelsberg · Basis of forest planning for state and community forests are stand maps and earlier management plans · maintenance measures are documented, cropping concept proposed, thinning and regeneration measures are not documented · mostly natural regeneration with occasional tree species planting · provisional forest-reserve Wilkenzug, complex of 300 ha, central district under special landscape protection

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· tour in the district of Steinwald, recreational forest with infrastructure, regeneration in storm damage areas

Civil Community of St. Gallen, forestry district of St. Georgen Focal points: planning in a forest enterprise, forest development planning · Forest district with a district ranger and permanent personnel · Agreements with forest contractor including quality conditions · Integration of farmers (as piece workers) into internal trainings · Tour in the region of "Obere Stuhlegg" (storm damage area Vivian) plantation with maple and oak and considerable portion of natural regeneration · Tour in the region of "Obere Steinegg" (storm damage area Lothar, 2.5 ha), soils vulnerable to compaction by using heavy machinery, (employment of harvesting processor in skidding-tracks)

Forest district Wattwil, state forest Focal points: Organisation of state forest enterprise · Forest district of 1150 ha with a forestry ranger and permanent personnel · State forest enterprise with annual allowable cut of 1000 m3, district-owned tractor · Machine road-network of 45m/ha · Felling sites documented on maps · Mature and dead timber stands, conservation concept, wood grouse-habitats · Basis for management plans partly out-dated (1976-96), revision started, realization of forest development plan scheduled in 2007/08 · Storage of fuels not according to law · Use of chemicals near brooks and rivers · Tour: felling area 2001, steep hill, initiation of regeneration, natural type of forest

Forest association Altstätten: Focal points: Forest association of various public forest owners (Rhoden Eichberg and Altstätten) · Forest district with a district ranger and permanent personnel

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· Management plans mostly not actual, enterprise planning open and undetermined · Exemplary forest development plan Altstätten (1997), stand maps, annual allowable cut and plant-sociological site map with silvicultural advices · Branch-solution Forst assessed (1997) · Good structured organization of forest enterprise with functions, working programmes, safety-measures etc. · Tour "Schwarzenweid": projekt EFFOR 2, management game damage

Forest district Flums: Focal points: mountain forest management, employment of contractors · Forest district with a district ranger, Flums Grossberg · Tour "Krummenport": planned slack-lining, thinning and regeneration cuts, fir-forest type with perennial herbs, pure spruce- plantation from drainage-project, strong game damages · Tour "Kehrwald, Wyssrüfiwald": provisional forest reserve, erosion site, natural dynamic, endangered species (birds) · Tour "Werdenböhl": storm damage site (Vivian), plantation with maple, partly protected by fence to observe effect of game damage, natural regeneration with spruce and rowan-tree. Regeneration of forest guaranteed, photo-documentation suggested

Forest district Rapperswil: Focal points: forest management out of the Canton · Forest district with a district ranger and permanent personnel · Forest property in three different Cantons (SG, SZ, ZH) · Archaeological sites after storm damages · The plant-sociological soil map is used for training of the personnel · Transparent and efficient organisation of forest enterprise · Severe storm damages and vast clearings for highways

Forest district Alt St. Johann: Focal points: forest management in tourist region

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· Forest district of 690 ha with a district ranger and permanent personnel · Civil community as lead-enterprise · Basis for management partly out-dated (forest management plan1974-94), realization of forest development plan scheduled · forest management by way of silvicultural projects (Waldbau A and C), search of new financing possibilities in tourism and education · VAT-situation not cleared for third party works · Timber-marketing and selling by district ranger (adjusting of soft- ware necessary) · Use of chemicals by district ranger, ground-water protection areas to be considered, storage and documentation inadequate · Storage of fuel not according to law · Annual interviews with personnel completed and documented · Tour "Rossweid": pole-timber thinning with calculation (storm damage site Vivian with abundant natural regeneration, area with perennial herbs and no regeneration

Forest district Rieden: Focal points: forest management without permanent personnel · Forest district with a district ranger and temporary personnel · Temporary personnel is interchanged with neighbouring district · Temporary stop of activities in winter due to excessive snow · Timber sale on the stump is rarely done (contract, CoC-number) · Use of chemicals to prevent game damages · Game-feeding in winter · Production constantly exceeding annual allowable cut · Main target: commercial forest without specific conservation values

7. ASSESSMENT RESULTS Detailed assessment findings are included in the full report. The related findings, observations and corrective actions raised are described for each QUALIFOR requirement. The main issues are discussed below.

