Process

Responsible Use:
Biotech Tree Principles

Initiative Structure Overview

Responsible Use: Forest Biotechnology Principles is an initiative of the Institute of Forest Biotechnology that is being developed by working with Sponsors, Forest Biotechnology Partners, experts from around the world, and any interested stakeholders to create practices that guide the use of biotech trees in reponsible ways. Refer to the detailed initiative structure document for a thorough overview of how this initiative operates.

 

An Implementation Committee assimilates information from stakeholders in a strong bottom-up driven process. Experts for this committee are being drawn from every continent in the fields of academia, tree growers and users, public interest, environmental, and government. Forest Biotechnology Partners, and any interested stakeholder can play a significant role in the course of this initiative. The IFB and Initiative Sponsors will guide the process through strategic planning, guideline development, and real-world testing. An initial public set of principles will be launched in 2010 accompanying a management framework for the ongoing improvement of the initiative.

 

The structure of this initiative is diagrammed below:

 

Implementation Committee

This committee is comprised of world-class experts that bring information and experience from their current or previous work in forestry, biotechnology, environmental performance, government interactions, and forest stewardship. Please note that being on the Implementation Committee does not mean that the expert, or their organization, endorses the Responsbile Use: Forest Bitoechnology Principles. This freedom from endorsement ensures that the best, most honest representation will be brought to bear in developing these Principles.

 

North America

South America

Europe

Africa

Asia

Academia

 Dr. Steven Strauss Dr. Giancarlo Pasquali      

Tree Growers / Users

 Dr. Les Pearson Dr. Claudio Balocchi     Dr. Tim Strabala

Public Interest

   Dr. Celso Foelkel      

Environmental

 Mr. Tom Cors        

Government

 Dr. Randy Johnson Dr. Weber Amaral      

Merit Select

 Mr. John Heissenbuttel Dr. Rafael Vicuna      

Stakeholder Committee

This Committee is comprised of stakeholders and experts in various fields relating to forest biotechnology. Members of this committee provide targeted feedback to the Implementation Committee on interim work products.

Timeline

 Yellow = Planned    Blue = In Progress    Green = Complete    Red = Edited  

Date

Description

Link
November 17-19, 2009 International Stakeholder Forum #2 to be held in Chile Agenda and information coming soon
September 1, 2009 Online comment form is available. Responsible Use Comment Form
June 4, 2009 Latest version of the initiative structure document Detailed initiative structure (v8.x)
June 1, 2009 responsibleuse.org website is fully populated with content  
May 21, 2009 Latest version of the Responsible Use initiative summary. 1-page initiative summary (v1)
May 15, 2009 New responsibleuse.org website is launched You're looking at it!
April 30, 2009 Draft Version R.0.3.A of the stewardship document is compiled from input at stakeholder forum and sent to the full Implementation Committee for review. RU Draft Principles R.0.3.A
February 4-5, 2009 Implementation Committee and international Stakeholder Forum where the 5 Principles and 5 truths about forest biotechnology were established Forum Summary
September 15, 2008 Further discussion about the Responsible Use initiative at the Sustainable Forest Products Initiative meeting.  
August 11, 2008 Development of an online collaboration tool is in development to allow anyone to comment and contribute to the development of the principles. Form is available here.
August 1, 2008 After meeting with many environmental and other stakeholders additional collaboration mechanisms were added to the development plan. Now any interested person will be able to participate in the development of the principles. Full RU Narrative v6.x ;
Summary of RU initiative v3.x
July 21-23 IFB staff met with a number of environmental organizations to discuss collaboration and framing the Responsible Use principles. IFB's calendar of events
July 10, 2008 Educational outreach component added to the initiative. Full narrative is available: Version 5.x Full RU Narrative v5.x
June 16, 2008 Public draft of full initiative narrative is available: Version 4.x Full RU Narrative v4.x
May 1, 2008 Solicing Implementation Committee members. Application description is available. Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Implementation Description and Application
April 28, 2008 Expanded stakeholder engagement. Summary of RU initiative v2.x
April 21, 2008 Review of initiative with IFB's Board of Directors. Initiative name changed to, "Responsible Use™: Forest Biotechnology Principles" to better describe the entire value chain this guidance will include. IFB's Board of Directors
April 3, 2008 Initial meeting of Responsible Use for invited stakeholders. Implementation process for the initiative will be discussed. By invitation only. Meeting information for attendees.
March 12-13, 2008 Overview document discussed at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Sustainable Forest Product's Initiative (SFPI) meeting in Montreaux Switzerland SFPI information
February 1, 2008 Draft stakeholder engagement framework and mechanism to engage our Forest Biotechnology Partners. Forest Biotechnology Partners
January 1, 2008 Responsible Use: Forest Biotechnology Guidelines is launched  

Date

Description

Link

 

Sponsors

Responsible Use: Forest Biotechnology Principle sponsors are the reason the IFB can carry out this work. Thanks to their support, we will have a comprehensive set of principles and practices that can be implements by any biotech tree user along the value cahin.

Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation

MeadWestvaco Foundation

Biofuels Center of North Carolina

North Carolina Biotechnology Center