Forest Certification Programs
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
The Forest Stewardship council (FSC) is an independent international
nonprofit organization founded in 1993 that promotes responsible
forestry. FSC encourages the development of national and regional forest
management standards and provides public education and information
about independent, third-party certification as a tool for ensuring that
forests are protected for future generations. Independent, certification
organizations are accredited by FSC to carry out assessments of forest management to
determine if standards have been met. These certifiers also verify that companies
claiming to sell FSC certified products have tracked their supply back to FSC certified
sources. FSC-US, based in Washington, DC, is the U.S. “chapter” of FSC International,
based in Bonn Germany. For more information about FSC at the International level,
please visit www.fscoax.org. In the U.S., the FSC recognizes two accredited certifiers—
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) in Oakland, California, and SmartWood
headquartered in New York. Website (U.S.): www.fscus.org
American Tree Farm
The American Tree Farm program started in 1941 to recognize good forest
management. A Tree Farm committee comprised of industry, landowners,
federal and state agencies, and others modernized these standards in 1998.
The American Tree Farm system is sponsored nationally by the American
Forest Foundation and is the world’s oldest sustainable forestry and
certification program.
Property owners with more than 10 acres of
forestland must have a management plan, actively mange the forest, protect it from fire
and insects, protect water quality, and provide for wildlife and recreation. Every five
years Tree Farms are re-inspected to assure that landowners continue to meet the
System’s rigorous forestry certification criteria.
Although foresters make
recommendations and present options, private landowners make decisions about how
to manage their land. Website: www.treefarmsystem.org
International Standards Organization (ISO)
The International Standards Organization (ISO) formed in 1947 and
promotes worldwide standards, international consistency and world trade.
There are two standards; ISO 14000 which deals with the objective of
sustainable development discussed and ISO 14001 which does not
establish performance requirements or specific criteria that define sustainable forestry.
It establishes a system for auditing, monitoring and improving environmental
performance within a company to determine if the organization is achieving its stated
environmental policies and objectives. It also allows organizations to self-declare they
are conforming to standards. Since it is not a labeling program, no chain-of-custody
certification is conducted. Website: www.iso.ch/iso/en/isooonline.frontpage
Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFISM) program
The Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) program was developed by the
American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) in 1994. The SFI program is
a system of principles, objectives and performance measures that integrate the
perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with other forest benefits.
Participating forest product industries are encouraged to meet market
demands while using environmentally responsible practices. The SFI objectives
translate these principles into action by providing those who mange forests in North
America with a specific roadmap to expand the practice of sustainable forestry and to
visibly improve performance. AF&PA members and SFI program licensees can conduct
formal self-verifications, work with a second party or seek third-party certification.
Website: www.aboutsfi.org
Green Tag
The Green Tag program was developed in 1998 by the National Forestry
Association with the National Woodland Owners Association and
Association of Consulting Foresters. This nation-wide program for nonindustrial, private forest owners has 10 criteria that outline its approach to
forest management, including: Forest planning and management; forest
health, inventory and natural diversity; logging and reforestation; road
construction and protection of special sites; product utilization and
aesthetics; chemical utilization; community and social relations; economic viability;
record-keeping; and commitment to sustainability. Certifications are good for five years
and re-verification is available by application. Website: www.greentag.org/