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7.1. Issues related to the QUALIFOR Group Certification Program (Requirements for the Group Representative) The Forest Owner Association of the Canton of St. Gallen is responsible to the FSC as the group representative. In doing this, the WVSG-FL is assuming a large share of the responsibility for the maintenance of the certification requirements by the participating forest owners. This responsibility is fulfilled primarily by set procedures for membership, resignation and expulsion, the conduct of internal checks and the maintenance of central data for the group such as a member list, product sales, use of chemicals and accident information. The Certification working group has described the general conditions concerning this in instructions for the management system, the FSC Handbook updated on July 1, 2002. The basis for participation in the group certification is an agreement, which contains the responsibilities and the rights of the forest owners, the revocation of the use of the certificate and the provision of data. To clarify the qualification for participation, a self-declaration was drafted. These were filled out for all participating forest owners by the particular forest ranger, signed by the forest owners such as the civil and political communities, parishes, state, private associations and private forest owners, and checked for plausibility by the internal assessors. The questions contained in the self-declaration, essentially included the "national standards," the fulfillment of the valid laws and regulations, the near-natural sustained forestry management with natural regeneration, the careful use of environmentally hazardous materials, forest planning, work safety and the employment of contractors. The membership procedure was introduced with the present self- declarations and the agreement. Non-compliances were recorded and necessary corrective actions initiated. The legal basis by which the community can act for private forest owners is determined by Cantonal law. The authority of the community to represent private owners is a part of the community’s powers under civil law, and is laid out in Art. 32 of the Swiss Code of Obligations. It empowers the community to act as representative of private forest owners when drawing up a contract or agreement, so long as legal authorization to act as representative exists. The actions and procedures described in the management handbook have not been defined conclusively in some cases. Individual documents are to be amended with contents, which have now been determined. The contents and the sequence of the internal assessment planning are described. An internal assessment plan describing responsibilities, planning of visits and so forth is not yet available. The collection of basic information for the relevant laws and inventories makes no provisions for forests on the territory in adjacent Cantons.

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The present list of contractors is to be completed and in particular with the EKAS numbers, for example, branch solution forest, proof of the fulfillment of the regulations for work safety, and if necessary with the certificate number of the FSC-CoC in case certified timber is to be resold in the case of sale on the stump. The management system of the WVSG-FL is systematically structured. Important areas such as internal assessments, sanctions for failure to fulfill the requirements and expulsion procedures etc. are described according to the provisions of the FSC but have not yet been put into practice.

7.2. Findings related to the general QUALIFOR Program and the Local Standard PRINCIPLE 1 Compliance with the law and FSC Principles The Canton Forestry Office, along with the district forest offices, is the responsible agency for the monitoring of the maintenance of the laws in the forest area. As the highest forest agency, it has continuous access to current laws and is partially responsible for the development and changes to these. The forest rangers have access to the laws through various channels such as electronic or physical channels. Training for changed laws such as the hunting regulation is done at the Office. If the Canton Forestry Office is invited to provide its opinion, the foresters are also included. The fulfillment of their legal function as forest rangers has been demonstrated in case of violations of laws, for example, illegal use of forest-roads with motor vehicle. The posting of signs prohibiting motor vehicles on the forest roads has been completed in all communities in a legally binding manner. The communities are subject to direct taxes such as VAT and fuel tax etc. The normal property and asset taxes apply to private owners. Contributions to the self-help funds are made. Switzerland is a signature country to the most varied international treaties. The national forestry agency (Confederate Forestry Agency) is responsible for their implementation directly (district correspondence, subsidization policies) or through the passage of laws.

The WVSG-FL has developed and adopted a model for its group policies. The basic principles of the group policies have not yet been communicated to the level of the forest managers (private forest owners, forestry enterprise personnel and the associated piece workers and contractors). The communities are presently partially involved in the development of models or service agreements for their forest.

