Syktyvdin Schoolchildren Took on Roles of FSC Certification Participants
According to the well-established tradition initiated by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) educational actions aimed at forest preservation and regeneration, as well as sustainable forest management, are held each year on the last Friday of September in many countries of the world. On that day experts share their knowledge on the way forest certification contributes to responsible forest management and supports the rights of the future generations to use forest resources. People from different corners of the world are reminded that forest is more than just a source of wood for people’s needs; it is also the basis for social and cultural uniqueness of local forest communities. The day saturated with responsible forestry promotion events is known as FSC Friday. This year, Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development also joined the celebration of responsible forestry.
The FSC Friday was combined with the tour of the health improvement Pine Forest path near Krasnozatonsky, so it wasn’t held on the last Friday of September, but on October 13. The informational tour was arranged by the Association of Foresters of the Komi Republic. Senior schoolchildren told the youngsters from Syktyvkar school forestry (Vylgort secondary school) and Syktyvdin school forestry (Pazhga secondary school) about the character of the pine forest ecosystem.
At the beginning of the tour
Schoolchildren are speaking about pine forest ecosystem
At one of the ecological tour stations
Deputy director of the Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development Valentina Semyashkina spoke with the students about multifunctional nature of forests and a great variety of stakeholders. Thus, the kids were brought to the conclusion that it was necessary to consider different, even contradictory at times interests to ensure sustainable and responsible forest management. Then, Silver Taiga’s staff moved on to the objectives of FSC forest certification, and after the children were briefly informed on its principles, they were invited to take part in a role game.
Silver Taiga Deputy Director Valentina Semyashkina
The role game introducing social aspects of the FSC certification to the kids and facilitated by Ms. Semyashkina became the most entertaining part of the day.
The game was based on a real case with a conflict in Keres, Kortkeros district, in 2012. At that time residents of the village were dissatisfied with one of the logging companies which managed some leased area in the south of Keres. Local residents were against cutting in the forest area which had always served as a place for collecting mushrooms and berries and laying hunting trails.
The participants of the role game were divided into seven groups representing a logging company, environmentalists, scientists, local residents, hunters and fishers, tourists interested in the region, and municipal authorities… After a short discussion within the group each of them had to announce and defend their interests with a purpose to convince other stakeholders. It was notable that the game revealed the same arguments and demonstrated the same situation as occurred in the real situation. Finally, the parties came to a compromise and managed to meet the interests of the business and locals – they decided to conduct selective cutting and preserve the most valuable for people parts of the forest.
“The hunters” are intent on defending their “trails”
“The scientists” are preparing their arguments against clear cutting
“We are cutting legally”, – “the logging operators” are saying
“The logging companies” are promising to plant the trees after cutting
When the game was over, the schoolchildren were offered sweets, while the most active participants were awarded with some prizes. To memorize the occasion, the students of Krasny Zaton secondary school put the stone of friendship near the campfire place of the health improvement path, and invited kids from other schools to do the same.
