From 2006 to 2023, I built up and led the Forestry & Land Use department at GFA Certification GmbH. I was responsible for hundreds of certification processes worldwide, covering the schemes FSC, PEFC, Gold Standard and SURE (Renewable Energy Directive RED II)

Together with a large international team of forestry specialists, ecologists, sociologists and economists, I have audited responsible forest management in over 20 countries on 4 continents. I had the great privilege of not only supporting sustainable management practices and the integrity of the global forestry supply chain, but also getting to know a variety of different management systems, natural areas and types of companies

Using a practice-oriented modular training programme developed for GFA, I have trained hundreds of landowners, engineers, government employees and companies, particularly in Southeast Asia and Latin America, in areas such as

• Occupational health & safety and safe working practices
• Social & Environmental Risk Assessment
• Environmental protection and safeguard concepts
• Sustainable Forest Management Practices
• Improvement of forest production
• Effective implementation of Corrective Action Plans
• Management and monitoring of producer groups (e.g. small growers)
• Conflict management and stakeholder engagement
• Corporate social responsibility & corporate citizenship
• Voluntary standards and international norms

Building on this wealth of experience, I am committed to my clients with the newly founded Gerhard Kuske Consulting and offer comprehensive and regionally and industry-specific customised solutions.