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PRINCIPLE 2 Tenure and use rights and responsibilities The rights of ownership are recorded in the land title registers and in the PARZEWALD- data bank. The owner boundaries are visible on the district maps. Boundary markings exist in most cases on the terrain. The ownership relations in the Canton of St. Gallen are clear and undisputed for both public and private forest. The designation of forest and building zones is available for viewing by the public. The right of use is not limited. Felling in public forest requires that the trees be marked in advance by the responsible forest ranger and approval of the felling is required. If the marking off of felling in private forest is larger than 50 cubic meters the forest ranger has to be consulted. The right of use by the general public is clearly defined in the forest laws. This includes the right of free access, which is already guaranteed in the civil code. The use for hunting is the responsibility of the Canton administration, the hunting prerogative. Hunters are organized in hunting associations with own hunting district.

PRINCIPLE 3 Indigenous peoples’ rights Not relevant.

PRINCIPLE 4 Community relations and workers rights The managers of the community forestry enterprises and the Canton Forestry Office are responsible for training and in-service training of the full-time employees. The Canton Forestry Office is responsible for the vocational school for the training of forest wardens. Together with the WVSG-FL it offers courses with varying content or coordinates these for interested personnel. Where possible, local technical personnel are hired as forestry personnel or used when contractors are required. The awarding of work is open and transparent. For many basic decisions such as the selection of forest reserves, studies of game damage and flora and fauna specialties etc., the Canton Forestry Office obtains the services of external experts as a rule. In those forests, which have a biotope function, the communal forestry enterprises establish and maintain numerous recreational facilities such as nature and forest education trails, fireplaces with shelters and benches etc. In addition to the use of the forest roads for the transportation of timber, they are also used by hikers and riders and there is increased use of the forest roads by mountain bikers. The public forest owners (civil and political communities, forestry partnerships and the state forestry enterprises) have joined the branch solution for the forest. The degree of implementation in the individual enterprises is already very high. There is still a need for improvement concerning personnel decisions for safety representatives, the introduction of written work contracts and the documentation of safety inspections. The

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central collection of information about accidents in public and private forests is described in the FSC Handbook. The latter is relevant to certification because the group is responsible for providing information to the certification office. This information also provides the basis for a total analysis of the accidents and the need for further training. Full-time personnel are reimbursed by the forestry enterprises for the purchase of work clothing and personal protective equipment. For the piece workers, a corresponding payment is included in the cost estimates. The forestry personnel have the opportunity to join the Forestry Personnel Association of Switzerland but most have joined the more informal Forestry Club of St. Gallen. Numerous discussions with forest rangers and forestry personnel have shown that the employment conditions are very progressive and there are hardly any concerns by the personnel in this area. The Canton Forestry Office is included, to a degree, in the payment of the personnel. The payment of the forest rangers follows Cantonal rules. The Canton Forestry Office, the district forestry offices and the communities know the most varied interest groups. For forest function planning, there is cooperation of forest owners, hunting and nature protection organizations, and recreational users etc. at the community level. Development projects with legal requirements are subject to the usual concession process.

PRINCIPLE 5 Benefits from the forest Every community enterprise has its own cost accounting and sometimes according to the BAR (Accounting System) of the Swiss Forestry Association. To examine the goals (service agreements), individual activities are listed separately. A comparison of the cost accounting shows significant differences in some cases, which could be due to the existing enterprise structures and the lack of cost accuracy. Private forest owner do not have such a cost accounting because the benefits from the forest are normally not substantial to them. The current and periodical maintenance of roads, tending work for young forests, protective measures against game damage and damaged timber equipment etc. are set in the regular budgets and supplementary loans of the forestry enterprises. The conduct of the forestry police functions is assured by the division of the entire forest into districts with sworn forest rangers; Forest Law article 40. The performance of governmental tasks, such as the enforcement of forestry planning, consultation with private forest owners and the enforcement of forestry regulations, is reimbursed by the Canton. The regulation of the game population density as required by the Forest Law to a level, which allows the natural regeneration with tree species adapted to the site without protective measures, is monitored by the recording of browsing (control lines) and regionally compiled evaluations.

