Risk Assessment Chile

Mandatory to use the assessment

The FSC-endorsed risk assessment is mandatory for companies sourcing FSC controlled wood, and this obligation comes into force immediately for companies starting to source controlled wood from the country.

However, companies which already have a risk assessment for Chile in place have about a year to adjust it.  These should ensure consistency with the FSC-endorsed risk assessment as soon as possible, and  at the latest by the 18th of August 2010. 

In case the risk status changes from "low" to “unspecified risk” from the company's previous risk evaluation, field audits will need to be conducted regarding the “unspecified risk” categories. However, in some cases companies may still be able to justify low risk status on a smaller scale.

It is important to note that the risk assessment has been prepared on county (comuna) level. According to the approved risk assessment, some counties are classified as “unspecified risk” regarding three risk categories (legality, violation of civil and traditional rights, and High Conservation Values). Regarding conversion and GMOs, all counties in the country can be classified as “low risk”.

Plantations management - important issue in Chile

Plantations are important in the national economy of Chile. Based on plantations mainly grown with Monterey Pine and Eucalyptus species, Chile has a thriving forest products industry and the country is among the world's biggest pulp producers.

At the same time, the plantations are surrounded by controversy as stakeholders claim that they are unsustainably managed and often harmful for indigenous people as well as the environment. Avoiding grossly unacceptable management of the plantations would seem like a necessary first step to reconcile these conflicting interests.

The risk assessment files are available on the homepage of FSC Chile www.fsc-chile.org and also on the Global Forest Risk Registry website www.globalforestrisk.org. 

Source: FSC-International