A Primer on Forest Certification
The foundation of forest certification was built on a concern for the destruction of tropical rainforests. The Rainforest Alliance launched its SmartWood Program in 1990 in response to this issue. Their premise was that several independent groups would scientifically evaluate and certify forests that were correctly managed for sustainability and biodiversity.
The unique part of the plan was to use consumer purchasing of forest products as the catalyst for responsible forest management around the world. Harnessing market forces would perpetuate a healthy forest with little or no need for regulation. Even Rainforest Alliance indicated it was not a "panacea" for forest management improvements but would work if, and only if, other initiatives and policies were in place.
Still, Rainforest Alliance has developed one of the only workable certification systems anywhere on the planet. This forest certification process is managed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and based in Bonn, Germany.
The World Wildlife Fund "considers the FSC certification system to be the only credible system to ensure environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests." WWF recommends the FSC system to consumers, forest managers, policy makers, businesses and the public.
This certification process has now evolved into a major worldwide movement and is well documented on the World Wide Web. It has been the subject of numerous worldwide conferences and is getting much global exposure. The forest certification report card is not in yet and, as you will see, the effectiveness of the process is still under debate.
What is Forest Certification?
Forest certification is a means by which consumers can have confidence that they are buying wood from sustained forest sources - with documented proof of sustainability. This process ensures forest diversity and protection through a "green premium" and invigorates forests that are managed under this system. Theoretically, certified forests would be environmentally, socially and economically better able to sustain a timber product while maintaining adequate wildlife habitat and water quality protection.
But how do you know if a forest qualifies?
The whole process depends on the certifier's reliability and the "chain of custody" back to the wood source. The certifier (usually an organization) considers whether the timber resources are sustainable. The certifier gives equal weight to the health of the entire forest ecosystem, which includes adequate wildlife habitat and watershed protection, and the economic and cultural impact of the operation on local communities. This leads to certification if all the qualifications are met.
Certification Agencies
In the early stages of the program several organizations came forward to define certification and certification compliance. Almost as soon as these programs were launched it became evident that a broader organization would be needed to provide over-site - a certifier of the certifiers.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was organized to evaluate, accredit and monitor certifiers, and to strengthen the process through training, education, and the development of national initiatives. The FSC does not certify forest products itself. It ensures consumers that certifying organizations have the highest level of credibility and integrity.
Are These Products Being Bought?
There are few companies actually certifying timber products at present. The quantity of timber being produced worldwide that is certified is limited.
Fondo Sikod, in a report presented to the Conference on Economic, Social and Political Issues In Certification of Forest Management , stated that "the quantity of timber being produced worldwide that is certified is very small. It is estimated that in 1993, approximately 1.5 million m3 tons of timber and timber products (tropical and temperate) were certified; that is less than 0.5 percent of world trade in timber." The actual land area growing certified wood is approximately the size of Vermont, USA.
An article in E/The Environmental Magazine indicated that certified "green premium" wood has, for the most part, only scattered availability. Seven Islands Land Company's Tom Goodyear stated that you can find the wood if you need " a substantial portion of a truckload". But he further indicated that it would still be "difficult for someone to go into a lumberyard and buy three two-by-fours."
Maine's Seven Islands Land Company manages one of the largest certified forests in the United States. They went through the certification process in 1993.
The Doubtful Side
While the system has managed to produce a small supply of certified timber, doubters continue to be vocal about a number of important issues. One of them is the question of whether there is any real demand for certified "green premium" wood. Market evidence, to date, suggests there is not. Certification comes well down the list of consumer priorities - after price, quality, and fitness for use.
Another serious doubt comes down on the certification process. The "Teakwood Controversy" is just one example of how reliability and credibility can taint the certification process. This case highlights how difficult the process can be when there is no clear mechanism to screen the reliability of potential certifiers or certified sources.
Julio Cesar Centro documents a case where a Dutch owned company sold economic ownership in a Costa Rican teak plantation where owners were entitled to 85 percent of the revenues when sold. A certifier qualified the property and was to participate in the profit. Grossly exaggerated claims as to the profit potential were made and a scandal resulted.
Read About More Forest Certification Options...
- Forest Sustainability - What are we Talking About?
- Voluntary Certification - The American Tree Farm System
Check for more links at Forest Certification