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The numbers to be shot for the hunting districts are based on the information recorded. Harvesting is resulting in a long series of timber-assortments, which are prepared according to the Swiss timber trading customs. The provision of industrial wood was limited significantly, because the price level is too low. In reaction to this, more energy wood is being provided from the same assortment. The Canton can support the construction of wood heating facilities with financial help. The round timber is mostly delivered to local commercial sawmills. Larger quantities of round timber are exported to and . The determination of the harvesting and skidding methods is the responsibility of the forest ranger. If necessary, skidding vehicles, harvesters and operators are rented from contractors. The work contracts and work preparation is done by the forest ranger. In this area, in the course of the implementation of the branch solution forest more written work contracts could be introduced and in particular for important conditions related to nature protection. The inspection and the acceptance of the work is done as part of the measuring of the timber but is not being documented. The Cantonal Forestry Office has prepared a forest inventory in 1988 with detailed forest description and maps. An up-to-date version should be included in the planning. The communities have to conduct forest development planning (plan for authorities) for their sovereign territory based on Cantonal principles and this planning is to be approved by the Government Council and is binding for the authorities. The implementation is still in the beginning stages and priorities will be set in a schedule. Forest development plans are the basis for future revisions of the management plans (plan for the forest manager). Formal validity of the old type of management plans is no longer in effect. Without the required approval of the Government Council, the former annual allowable cut will continue. Because of damaging events and abstention from resp. reduction of use for commercial or conservation reasons, the prerequisites have changed. Until the new planning principles come into force, it is expected that the forest owners will see to sensible, appropriate stopgap measures.

PRINCIPLE 6 Environmental impact Basic surveys have provided the information for the Canton forest inventory, the plant sociological site mapping (to be completed within six years), the Canton and community nature protection inventories and there are also surveys of the degree of game damage. The most important instruments available to the forest rangers are the community nature protection inventories, with measures mostly taken by the forestry enterprises, stand maps, which are in some cases no longer current, and site mapping with information about ecologically compatible tree species composition in the commercial forest. These are employed for the

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establishing of stands, which is done mostly by natural regeneration, and the controlling of mixture when tending thickets. Area planting of exotic tree species was not observed. Information about rare species of flora and fauna, such as the middle spotted woodpecker, is available and are included in the measures for nature priority areas. The largest emphasis is placed on natural regeneration. Exceptions to this are to be found primarily in those spruce stands, which developed from reforestation in the last century with species of an unsuitable origin. The required plants, rare tree and shrub species are normally purchased. These serve to enrich the present large species variety of woody plants. Felling and forms of timber use, which are equivalent to clear cutting in their effects, are not conducted. The forest reserve concept forms the basis for the selection of forest reserves. At the present time no large reserves (as prescribed in article 23 of the Forest Regulation) are protected by law and designated. Felling operations are planned over a large portion of nature priority areas in the forest to maintain and promote these areas. No chemicals are used in the forest, with the exception of sprays for commercial timber (insecticides approved by the state). All forest rangers have special identification for the use of chemical sprays. A central list of the agents used including quantity and locations is planned. Issue: Open declaration of chemical use (in timber-selling documents), examination at the first surveillance visit. Low exhaust gas fuels for motor saws and biological or biodegradable lubricants are used. These products could also be recommended to contractors if this has not already been done. In some cases, the use of biological lubricants is not appropriate because they cause significant malfunctions and hinder the use of motors saws, where the saws are not used often. Issue: For the assignment of temporary personnel in certified forests suitable rules should be available, examination at the first surveillance visit. For purposes of monitoring, beetle traps with pheromone are still used in individual cases. The locations of the traps are documented. Due to the use of their own seed material or controlled seed material, and a high degree of natural regeneration, gene modified organisms are not a problem. Exotic tree species are not planted in consolidated blocks, but individual trees are planted for esthetic reasons in recreational forests. Isolated individual Douglas firs and Japanese larches are present. The conversion of forests is not conducted. Isolated clearings were approved according to the prescribed procedures by the government (article 6ff of the Forest Law). Corrective Action Request CAR 03:

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The storing of fuel and lubricants (chain saw oil, gasoline) is not always done in accordance with the law. Environmental impacts cannot be sufficiently avoided. Use of sprays is not thoroughly documented in most districts – just the purchased quantities. Areas sprayed and dates cannot be documented. In some cases, spraying is done without proper protective measures or near water sources. The use of sprays is not indicated in commercial certification. Too few alternatives to spraying are used; a corresponding group policy has not yet been formulated.

