Certification of forests

March 6, 2023

Forest Certification offers a multi-layer audit system that seeks to authenticate the origin, legality, and sustainability of forest-based products such as timber, furniture, handicraft, paper and pulp, rubber, and many more.
The certification is done to avoid consumption of any product that might be the result of deforestation or illegal logging.
There are two major international standards:
- One developed by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) ;
- Other by Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certifications (PEFC).
- Both operate in India, but the Government is also working on its own national standards.
- They are not involved in the evaluation and auditing of the processes; it is done by certification bodies authorised by FSC or PEFC.
Two main types of certification:
- Forest management and
- Chain of Custody- CoC certification is meant to guarantee the traceability of a forest product like timber throughout the supply chain from origin to market.
Currently, forests in only one state in India i.e. Uttar Pradesh are certified.