High Conservation Value Forest definition for Ireland
Consultation ongoing through 30 September 2008
For information, click here.
Who we are and what we do
The Irish Forestry Certification Initiative Ltd. (IFCI) is a company established to develop a national forest management standard in Ireland based upon the principles and criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). It is accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council as the National Initiative in Ireland.
The main objectives of IFCI are:
* To advance sustainable forest management in Ireland
* To develop a certifiable forest management standard for Irish forests based upon the principles and criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
* To engage the general public and relevant interest groups in the development of the Irish FSC forest management standard.
IFCI is a membership-based organisation. Participation by all interested people is very welcome.
There are several reasons and ways to be involved: to serve on the Steering Committee, to help promote FSC certification in Ireland, to serve on a Technical Working Group, to keep abreast of developments, and/or to make submissions during public consultation phases of the standard. Because participants may have widely divergent points of view, IFCI uses ground rules.
A view from the FSC Plantations Review Policy Working Group Final Report:
As members of FSC, we are all engaged in building something quite exceptional. We are creating an organisation, for which there are few models for us to learn from. And, in so doing, we have chosen a highly challenging organisational model. When, as we do, you deliberately bring together people and organisations with very different needs, aspirations and views, it is almost guaranteed to result in conflict, which can be either positive or negative.
IFCI is structured and administered according to procedures laid down in its M&AoA and the Companies Act (1963). IFCI is a membership organisation - everything is decided by members. All interested parties are welcome to join. IFCI is directed by a Steering Committee.
As in FSC, members of IFCI are affiliated with one of three chambers: economic, environmental and social.
The Social Chamber includes non-profit, non-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples associations, unions as well as research, academic, technical institutions and individuals that have a demonstrated commitment to socially beneficial forestry. This means that they support forest management and believe in delivering forest products to the market in a way that does not infringe on the rights of other stakeholders.
The Environmental Chamber includes non-profit, non-governmental organizations, as well as research, academic, technical institutions and individuals that have an active interest in environmentally viable forest stewardship.
The Economic Chamber includes organizations and individuals with a commercial interest. Examples are employees, certification bodies, industry and trade associations (whether profit or non-profit), wholesalers, retailers, traders, consumer associations, and consulting companies. Applicants with economic interests must have demonstrated active commitment to implementing FSC Principles and Criteria in their operations. 
Organisational documents and minutes are available to all interested parties. Click here for a full list of documents and meeting minutes to download. IFCI members receive irregular newsletters and updates.
To contact IFCI:
Geraldine O'Sullivan, corresponding secretary. 
Email: ifci at irishforestcertification.com
Contact address: c/o Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12
Sasha Bosbeer (Chair)
Phone: 087 6685836 (Monday - Friday, business hours only; please leave a message if not available)
Directors: Pat Neville and Declan Little.
Company No. 332495.
Contact address c/o Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12
To send in feedback on this website: website at irishforestcertification.com
Website design and photographs © by Sasha Bosbeer
Website © 2008 Irish Forestry Certification Initiative, Ltd.