In the master's thesis, we analysed the problems and challenges that KGZ Škofja Loka faces when purchasing and selling timber from certified and non-certified forests of its members. For this purpose, we conducted guided interviews with the wood procurement manager of the cooperative and with private forest owners who are its regular wood suppliers (n=15). It was found that the cooperative’s PEFC CoC certification has a significant impact on the certification of private forests, as the cooperative, need to supply certified timber, initiated forest owners to join the regional forest certification under PEFC scheme. The forest owners’ reasons for joining the regional forest certification under PEFC scheme were both economic and to continue their cooperation with the cooperative. They emphasized that the main benefit for them was the additional payment for certified timber, the coverage of the costs of obtaining the certificate and the administrative support provided by the cooperative. The main reasons for withdrawing from regional forest certification under PEFC scheme were the feeling of irrelevance of certification and the demanding administration burden of controls and audits. The wood procurement manager emphasized that the cooperative does not necessarily need the CoC certificate given the volume of timber purchases and current market requirements. However, it retains it for marketing reasons and in case market conditions change. In the future, the cooperative will need to provide at least the same level of support to forest owners if it wants to continue to be involved in the regional forest certification under PEFC scheme. The role of KGZ Škofja Loka and the PEFC authorities in Slovenia is to inform private forest owners and the public about forest certification and the chain of custody and its benefits.
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