PRINCIPLE 7 Management plan Every forest enterprise of more than 50 ha has a management plan. In some cases, the plans, which are prepared according to a traditional model, are no longer within the original validity period of 20 years. The basis for the management plans, the forest functions mapping, is being planned, with a few exceptions, and will be implemented in the next few years. The enterprises have sufficient planning information, which is being integrated step-by-step into the planning system. Due to the completely new concept for the planning system, there will be future management plans, which are based on forest functions according to the requirements of the Forest Law such as protection, usage, nature protection, recreation and welfare effects; and which place priority on operational functions such as work planning and work safety etc. The forests in the Canton of St. Gallen are managed according to silvicultural principles in a professional way. There has never been a danger of exploiting the forest because all harvested timber has to be marked off by the Forest Service of St. Gallen. Actually, the forests present a surplus of stock and annual yield is not used in many places. At the same time, the traditional growth standards proofed to be too low. Therefore the Forest Service of St. Gallen, in order to guarantee the forest functions, increased slightly the marking off of timber compared with the annual allowable cut in the traditional models. By doing this, the Forest Service of St. Gallen complies with a sustainable forestry management. Still, the basis for forest planning have to be adjusted, especially in districts with no scheduled forest development planning in the next few years. Based on the inventories (previously mostly full tallying), the annual allowable cuts were broken down according to growth area and forest ownership for each enterprise and set as binding by the Government Council. They were usually too scarce and therefore not always suitable for sustainable management of the forest. The enterprises have annual management plans and felling plans approved by the district forest office (use agreements). The forestry personnel are well trained throughout. The employees in each enterprise have individual days available for in-service training if required. Internal training is also conducted. The documentation of the training could be done in a more systematic way and expanded to the temporary, long-

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term personnel. The selection of deputies has been established in all forestry enterprises. Management plans and function mapping are available to the public at the community law offices upon request. Corrective Action Request CAR 01: The annual allowable cut agreed on with the authorities and contained in the management plan is no longer valid (parts of the management plans expired more than 15 years ago); major violations of the annual allowable cut sometimes take place. To extrapolate the data of the Cantonal forest inventory of 1988 has not yet been planned. Stand maps are no longer realistic, given the losses caused by natural disasters, e.g. huricanes. The sustainable quantity of use cannot be derived with any degree of accuracy. Planning activities will start only after expiration of the certificate (5 years); no stopgap measures are planned between the expired management plan and the new management plan.

PRINCIPLE 8 Monitoring and assessment Monitoring is done at several levels. The general development of the forest is monitored by the Canton Forestry Office through the Swiss state forest inventory and the Canton forest inventory (survey of 1988). The forest functions to sustain the public interests in the forest and the long- term setting of the goals for the preservation of the forest are carried out at a regional level. At the enterprise level, additional inventories are conducted in some cases in planned regeneration stands. Measures, which lead to contributions from public funds, such as young forest tending, are checked by the district forest offices. The nature priority areas and the measures required to attain goals are monitored by the responsible Canton and community offices. At the enterprise level, it is primarily the operational matters such as work safety, productivity and the harvested timber, which are monitored. The safety inspections, which are planned as part of the branch solution forest, are not being conducted and recorded systematically. Up to the present, the forest rangers have satisfied themselves with regular checks as part of the daily on-site discussions in the forest. A central overview of accident information and health aspects of forestry personnel, for both public and private forests, will be introduced at the Canton level with the certification. The contractors are checked by the forest rangers mostly as part of the measuring of the timber or periodical visits. A systematic issuance of contracts to the contractors with follow-up checks (written contracts and service agreements and acceptance certificates for work by order) has not seemed necessary until the present and could be introduced step-by-step in the future. The Forest Owner Association is offering a model contract and is preparing a rating-list of the contractors (recording of significant master data such as branch solution, VAT, CoC certification etc.). Observation: Examination at the second and third surveillance visit.

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The sale of timber is done through the forest rangers. Statistics on the sale of timber are compiled through the district forest offices for central evaluation. Instructions for the correct use of FSC labeling are described in the handbook and will be introduced to the district rangers in the near future. The marking and the separation of certificated and not-certificated timber have not yet been ruled. Observation: Examination at the first surveillance visit.

