Big impacts expected from 2014 Collaboration Fund projects
This year, large scale projects were the order of the day for PEFC’s 2014 Collaboration Fund, with two out of the three winning projects awarded with the maximum 40,000 CHF of funding.
Big impacts expected from 2014 Collaboration Fund projects
26 June 2014 Collaboration Fund
“This year we decided to focus our efforts on larger projects that will have a big impact within their respective countries and further afield,” said Sarah Price, Head of Projects and Development at PEFC.
“From the development and testing of an online remote sensing tool to improve sustainable forest management monitoring to supporting a country through their certification system development process, these projects are set to really make a big difference.”
Through the Fund PEFC has awarded a total of 83,250 CHF to the three projects, leveraging a further 60,000 CHF from co-funding. Along with supporting the development of a national forest certification system in Macedonia and a remote sensing online tool in Finland, this year’s Fund is also providing funds for the development of a Group Certification System in New Zealand.
The grantees of the winning projects are CNVP Macedonia, Forgis Oy, and the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association Inc. (NZFFA).
The PEFC Collaboration Fund was developed to encourage locally relevant advancements in the sustainable management of forests and foster collaboration and dialogue amongst different actors. It is part of PEFC’s work to stimulate the uptake of sustainable forest management, innovate new approaches for forest certification and promote certified products in the marketplace.
Since its conception in 2011, the Fund has awarded almost 450,000 Swiss Francs to 20 projects with impacts realized in forests and communities all over the world.
This year’s winning projects are:
Supporting Stakeholders to Develop the Macedonian Forest Certification System
Project objectives
- Development of a Macedonian national forest certification system
- Creation of a National Governing Body
- Submission of the new national system to PEFC for endorsement
Implementing organization
CNVP Macedonia is a non-profit organization working to improve the livelihoods of rural people in Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo, as well as in the wider Balkan region. They work to provide quality services in forestry, rural development, environment and biomass for renewable energy in order to increase the capacity of local actors to achieve sustainable development.
Project partners
More information about the project
Developing Group Certification for New Zealand’s Small Forest Owners
Project objectives
- Development of a Group Certification System
- Examination of PEFC requirements for Group Certification
- Creation of a scoping and guidance document for setting up and implementing PEFC Group Certification
Implementing organization
The New Zealand Farm Forestry Association Inc. (NZFFA) is a charitable trust representing small forest growers in New Zealand. The Association promotes the wise integration of trees into the New Zealand landscape for profit, amenity, soil and water conservation and sustainable land management.
Project partners
More information about the project
Increasing Accessibility to Information on Sustainable Management of Finnish Forests through Remote Sensing
Project objectives
- Creation of an online platform using remote sensing to monitor sustainable forest management in Finland
- Analysis of the Finnish national forest certification system for indicators
Implementing organization
Forgis Oy is an innovative forestry consulting company headquartered in Joensuu, Finland. As a consulting company, Forgis Oy provides services aimed at developing sustainable forest management, offering practical solutions, based on an analysis of the situation and experience of effective forestry business in Scandinavia.
Project partners