Forest Certification Auditing

Forest management auditing is expanding from its traditional focus on forest management, stewardship and Chain of Custody certification to more innovative topics such as ecosystem services, forest carbon credits, Non-Wood Forest Products, wood energy and Fair Trade certification. Forest managers, auditors and project developers require a new range of skills, capacities and expertise to monitor these issues. This book outlines the market-based tools that are required by such professionals to ensure corporate social responsibility in the forestry sector. It shows how a mutual learning process between established forest certification processes and innovative markets is needed. It addresses key topics such as High Conservation Value (HCV) approaches, the role of independent certification versus due diligence process and the engagement of smallholders and SMEs. Beginning with a market and policy analysis, the book fosters a deeper understanding of standards, methodologies and auditing techniques. Numerous case studies are included from a wide range of contexts, including both temperate and tropical forests in developed and developing countries. Overall, the book analyses all the steps towards forest management and forest products and services certification.

First published in 1995, The Forest Certification Handbook has become the landmark book concerning all aspects of forest and wood product certification from policy to business to in-the-field technical issues. Yet since first publication an enormous amount has happened in the field. This new second edition has been entirely rewritten to incorporate the changes over the past decade, and is a complete and up-to-date source of information on all aspects of developing, selecting and operating a forest certification programme that provides both market security and raises standards of forest management.

Ensuring Sustainability in Forestry: certification of forests details the concepts and approaches required to meet the desired international standards of forest certification. It brings together important issues related to forest certification, which need to be applied and utilized in the context of forests in India in the present scenario. It also focuses on economic factors, greening of certification processes, and the interface between technical and business knowledge. Drawing on a wealth of information provided by valuable studies across the globe, this volume discusses forest certification and its impact on conservation and development of biodiversity. It is a comprehensive and detailed guide for forest managers, owners, and consultants; government foresters; and forest product traders.

"This report presents findings of a survey on forest management planning and forest certification schemes for on- and off-reserve forests in Canadian First Nations communities. The survey covers such topics as awareness among First Nations communities of forest management plans and certification programs; resource management capacity; implementation of existing forest management plans; and certification opportunities. It includes four case studies of communities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and British Columbia."--Government of Canada Publications website.

From forester to retailer, stakeholders in the industry are under increasing pressure to assure customers that their wood products have come from well managed, sustainable forests. The Forest Certification Handbook gives practical advice on developing, selecting and operating a certification programme which provides both market security and raises standards of forestry management. It provides a thorough analysis of all the issues surrounding certification, including the commercial benefits to be gained, the policy mechanisms required, the interpretation and implementation of forestry management standards, and the process of certification itself. Three unique directories give details of currently certified forests, international and national initiatives, and active certification programmes.

First published in 1995, The Forest Certification Handbook has become the landmark book concerning all aspects of forest and wood product certification from policy to business to in-the-field technical issues. Yet since first publication an enormous amount has happened in the field. This new second edition has been entirely rewritten to incorporate the changes over the past decade and is a complete and up-to-date source of information on all aspects of developing, selecting and operating a forest certification program that provides both market security and raises standards of forest management.