PRINCIPLE 9 High Conservation Value Forests Those forests in the Canton of St. Gallen in areas of national importance (BLN properties, moors, protective forests, forest-reserves, riverside forests, archaeological sites) have been identified as forests with high conservation value. These are recorded in the Canton forest inventory and the community nature protection inventories. The basic information is included in the upcoming forest function planning of the communities. However, the criteria for monitoring success are still outstanding. Corrective Action Request CAR 02: A concept exists for areas under protection (forest reserves and special forests). The habitats of rare and endangered animals and plants are known. Protected forests are included, and cultural-historic sites and historic routes are listed in the inventories. For the area to be certified there is no summary of the forest areas that correspond to one or more of the above criteria. Various offices and groups worked on the inventories, so that there was little coordination and cooperation among the experts or the various interest groups represented. There is no comprehensive overview of the forests that should be preserved.

PRINCIPLE 10 Plantation The forests in the Canton of St. Gallen were analyzed with respect to their near natural condition and the results were consolidated in the forest plan. Pure stands of the same age are not being developed. The stands, which developed in the last century from reforestation with spruce of unsuitable origin in some cases, are being successively converted and continue to offer areas of attack for natural damage events such as storms and beetle infestation. No Christmas tree cultures are being maintained. Christmas trees are sold locally from the regular tending or from small areas below lines in forest areas.

7.3. Issues raised by Stakeholders The Canton offices, branch associations and other stakeholders were informed about the certification of the St. Gallen forests in correspondence dated August 28, 2002. The addressees were also requested to express

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their opinions about the management of the St. Gallen forests. As of the certification assessment, only a few reactions had been received. See the compilation dated October 3, 2002, appendix V of the whole report. The following concerns of the stakeholders (see FSC Handbook, appendix 4.4) were presented to the responsible representatives of the applying organization and discussed. If measures are required, these will be examined during the first surveillance visit.

Issue Raised Response Use of sulfur-free diesel fuel in Primary target is changing from forestry machinery pure mineral to ecological, biologically degradable fuels and lubricants. Sulfur-free diesel will be used more and more. Following procedures for getting Official approval procedures are official approval for extending known and are followed. logging road networks and setting Determining the relevance for those up sites to be certified is part of the supervisory audit. Planning forest development in Official approval procedures are areas with sensitive nature followed. An appeal has been conservation and landscape lodged with the Federal Protection concerns of Nature and Cultural Heritage Commission. No planting of exotic (non site- Plant-sociological site maps are indigenous) trees incomplete. Forest owners work mostly with natural regeneration without planting. Determining the relevance for those to be certified is part of the supervisory audit. Delays in implementing forest The Cantonal Forestry Office has reserve and forest functions prepared a schedule for planning implementation of the planning, and this is part of the supervisory audit. Free access for organized Use of the forest by organized recreational use of the forest groups is regulated by the Forest Law (Art. 19 ff VzEGzWaG). Implementation is under the direction of the Cantonal Forestry Office.

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7.4. Issues raised by Peer Reviewers This report was reviewed by three independent peer reviewers. The following points were raised.

Issue Raised Response The existing management plans The Corrective Action Request became obsolete in their contents (CAR 01) states that the WVSG+FL and some of them are expired for has to present in co-operation with a long time. The future forest the Canton Forestry Office a development plans are still to be concept which outlines the required realized. This gap seems to be a steps to fulfill the standards within problem and should be clearly the next 5 years. outlined in this report. The In forest districts with no planning necessary stopgap measures activities during the next 5 years, should be implemented and stopgap measures are necessary. examined at the first surveillance visit. The actual situation is At the first surveillance visit, 6 unsatisfactory (e.g. 6.1.1/7.1.4). months after certification, the implementation of these measures will be examined. The "extrapolation of the annual (see CAR 01) allowable cut" (7.2) is not acceptable. The situation is only moderated by the actual low-price timber-market, which is likely to prevent excessive cut. The inventory of forests with high The Corrective Action Request conservation value was made (CAR 02) states that the WVSG+FL without assistance of the Canton in co-operation with the Canton Office for Natural Conservation. Office for Natural Conservation This fact is incomprehensible and should present a comprehensive an imperfection (6.2.2). overview of the forests that should be preserved. They are responsible to involve other stakeholders in the forest planning process. The report refers to EKAS- This has been corrected in the numbers. There are no EKAS- report. The wording used was numbers! meant in a general sense. There are other insurances beside the There are SUVA-numbers for SUVA (obligatory accident every forest enterprise and Branch insurance) . Solution-numbers. Neither of the two numbers are guarantees for The number is evidence for the compliance with safety rules. contractors insurance. It indicates, that the contractor can be supervised periodically. There is an

