Forest Conservation in Colombia: 8,000 Families Halt Deforestation with the Country’s First Certified Community Forest – Noticias Ambientales

Report on Sustainable Forest Management and SDG Advancement in Colombia

Introduction: A Milestone in Forest Conservation and Sustainable Development

Colombia has achieved a significant milestone in environmental stewardship through the first-ever Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification of a natural forest managed by Afro-descendant communities. This initiative, led by the Forest Development Association of Woods (Asofodema), represents a critical advancement in aligning national conservation efforts with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With over 216,000 hectares now certified under FSC standards, Colombia is reinforcing its commitment to sustainable practices that contribute directly to several key SDGs.

Community-Led Governance: A Model for Achieving Social and Environmental Goals

The FSC certification model in Colombia integrates community governance with conservation and economic development, creating a powerful framework for achieving multiple SDGs.

Core Components and SDG Alignment

• Community Governance: Empowers over 8,000 Afro-descendant, indigenous, and peasant families, directly supporting SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by ensuring local communities have control over their natural resources.
• Sustainable Forest Management: The model has led to a 38% reduction in deforestation in certified territories, a crucial contribution to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• Formal Employment Generation: The formation of community enterprises creates formal jobs, advancing SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Low-Impact Forestry Practices and Contribution to SDG 15 (Life on Land)

The certified forest management practices are fundamentally designed to protect and preserve forest ecosystems, directly addressing the targets of SDG 15.

Key Conservation Measures

1. Minimal Intervention: Practices are characterized by extremely low impact, with as few as six or seven trees utilized per hectare, protecting the forest’s regenerative capacity.
2. Biodiversity Protection: Certified operations are mandated to maintain biological corridors between work areas, preserving habitat connectivity for wildlife.
3. Ecosystem Preservation: Critical areas, such as rivers and streams, are designated as no-exploitation zones to safeguard water resources and aquatic ecosystems.

The FSC Certification Framework: Supporting SDG 12 and SDG 8

The FSC certification process provides a robust framework for ensuring responsible production and fostering economic growth through sustainable practices.

Mechanisms for Sustainable Production and Economic Growth

• Rigorous Standards: The five-year certification requires independent annual audits, ensuring continuous compliance and accountability, which is central to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
• Market Access and Value Addition: FSC facilitates commercial alliances between certified communities and international companies. This promotes the production of value-added finished products, moving communities beyond raw material sales and contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Socio-Economic Advancement and Social SDGs

A primary achievement of this model is the profound positive impact on the livelihoods and rights of participating communities, advancing several social SDGs.

Impact on Decent Work and Equality

• Formalization of Labor: The program addresses the challenge of informal labor by requiring that all workers are hired under Colombian labor law, with full access to social security, occupational safety equipment, and health benefits. This is a direct contribution to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Promotion of Equality: The FSC seal guarantees that participating organizations promote gender equity and non-discrimination, directly supporting SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Indigenous Empowerment: A recent success includes the world’s first certification of an indigenous community for the production of natural rubber, further demonstrating the model’s capacity to empower marginalized groups.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article’s central theme is the conservation and sustainable management of natural forests in Colombia through FSC certification. It directly discusses protecting forest ecosystems, reducing deforestation, and maintaining biodiversity.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The initiative is described as a model that combines conservation with the generation of formal employment. It emphasizes providing workers with legal contracts, social security, and safe working conditions, moving away from the sector’s prevalent informality.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The FSC certification itself is a mechanism for ensuring sustainable production patterns. The article details low-impact forestry practices and the creation of certified finished products, promoting the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The project specifically involves and empowers marginalized groups, including Afro-descendant, indigenous, and peasant communities. The article highlights that “More than 8,000 families participate in these processes, among indigenous communities, Afro-descendants, and peasants,” promoting their social and economic inclusion.
5. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article mentions that the organizations involved in the FSC certification process are committed to social principles, stating they “promote gender equity and non-discrimination.”
6. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • By creating formal, stable employment with benefits for over 8,000 families in rural communities, the initiative directly contributes to poverty reduction by providing a secure income and improving livelihoods.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
   • Target 15.2: “By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.” The article directly addresses this through its focus on “sustainable forest management,” “forest conservation,” and the certification of over “216,000 certified hectares,” which has led to a significant reduction in deforestation.
   • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.” The requirement for certified operations to maintain “biological corridors” and preserve critical areas like rivers and streams directly supports this target by protecting habitats and biodiversity.
2. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.” The article highlights the creation of “formal employment” for over 8,000 families and the promotion of “gender equity.”
   • Target 8.8: “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers…” This is a core challenge the initiative addresses by moving workers from informality to “Colombian labor legality, with social security, occupational risks, and occupational protection equipment.”
3. Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
   • Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The entire FSC certification model is based on this principle, exemplified by “low-impact forestry practices” such as utilizing only “six or seven trees… in a hectare” to protect the forest’s regenerative capacity.
4. Under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
   • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.” The article explicitly states that “more than 8,000 families participate in these processes, among indigenous communities, Afro-descendants, and peasants,” showcasing the economic inclusion of historically marginalized ethnic and rural groups.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 15 (Life on Land):
   • Indicator for Target 15.2: The area of certified forest is a direct indicator. The article states there are “more than 216,000 certified hectares under FSC standards.”
   • Indicator for Target 15.2: The rate of deforestation is a key metric. The article mentions that certified territories “have managed to reduce deforestation by 38%.”
   • Indicator for Target 15.5: The implementation of conservation practices, such as the mandatory maintenance of “biological corridors” and the preservation of “critical areas such as rivers or streams.”
2. For SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Indicator for Target 8.5: The number of people in formal employment. The article states that “more than 8,000 families” are participating and receiving “formal work, with benefits, health, and pension.”
3. For SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
   • Indicator for Target 12.2: The intensity of resource use. The article provides a specific example of low-impact practice: “six or seven trees are utilized in a hectare.”
4. For SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
   • Indicator for Target 10.2: The participation of specific marginalized groups. The article quantifies this by noting the involvement of “8,000 families” from “Afro-descendant, indigenous, and peasant” communities and highlights the certification of the “first indigenous community on the planet to produce FSC-certified natural rubber.”

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: noticiasambientales.com