Référentiels de durabilité forestière : Le en questioń

Abstract

The immoderate use of the notion of sustainability often obscures the essential point of the conditions really needed to bring into play the processes that attach to it. Hence a great disappointment due to the gap between the intentions declared and the effects achieved. The forest issue turns out to be highly instructive on that point. As far as the implementation of forest sustainability is concerned, two main international approaches may be observed. Using the logic of principles, criteria and indicators, States aim to define sustainability as precisely as possible. A kind of ideal model of well-managed forest is produced. Consequently, the debate on objectives is replaced with purely technical standards. The other international approach, supported by private actors, is market-driven. Major environmental NGOs have placed great hope in the emergence of this tool supposed to favour a new forest governance. However, its logic is quite similar to the previous one and leads to promote an environmental standard far remote from the initial objective of sustainable development and unable to solve the real problems that forest actors are facing. Finally, despite their claim to offering universal solutions to the problem of sustainability, these two approaches appear in fact to be pure mystifications. © 2008 NSS Dialogues EDP Sciences.