A Comparative Analysis of Five Forest Certification Programs

International expansion of forest certification programs has occurred over the last three decades. Both public and private organizations have shown increased interest in becoming certified by one or more forest certification bodies, to assure the public that forest resources are managed adequately in sustaining forest health and socio-economic viability. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) program is globally used as a benchmark to implement forest certification at the national and regional levels. The Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) and the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) are also used throughout the United States. In Europe, individual countries such as Bulgaria and Turkey have also developed national forest certification programs. The SFI, ATFS and Bulgarian programs are further endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). The results of a qualitative analysis comparing the FSC forest certification program with the SFI, the ATFS, and the two European national programs (Bulgarian and Turkish) suggest that differences in these programs are not necessarily related to their language, but to the level of detail and prescriptiveness of each program. We find that the FSC is much more detailed and prescriptive in nearly all aspects considered for forest certification. In particular, we find that most of the elements considered in the FSC Principle 6 (Environmental Impact) are either only superficial, or not addressed at all, in the other four programs. Furthermore, the other programs appear to be less comprehensive and detailed in the substance of the FSC monitoring and assessment principles. In a few areas, the Turkish program requires more quantitative indicators for assessing forest management than the other programs. Though a comparison of the legal framework related to forest management in each of the studied countries was briefly introduced, our study focuses on the certification schemes themselves; it may contribute to policy discussions in the future development and implementation of other certification programs.

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Forest management certification in the Americas: difficulties in complying with the requirements of the FSC system

International Forestry Review ◽

10.1505/146554820829403478 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 169-188

Author(s):

V. M. Basso ◽

B.G. Andrade ◽

L.A.G. Jacovine ◽

E.V. Silva ◽

R.R. Alves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Forest Management ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

The United States ◽

Forest Certification ◽

Forest Stewardship Council ◽

Goods And Services ◽

Environmental Requirements ◽

Forest Stewardship ◽

Audit Reports

'Forest management' aims to maintain forests as producers of goods and services, while ensuring their conservation for future generations. Forest certification has become one of the most widely used mechanisms to encourage and recognize this 'forest stewardship', with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) among the most well-known systems worldwide. FSC is widely used in several Management Units on the American Continent, which is home to large forest areas. Therefore, we evaluated the main difficulties in complying with the principles of the FSC standard in 18 American countries based on verification of non-conformities generated in the process. The data were obtained from information contained in the certification audit reports available on the FSC official website, covering all organizations with valid certificates from 1995 to 2013. We found that the United States presented the lowest mean of non-conformities per audit, which may indicate better capacity of managers to implement practices of its forestry activities. Regarding the deviation type, the United States and Canada presented higher indices in relation to the adequacy of the environmental impacts (P6) of their activities. Meanwhile, the greatest non-conformities in the Central and South America countries occurred in the labor and social area (P4), followed by environmental issues (P6). All organizations presented some type of non-compliance with the criteria set by the FSC and needed to adapt. The major difficulties encountered were related to compliance with environmental requirements. The need to implement corrective actions to maintain the certificate demonstrates a change of management influenced by the forest certification process, thus contributing to minimizing socio-environmental impacts resulting from forest operations.

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Forest management certification around the world –Progress and problems

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc2011-067 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 87 (05) ◽

pp. 603-611 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Tony Rotherham

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Forest Products ◽

Forest Certification ◽

Managed Forests ◽

Forest Stewardship Council ◽

The Public ◽

Certification Programs ◽

Management Standards ◽

The World ◽

Forest Stewardship

Certification to approved forest management standards is a recognized business practice. There are two international forest certification programs: the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The common objective of both is to improve forest management and provide assurance to the public and customers that forest products come from sustainably managed forests and not from illegal operations. As of June 2011 there were approximately 372 million ha of certified forests around the world. There are 234 million ha of forests in 26 countries that have been certified to standards approved by PEFC. There are143 million ha of forest certified to FSC standards in 81 countries. In 20 of these countries, with101 million ha (70%), the forests have been certified to standards approved by FSC. In the remaining 61 countries, 42 million ha (30%), the forests have been certified to draft or “interim standards” that have not gone through the FSC approval process. Consumers have no way of knowing whether the wood or paper products with an FSC label are from forests certified to FSC-approved standards or to “interim standards” developed by FSC certification bodies.

