A sweet reminder that ideas shape reality

Strength is not only in numbers. It is also in ideas. That is especially true in FSC – a system that co-creates sustainable forestry solutions through a collaborative and consultative process worldwide. 

A case in point: development of national standards

To ensure local relevance, international FSC Principles and Criteria are adapted to a country’s local ecological, social, and economic conditions. A local standard development group (SDG) composed of members representing three chambers – social, environmental, and economic – adapts the standard with bottom-up, grassroots input. This process concludes with a National Forest Stewardship Standard (NFSS) that local organizations and companies must follow to achieve and maintain FSC certification.

An extra ingredient in Lithuania’s standard

Sometimes, an outside perspective is key to redefine what forestry is and what relationships we hold within it. 

When the honeybee keepers approached the Lithuanian SDG in 2019, the standard development work was already well in progress. Two beekeeper associations – Baltic APIS and the Lithuanian Professional Beekeepers Association ‘Austėja’, led by its president and a beekeeper of 50 years, Vytis Garbauskas – joined forces to suggest inclusion of beekeeping into the national standard. This was an unprecedented approach in a country where honeybee keeping in forests has been allowed but never prioritized as a sustainable forestry activity. 

Not only was their request considered, but they also helped formulate the current indicators around beekeeping in certified forests in Lithuania. It was a long collaboration which led to success for everyone involved: forest ecosystems, honeybee keepers, forest owners, and consumers. 

Benefits for all

Thanks to the collaborative engagement among Baltic APIS, Austėja, and the SDG, the Lithuanian NFSS came into effect in 2021 with beekeeping identified as one of the priority activities in certified forests. There are benefits for:

Forest ecosystems: 

1. More flora and fauna biodiversity preserved in forests by ensuring enough nectar trees and shrubs (linden, maple, ash trees, wild apple and pear trees, goat willows and other willows) are preserved and planted and hollow trees and buffer zones around them are protected.
2. Safer living conditions for honeybees. Forests shield them from wind and reduce exposure to agricultural pesticides.
3. Bees support the robustness of forest ecosystems through pollination.
4. Beekeeping produces non-timber forest products and, as an alternative source of income, helps ensure the social and economic value of forests beyond timber.

Beekeepers: better access to global markets and higher market standing in the local market due to better selling prices and proof of product quality.

Consumers: cleaner, traceable products as pesticide usage is not allowed in FSC-certified forests in Lithuania.

Forest owners: honeybee products such as honey, propolis, and bee bread provide an alternative source of income. 

Unique collaboration 

With 13 certificate holders in the world, FSC-certified honey is still a niche product. But in Lithuania, a group certificate holder Darnūs Miškai sees a growing interest among its members. “The demand is strong,” said Deivis Pranckūnas, Director of Darnūs Miškai. “The cool spring did not give the bees much work, so both the bees and the forest owners are waiting for the sun to help produce honey and meet market needs.” To date, four members of Darnūs Miškai are certified for honey production: beekeeper Rimgaudas Aleknavičius, MSK Zanavykų šilas (beekeeper Vytis Garbauskas), UAB GreenGold Timberlands 2 (beekeeper Gediminas Juškys ) and UAB Europos miškas (beekeeper Gediminas Juškys). A fifth is on a waiting list for an audit to obtain certification. 

“We sell locally, but our honey is also exported,” says Vytis. At first, the FSC-certified honey lacked a clear value proposition in the market. Sigita Garbauskienė, a beekeeper and wife of Vytis, adds: “You must educate [the market]. This honey can't be standing on the shelf and mean nothing. And what do you know, one year later, customers were asking for this exact honey. Everyone is interested, and everybody wants this brand mark."

Aside from leading the inclusion of honeybee keeping into the NFSS for Lithuania, Vytis Garbauskas also charted a unique path to achieve FSC certification for bee products. As a honeybee keeper without a private forest, he reached out to Darnūs Miškai in search of a certified forest to set up his beehives. A member of the group certification came forward –MSK Zanavykų šilas – underscoring the flexibility and collaborative spirit of the FSC system. With their cooperation, Vytis now keeps 16 beehives in their forest.