The Forest Certification Handbook

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.

This is a practical guide to all aspects of the creation, implementation and monitoring of certification programmes for wood and timber products. It includes full indexes of certified forests, certification agencies and consultancies, and provides data that businesses, government agencies, environmental groups and consumer associations will need to know in order to understand and implement certification procedures and to ensure whether specific forestry products have been properly managed.

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.

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.

Handbook on Forest Certification, a thorough research work, discusses in detail the concepts and approaches required to meet the desired international standards of forest certification. It covers those aspects of forest certification that are practised globally and need to be applied in the emerging context of forests in India. The book focuses on changing global perspective on forest resources, importance and need for sustainable management of forests, increasing consumer awareness, and dealing with preferences for certified forest products. Drawing on a wealth of information provided by valuable studies across the globe, this book discusses sustainable forest management and forest certification and their impact on conservation and development of biodiversity. It is a comprehensive and detailed guide for forest managers, forest owners, practitioners, forest-based industries, academicians, students and researchers, consultants, and policy makers for the forestry sector in India and South Asia. Key features: • Discusses status of forest resources as well as sustainability and forestry • Explains essentials of forest certification and process and forest certification schemes • Dwells on the extent of forest certification and certified timber market and certification of non-timber forest products • Presents framework for forest certification in India • Assesses challenges and potentials of forest certification Contents: 1. Status of Forest Resources: World and India 2. Sustainability and Forestry 3. Management of Forests in India: A Historical Perspective 4. Essentials of Forest Certification: Concept, Evolution, Elements, and Process 5. Forest Certification Schemes 6. Extent of Forest Certification and Certified Timber Market 7. Certification of Non-timber Forest Products 8. Framework for Forest Certification in India 9. Stakeholder Expectations and Economics of Forest Certification 10. Sustainability and Forest Certification 11. Challenges and Potential of Forest certification References Index About the Author

The last decade saw dramatic concern for forest problems. The future decades will witness an even more dramatic interest. Certification of forests provides a guarantee to buyers of timber products that their purchases come from well-managed forests that will not support unsustainable or inequitable practices. This produces multiple advantages to those with stakes in the entire chain of production, not the least of which is justification of their pricing. The Forest Certification Handbook is the first book to fully assess the role of certification and provide practical advice on developing, selecting and operating a program. The most critical role of certification is providing an incentive to forest owners and managers to raise the standard of their forest management. With international and national initiatives supporting specific principles for forest management and means of quality assessment taking place, The Forest Certification Handbook is the only published guide of its kind to eliminate any confusion. Here, in clear, exacting language, is all of the information you will need to complete a certification program.