The Bangor Daily News article on Nov. 23-24, regarding the certification of Irving’s forestland in Maine, unfortunately featured only one opinion in defining the Forest Stewardship Council forest certification and appeal process, and ignored the related work of many respected scientific experts. It is unfortunate that the reporter understood so little about the certification and appeal processes that she failed to contact either the FSC or the actual certifier in developing the story.

Irving’s lands were accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council in 2000 through a team of independent forestry experts working for Scientific Certification Systems. Most of the certifying team were from Maine – Dr. Robert Seymour, Dr. Lloyd Irland, Mike Thompson. In addition to the many weeks of on the ground assessment and review, the FSC certification process also included input and peer reviews by other local experts.

The Sierra Club appealed the awarding of the certificate in 2000, which started an additional review process by FSC. A new group of forestry experts were convened to evaluate the certificate, and this second group recently determined the validity of the certificate to Irving Woodlands. By failing to even contact any of these groups or individuals in developing your story, the BDN has unfairly discredited the work of these many individuals who spent considerable time reviewing actual conditions in the forest. In addition, the poorly researched story has discredited the integrity of the FSC certification program itself – a program that at one time had been recognized and supported by the environmental community in Maine.

Maine has spent considerable effort defining and promoting sustainable forestry management over the past decade. Independent Forest Certification has been one of our most productive efforts. It properly recognizes that forest management is about balancing all aspects of forestry; ecological and economic. It also recognizes that assessing a forest management program must be done with facts and good science, as opposed to stereotypes and innuendo.

The FSC program exists to provide credible independent assessments of forest management to consumers and the general public. The Sierra Club has rejected the integrity of the FSC program, and the BDN’s reporting has raised the doubt that participating in the FSC program provides any constructive benefits to Irving Woodlands. I hope your future reporting efforts on the subject are done with more homework, effort and understanding of the subject.

Charles Gadzik is employed by Irving Woodlands in Ashland.