Fostering FSC Forest Certification in Russia

Since the early 1990s, the Russian forest sector has been undergoing profound change determined both by national reforms and patterns of internationalization. Although the newly emerged market economy in Russia has brought challenges to Russian forests, the cross-border influence of market forces has also encouraged the introduction of responsible forestry practices into Russia. Due to the efforts of NGOs, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification has become part of Russian regulatory processes. Although in Russia non-governmental actors are engaged in international networks and operate independently, they have to take into account governmental policies because Russia is a country with a strongly centralized state and all land, including forests, is federal property. All certification initiatives must to a certain extent involve the Russian government as a landowner and stakeholder. This article shows how NGOs have engaged the Russian government, as well as industry and the public, in FSC certification. The FSC appears to represent a way of bringing the Russian forest industry into European markets and simultaneously of bringing the global practices of sustainable forest management into Russia. It is a mechanism for developing relevant trade policies, supporting environmentally responsible business, and instituting investment safeguards.