What is Certification?
Forest certification is a way of ensuring that sustainable forest management can be recognised in the market place. It involves an inspection of the forest and management practice by an independent organisation, auditing against the internationally agreed principles and criteria for good forest management. The timber can then carry the certification label, guaranteeing that it comes from a well managed forest and enabling forest managers and owners to pass on the benefits of certification to their customers. Woodland owners in the UK can certify to the United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Standard UKWAS, they may then use the Forest Stewardship Council FSC or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes PEFC label to market their products.
What is Sustainable Forest Management?
'The stewardship and use of forests and forest lands in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfil, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems' (The UK Forestry Standard, Forestry Commission, 1998).
Why certify OUR forests?
- To gain recognition for good forestry practice and management.
- To ensure sustainable management of forests and woodland.
- To improve management practices and systems for the benefit of the owners, the environment and the rural economy.
- To control the international movement of timber, restricting the sale of illegally felled logs and reducing deforestation.
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Why certify MY woodland?
If you have a woodland with any commercial timber:
All of the major sawmills and timber processors in the UK are now using certified timber, some only accept certified produce. As more businesses and organisations in the private and public sectors specify timber from ‘legal and sustainable’ sources for new projects the importance of certified timber will rise.
If you have little or no commercial timber:
There are other benefits from certification in addition to timber marketing. Certifying your woodland will enable you to prove to funding bodies, woodland users, neighbours and business partners that the woodland is managed to the internationally agreed principles and criteria of sustainable forest management. Endorsing management practices and enabling you to display a 'green' badge with an internationally recognised FSC or PEFC logo.
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This will enable you to:
- Secure additional grant aid.
- Manage the woodland with a structured management plan to meet all your objectives.
- Promote the woodland and any forest products as being from a sustainable source.
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What does certification involve?
Your management practice, documentation and records will need to meet the requirements of the Standard; an independent assessor will audit this. Following a successful audit you will be awarded a certificate; you will then be visited annually to ensure that the management plan is being implemented and that you remain compliant.
How much will it cost?
Individual certification is the most expensive method; you obtain your own certificate from the certifying body. Costs can vary enormously depending on the size and number of woodlands to be certified and the current state of management practice - it can range from £1000 for single small woodlands to £8000+ for an organisation with 30+ woodlands of varying sizes. This method is most appropriate for owners of very large forest estates (several thousand hectares).
Group certification is considerably less expensive and more appropriate for individual woodland owners (although many large estates of 5000+ hectares have joined group schemes). There are a number of group schemes currently in operation, generally woodland owners join an existing scheme, although anyone can set up their own. The Group Scheme Manager will visit the woodland and audit the management practices in the same way as the independent assessor; he will then issue a report detailing what actions are required to meet the standards of the group. On completion of those actions a certificate will be issued. Costs can vary between £125 and £750 for woodlands under 100 hectares (250 acres).
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