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Effects of forest certification towards sustainable community forestry in Nepal

Banko Janakari ◽

10.3126/banko.v17i1.654 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 11-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Pem N Kandel

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Community Forestry ◽

Forest Certification ◽

Managed Forests ◽

Forest Stewardship Council ◽

Community Forests ◽

Sustainable Community ◽

Forest Stewardship ◽

Forest Users

In early 2005, 10,045 ha Community Forests (CFs) were certified in Bajhang and Dolakha districts of Nepal by using the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification scheme. After two years of forest certification, subsequent questions are being asked such as: What benefits have certification brought for the Forest Users Groups (FUGs)? What tangible differences are there in forest management system because of forest certification? and What lessons have been learnt from the certified forests? In an attempt to answer these questions, a study was carried out in April 2007 in Dolakha district where 11 (2,182 ha) community managed forests were certified in 2005. On the basis of field study from two certified forests (Vitteripakha and Suspa) of the district, this paper analyzes the effects of forest certification and its implications for enhancing Sustainable Community Forestry (SCF) in Nepal. Key words: Sustainable forest management, forest certification, community forestry Banko Janakari: A journal of forestry information for Nepal Vol.17(1) 2007 pp.11-16

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FOREST CARE: Evaluating progress toward sustainable forest management in Alberta

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc75811-5 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 75 (5) ◽

pp. 811-820

Author(s):

Andrew M. Carpenter ◽

Winifred B. Kessler

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Forest Products ◽

Forest Planning ◽

Test Case ◽

Forest Certification ◽

Certification Program ◽

Audit Process ◽

Certification Programs ◽

Northern Alberta

Forest certification programs establish standards for sustainable forest management (SFM), and processes for evaluating the practices of companies relative to those standards. FORESTCARE is a volunteer, provincial-level certification program initiated by the Alberta Forest Products Association, its members, and stakeholders. Using a participating woodlands operation in northern Alberta as a test case, we examined how SFM criteria are applied in the FORESTCARE program, and whether measurable progress is evident. We also compared the FORESTCARE audit process with corporate and government audits performed in the same year. The test case revealed specific, measurable changes in management that represent actual or potential progress toward SFM. However, the improvements could not be directly attributed to the FORESTCARE Program. Recommendations are provided for strengthening FORESTCARE processes and practices. Key words: Alberta forestry, ecosystem management, FORESTCARE, forest certification, forest planning, public participation, sustainable forest management

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Assessment and Monitoring Protocols to Guarantee the Maintenance of Biodiversity in Certified Forests: A Case Study for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Forests in Southwestern Spain

Forests ◽

10.3390/f9110705 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 705

Author(s):

Antonio Sánchez-Almendro ◽

Pablo Hidalgo ◽

Rosario Galán ◽

José Carrasco ◽

Javier López-Tirado

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Forest Certification ◽

Forest Stewardship Council ◽

Conservation Areas ◽

Assessment And Monitoring ◽

High Conservation ◽

Conservation Values ◽

Forest Stewardship ◽

Monitoring Protocols

(1) Biodiversity, sustainable development and nature conservation are fundamental issues nowadays. All companies, administrations, governments and international organisations take these issues into consideration. Sustainable forest management always requires a compromise between profitability and conservation and in this fragile equilibrium, forest certification plays a key scheme. This sustainable management is of great importance in the European Union (EU), with the Forest Stewardship Council playing a fundamental role in forest certification. This certification forms the basis of the ecosystem conservation and improvement strategy in Ence, Energía y Celulosa, the leading company dedicated to the production of eucalyptus in Spain; (2) A three-phase protocol (identification of High Conservation Values, assessment of conservation areas and monitoring program), has been developed, providing clear, objective criteria, particularly concerning FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Principle 9, the primary goal being the development and application of these objective criteria in the Ence conservation areas in the province of Huelva (Spain). One of the main criteria for habitat classification was correspondence with the habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive. The compatibility between forest exploitation management and conservation proposed by the Natura 2000 network encouraged us to use this methodology for the identification, classification and assessment of High Conservation Values considered in FSC forest certification: Principle 9; (3) The study encompasses 183 forest management units covering 52,022 ha, with a total of 11,847.45 ha being identified as High Conservation Value Areas. Through the identification and assessment of the conservation areas, the described methodology played a crucial role in demonstrating the positive impact of Ence’s certified forest management on the conservation of biological diversity; (4) This study demonstrates that an objective and reliable identification, assessment and monitoring methodology, with a proven high degree of accuracy in the location and characterisation of interesting and representative habitats in the region, can be implemented. Due to its objectivity, this strategy can be easily applied to other European sustainable forest management sites and possibly to other countries outside the EU.

