: Reference Bases for Forest Sustainability: Universality Challenged

ACLThe 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.Le recours immodéré à la notion de la durabilité masque souvent une réflexion insuffisante quant aux conditions nécessaires à la mise en œuvre des processus qui s'y rattachent. La question forestière s'avère à cet égard particulièrement instructive. Deux grandes démarches internationales, l'une portée par les États, l'autre par des acteurs privés, structurent la pensée et l'action en matière de durabilité forestière. La logique fondamentale suivie par ces dernières s'avère pourtant étonnamment proche : en cherchant à donner un contenu précis à la durabilité forestière, elles privilégient la qualité intrinsèque des forêts au détriment des besoins des acteurs. En ce sens, elles ne constituent certainement pas une traduction fidèle de l'objectif initial du développement durable. Quant à leur prétention à l'universalité, elle relève en définitive de la pure mystification