Certification

Forest Certification is simply a way for consumers of wood to have some assurance that the products they are using come from forests where there is minimal negative impacts of harvesting.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is one of two non-profit, non-government global organisations which evaluates and oversees a number of approved certifying organisations. FSC has a global network of endorsed national contact persons and working groups in 17 countries and now includes New Zealand.

The FSC defines forest stewardship in a set of Principles and Criteria for Forest Management.
 

These are:
Meet all applicable laws
Have legally established rights to harvest
Respect indigenous rights
Maintain community well-being
Conserve economic resources
Protect biological diversity
Have a written management plan
Engage in regular monitoring
Maintain high conservation value forests
Manage plantations to alleviate pressures on natural forests

The Principles and Criteria are the basis by which all certifiers are evaluated for accreditation. Consumers buying products with an FSC label can be assured that their purchase comes from a forest which has been managed according to FSC Principles, as well as to strict local and regional standards. FSC-endorsed regional standards reflect a balance between the latest science, best known forest management practices, and current public values.

Presently there are 8 global certifying organisations (SmartWood, SCS, Skal, SGS, IMO, Soil Assoc., BM TRADA, QMI). All their certifying systems involve the development of standards and criteria for forest management. These can be exclusively focused on forest management or incorporate a chain-of-custody certification as well. Chain-of-Custody ensures the consumers that the product originated from a sustainably managed source and has been tracked through the milling manufacturing and distribution processes. The result is that when consumers see an FSC logo on a forest product, they can be sure that their purchase supports forestry that meets the highest standards for environmentally and socially responsible forestry.

This third party certification protects the worlds forests for future generations. Environmental groups such as World Wildlife Fund, the National Wildlife Federation, Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council agree that certification encourages sound forest management and is good for forest conservation.

For more information on FSC go to www.fscus.org
 

New Zealand Beech Ltd's three sources are entering their second phase of global certification.

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