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Analisis Rantai Pemasaran Kayu Sertfikasi FSC Di Kabupaten Kulon Progo

Jurnal Nasional Teknologi Terapan (JNTT) ◽

10.22146/jntt.39167 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 169

Author(s):

Wiyono Wiyono ◽

Silvi Nur Oktalina ◽

Rochmat Hidayat

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Large Scale ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Small Scale ◽

Forest Certification ◽

Forest Stewardship Council ◽

Community Forest ◽

Wood Processing ◽

Certified Wood ◽

Marketing Chain

Forest certification is a market-based policy instrument aimed to ensuring that any traded timber is legal and derived from sustainably managed forests. Forest certification is not only applied to large scale forest management but also small scale such as community forest. This study aims: (1) to know the pattern of marketing chain of certified timber; (2) to know the actors involved in the marketing of certified timber; (3) to know the marketing constrains of certified timber faced by farmers. This research was conducted at Wana Lestari Menoreh Cooperative (KWLM) in Kulon Progo Regency. KWLM is a community forest cooperative that has successfully obtained a certificate of sustainable forest management with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard since 2011. Data collection is done by: (1) in-depth interviews to actors involved in marketing of certified wood; (2) observation of each stage of certified timber marketing chain; (3) study documents related to marketing chain of certified timber. Data then analyzed descriptive method. The results show that: (1) the pattern of marketing chain of certified wood is simpler than non certified timber; (2) The actors involved in the marketing chain of certified timber are farmers, harvester, cooperation, PT SOBI, wood processing industry; (3) The major constraint faced by farmers in marketing of certified timber is a payment that do not made in cash as done by non-certified timber trader.

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The efficacy of forest certification: Perceptions of Canadian forest products retailers

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc2011-070 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 87 (05) ◽

pp. 636-643 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Juan Chen ◽

Anna Tikina ◽

Robert Kozak ◽

John Innes ◽

Peter Duinker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Forest Products ◽

Wood Products ◽

Iso 14001 ◽

Forest Certification ◽

Forest Stewardship Council ◽

Market Place ◽

Certified Wood ◽

Forest Stewardship ◽

Nation Wide Survey

A nation-wide survey of wood products retailers was conducted to examine their perceptions related to forest certification and its impacts in the market place. Four widely accepted forest certification standards were taken into account: International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) 14001, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Z809 Standard. The survey inquired about the economic impacts of forest certification, namely wood purchasing policies and the potential for price premiums on certified wood products. The responses indicated that most retailers had no particular purchasing policies for certified products. However, they reported up to a 20% price premium on certain certified products, although the number of consumers who request certified wood products was small (less than 10%). The retailers also indicated that the most important reasons for buying or selling certified forest products revolved around improved company image, being an environmental leader in the field, and maintaining or increasing market share. Finally, respondents felt that forest certification had minimal impacts on the social aspects of forest management, while the environmental and economic aspects of forest management were perceived to be subject to more marked changes.

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Post-hurricane forest management responses in the southern United States

Journal of Emergency Management ◽

10.5055/jem.2009.0038 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 35

Author(s):

Pete Bettinger, PhD ◽

Krista L. Merry, MS ◽

Jeffrey Hepinstall, PhD

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Forest Management ◽

Forest Health ◽

Storm Surges ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

The United States ◽

Southern United States ◽

Service Needs ◽

Strong Winds ◽

Social Recovery

Although people living along the southeastern and Gulf coasts of the United States may have limited experience dealing with major hurricane damage, hurricanes are imminent and pose potentially dire consequences to forest resources. In addition to understanding the physical and biological reactions of forests to extreme weather conditions, there are a number of managerial responses that should be considered based on this past experience. This article presents a summary of the more pertinent forest management responses, and where appropriate, highlights situations where these were beneficial to the overall (economic, ecological, social) recovery effort. Management responses address not only the immediate needs for clearing roads and restoring basic service needs, but also the longer-term issues related to timber salvage, reforestation, forest health, and fire danger. The damage from strong winds and storm surges may also result in serious consequences for ecological values. However, challenges and issues related to the restoration of forests and forest-related values may require several years to address. Therefore, the objective of this review article is to provide a summary of the experiences of forest land managers, researchers, and emergency planners who have directly responded to severe storms affecting the southern United States.