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obligation to comply with the safety rules. The training of the temporary This will be controlled and personnel should lead to an issue. implemented at the surveillance If the training for long-term visits. temporary personnel can be optimized, this should be possible for new temporary personnel too. I agree with the certification We accept this statement as praise recommendation. and encouragement. I am very impressed by the amount of questions and facts raised in this report.

8. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

8.1. Strengths The following strengths in the forest management practices of the Canton of St. Gallen are particularly worth mentioning:

Forest owner association:

· Positive commitment of the certification working group · Active communication and conviction facing the forest owners · Marketing of the FSC-Label in view of the clients

Forest owners and managers: · Individual initiatives that serve as models (e.g. contracts with business enterprises, functional planning, respecting historical sites, promotion of natural conservation concerns etc.) · Mostly natural regeneration · Social responsibility by employing personnel (civil communities without tax sovereignty)

8.2. Weaknesses A total of three Minor Corrective Action Requests (CARs), as described below, were raised. In the following table the requirement number refers to the indicator used in the QUALIFOR Program to test each criteria from the FSC P&C. See appendix IV of the whole report.

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CAR QUALIFOR Description No. requirement (FSC P&C) 01 7.2, 7.1, 8.4 Planning and controlling, Cantonal inventory expiration of the validity of the management plans 02 9.3 HCVF (protective forests) 03 6.8, 6.6 Use of chemicals, storage and handling of environmentally hazardous substances

Additional aspects are described as issues and are to be placed on the agenda for future surveillance visits: · Documentation of group master data such as total timber production, use of polluting substances, work safety of personal protection and accidents · Documentation of personnel development (use of label, new laws etc.) · Strategies to reduce the use of environmentally hazardous substances like chemical sprays. · Use of labels: adaptation according to the instructions of the SGS Forestry inclusive FM/CoC-number (required before introduction), instructing the managers on the use, documentation of the product sales, monitoring of the use of labels within the group. · Register of VAT-numbers of group members, arrange support in cases of problems. · Stakeholders: documentation of contacts with stakeholders and any measures taken. · Membership and internal assessment: development of internal assessors, documentation of internal assessments and mutations in the member area. Documentation of enterprise goals and measures taken: updating the stand maps, presently over 10 years old and not up-to-date, as a planning basis, purposeful updating of the measures maps, private forests included. · Employment or contractors: recording of significant master data such as branch solution, VAT, CoC certification etc. for group members and appropriate implementation in the forest enterprises, acceptance and documentation of contractor services, implementation of the recommendation for the use of environmentally compatible fuels and lubricants. · Work safety and personal protection: conclusion of the branch solution forest in the forestry enterprises including the temporary personnel, proof of normal branch systems for the commissioned contractors.

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· Storage and handling of environmentally hazardous substances as fuels, oils, chemicals (storage according to law), carry along of fuel- absorbing agent in the forest, motivation for the use of environmentally compatible fuels and lubricants, including temporary personnel.

9. CERTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION There being no Major Corrective Action Requests, the assessment team recommends certification of the Waldbesitzer-Verband des Kantons St. Gallen und Fürstentum Liechtenstein (WVSG-FL) (Forest Owner Association of the Canton of St. Gallen) for the forest owners with legal residence in the Canton St. Gallen according to the Forest Stewardship Council’s Principles and Criteria. The outstanding Minor Corrective Action Requests do not preclude certification, but the WVSG-FL is required to take the agreed actions to close out CARs number 1 to 3 in due time. SGS QUALIFOR will verify the actions taken at the first surveillance visit to be carried out about six months from the date of the issuance of the certificate. If satisfactory actions have been taken the CARs will be ‘closed out, otherwise Minor CARs will be raised to Major CARs.

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