Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) is pleased to announce the release of the MTCS ST 1002:2021 – an updated version of the Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (MC&I) SFM) – as the certification standard for sustainable management of natural forest and forest plantation under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS).
In order to ensure that MTCS standards fulfil the conditions of PEFC endorsement, minor amendments were made to the MC&I SFM (MTCS ST 1002:2021) and the Group Forest Management Certification Standard (MTCS ST 1003:2021). The amendments were deliberated and agreed by the Standards Review Committee during a meeting held virtually on 2 September 2021. Subsequently, both standards were approved by the MTCC Board of Trustees at its 89th Meeting held on 30 September 2021 and come into effect on the same date of approval.
MC&I SFM – What Are The Changes?
Amendments were made to the following Criteria and Indicators, without changing the overall structure of the current forest management standard:
- Addition of an indicator to limit the conversion of forest plantation to other land uses (Indicator 6.10.2 FP).
- Inclusion of a requirement that conversion does not negatively impact areas of significantly high carbon stock (Criterion 6.10).
- Elaboration of a requirement for an emergency procedure to minimise damage due to oil spillage (Criterion 6.7 & Indicator 6.7.1).
- Elaboration of a requirement to minimise the use of fertilisers for both natural forest and forest plantation management (Indicator 6.5.6).
- Addition of specific wordings and phrases such as ‘conservation, economic and social benefits’ (Criterion 6.10, Indicator 6.10.1); ‘native species that are well adapted to site conditions’ (Indicator 6.3.1, Criterion 6.9 FP) and ‘The impacts of the selected species on the ecosystem and on the genetic integrity of native species and local provenances shall be scientifically evaluated…’ (Indicator 6.9.3 FP) to illuminate full compliance with PEFC requirements.
Apart from publishing the Bahasa Melayu translation of MC&I SFM, MTCC will be conducting training for certification bodies and briefing sessions for relevant stakeholders on the requirements of the revised standard.
The standard is available for download here. Hardcopies will be made available soon. Please contact Mr. Melvin Ku at [email protected] for further information.