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Understanding Sustainable Forest Management Certification in Slovakia: Forest Owners’ Perception of Expectations, Benefits and Problems

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10072470 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 2470 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hubert Paluš ◽

Ján Parobek ◽

Rastislav Šulek ◽

Ján Lichý ◽

Jaroslav Šálka

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Forest Certification ◽

Forest Stewardship Council ◽

Forest Owners ◽

Local Conditions ◽

Price Premiums ◽

Forest Management Practices

Forest certification as a voluntary verification tool has been providing an independent assessment of sustainable forestry practices and thus confidence in sustainability benchmarks for over 20 years. Using either the international or national approaches and initiatives, two main forest certification systems, PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), have spread in a number of countries worldwide. The specifics of local conditions in the forestry sector have to be taken into account when implementing the certification context in a given country or a region. Apart from the natural conditions, institutional structure, or legislative framework, it is also the local and national stakeholders and their perception of this issue that provides the background for the implementation of the certification criteria. The main objective of this study is to examine the general understanding of the certification concept as an environmental, economic, and social tool, and to determine the incentives of forest owners in Slovakia for sustainable forest management (SFM) certification. In addition, the benefits and problems arising from participation in certification were identified and differences reflecting the ownership structure of forests, size of forest area, and participation in a particular certification programme were analysed. Results indicate that certified forest owners, unlike non-certified, demonstrated a high level of understanding of the SFM certification concept. Certified entities mainly consider forest certification as their commitment to environmental responsibility and a tool for improving external company image, promoting sustainable utilisation of forest resources, and improving forest management practices. The main benefits are linked to the possibility to demonstrate forest management practices, a better understanding of the forest management concept, and improvement of forest management practices. PEFC users perceive more benefits following from certification; the most important are those associated with non-economic values, while FSC-certified forest owners perceive mainly economic benefits connected to market penetration, increased sales volume, and potential price premiums. The key problems associated with certification relate to duties to ensure compliance with certification criteria by contractors and administrative difficulties. Respondents reported minimum price premiums for the sale of their certified timber. Additionally, the findings of the study pointed out that a nationally developed certification system can better recognise the roles and objectives of forest certification in the context of forest policy.

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Improving Communications to Increase Nonindustrial Private Forest Landowner (NIPF) Participation in Forest Certification Programs: A Case Study in Arkansas, USA

Forests ◽

10.3390/f13010086 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 86

Author(s):

Elena C. Rubino ◽

Nana Tian ◽

Matthew H. Pelkki

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Information Sources ◽

Timber Harvesting ◽

Perceived Usefulness ◽

Forest Certification ◽

Private Forest ◽

Certification Programs ◽

Management Actions ◽

Nonindustrial Private Forest ◽

Nipf Landowners

Despite the socioeconomic and ecological significance of the 10.4 million acres of forestland owned by nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners across Arkansas (approximately 58% of forestland in the state), only 5% of this land is certified through the American Tree Farm System. As such, understanding how to improve the reach and content of communications to NIPF landowners is vital for expanding certification participation and subsequent improvement of forest management in Arkansas and throughout the southern United States. To explore current and optimal communications to increase NIPF participation, we employed Berlo’s source–message–channel–receiver (SMCR, 1960) model to analyze survey data collected from Arkansas NIPF landowners regarding their familiarity with, interest in, and information sources for forest certification programs. Our results indicate that NIPF landowners have a relatively low familiarity with certification programs and a low interest in adopting a certification program regardless of personal involvement throughout the certification process, the transparency of on-sight inspections to the public, and the requirements of forest management plans. However, positive correlations were found between self-reported familiarity with certification programs and the perceived usefulness of various information sources, indicating that communications to NIPF landowners have the ability to be influential. Furthermore, the results showed that the greatest perceived benefits to landowners were improved timber growth and health, better management actions, and environmentally-friendly timber harvesting, whereas the most concerning perceived drawbacks were increased record-keeping and paperwork as well as management costs. These findings will offer actionable insights into future messaging campaigns and provide directions for new approaches of reaching NIPF landowners to increase their participation in forest certification.

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