1. What is Certification ?
Forest certification is a voluntary, third-party process that provides assurance that forest companies operate legally, sustainably and in accordance with internationally recognized standards. Certification and related product labelling inform customers and the public about wood products that come from certified forests. Forest management certification examines whether an operation meets a specified set of standards, while chain-of-custody certification (sometimes called CoC certification) verifies that certified material is identified or kept separate from non-certified or non-controlled material throughout production, from the forest to the end-user. To label a product as certified, both forest management certification and chain-of-custody certification are required.
2. Why should I choose a certified product ?
More and more, businesses and governments have expectations when it comes to the environmental reputation of the paper and wood products they purchase. The B.C. forest sector is meeting this demand through its broad participation in voluntary forest certification programs reinforcing sustainable forest management practices already governed by provincial law. B.C. accounts for 9.3 per cent of all certified forests in the world. Third-party certification provides additional documented verification that a B.C. forestry company is operating legally, sustainably and meets internationally recognized standards for sustainable forest management.
3. What is sustainable forestry?
Sustainable forestry maintains and enhances the long-term health of forest ecosystems for the benefit of all living things while providing environmental, economic, social and cultural opportunities for present and future generations. In B.C., sustainable forest management decisions and activities are based on scientific research, rigorous planning processes and standards, as well as public consultation. B.C.’s strong system of forest laws, monitoring and enforcement ensures sustainable forest management across the province.
4. What percentage of B.C.’s forests are certified?
37.7M hectares (64%) of B.C. forests are certified This means an independent third party has assessed the sustainability and quality of the operation of a forest on whether it meets a specified set of standards.
For more information on B.C’s certified forests, please go to Naturally Wood under the B.C. Forests Tab.