The Rainforest Foundation, which was set up by Sting and his wife, Trudi Styler, fell foul of other environmental groups yesterday by declaring that a scheme to promote ecologically sound timber was deceiving consumers.

The foundation claimed in a report that the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) had failed to police the system for certifying that timber bearing its logo had been produced in a way that did not add to the destruction of rainforests or the exploitation of local people. The FSC was set up in 1993 to reassure consumers, and it has the support of groups including Friends of the Earth and the Worldwide Fund for Nature.

But the foundation claimed that timber companies certified by the FSC were implicated in human rights abuses, were logging in the rainforest habitats of endangered wildlife such as the Sumatran tiger and that "uncertified" wood had been labeled as environmentally friendly. The report also accused the FSC of marginalizing local communities in its decision-making process.

In its response, the council said it would investigate any abuses of human rights and asked the foundation for further details. It said the claim about the Sumatran tigers referred to concerns about a particular company in Indonesia which had already been dealt with by the local certification body.

But it added: "Concerns over tigers were not upheld as repeated audits have found evidence that wildlife, including tigers, are actually moving into the certified area as a result of improved forest management in the certified area."

The FSC said that when breaches of the certification system were found, action was taken immediately. "Whilst we welcome the Rainforest Foundation report for its extensive research we find that it cites many cases that have long been solved and in some cases major rule changes in FSC have resulted.''

Beatrix Richards, forests policy officer of the Worldwide Fund for Nature, said: "We have faith that this system is the best one available and that any faults can be dealt with. We can't do away with the council because what would you replace it with?"

A spokesman for Greenpeace, which is not a member of the FSC's council, said it still backed the body. "It's the only credible system that exists. The report does identify some failings and if that helps to strengthen the FSC, it can only be a good thing."

© 2002 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

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