While most forest certification has occured in developed countries there are numerous iniatives underway to certify tropical forests and provide governments with internal capacity to sustainably manage their forest resources.

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Global trade in forest products reached almost $200 billion in 2006 with developing countries accounting for over 17 percent of that trade. Over the last decade, China has quickly risen to be the world’s largest exporter of forest products in terms of value and is second only to the United States as the largest importer. Russia is China’s main supplier of softwood logs, covering about 70 percent of the country’s needs.

Third-party certification that wood products originate in sustainably-managed forests is an increasingly important requirement for suppliers, particularly for sales to developed country markets. The increased public understanding of the role of ancient, old-growth and other high-conservation-value forests has translated into increased demand for proof of sustainable forest management. Illegal logging and deforestation can degrade valuable ecosystems, uproot native communities, put further pressure on endangered species and fuel conflict and corruption. Forests provide essential environmental services such as watershed protection, biodiversity protections, and carbon sequestration. Sustainable forest management typically includes a scientifically estimated sustainable rate of harvesting, protection of ecological and social interests and maintenance of long-term profitability.

The two largest certification organizations are the Forest Stewardship Council ( FSC ) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Between these two initiatives over 275 million hectares of forest have been certified worldwide with developed countries accounting for 85 percent of the certified forest cover. The major certification systems are actively pursuing certification of Russian forests and certification has been growing in some of the world’s most environmentally sensitive areas, tropical forests.

Certification is not a global phenomenon in part because large markets remain in Asia where corporate and consumer demand is less environmentally focused and certification does not improve market access. Another hindrance to adoption of certification is that it requires adequate government and institutional capacity to enforce national laws on its own forestland. Furthermore, cost of certification remains high especially for small-and family forest owners. Illegal logging in many tropical forests attests to the fact that this capacity is lacking. To address these gaps, a number of phased approaches to certification have emerged. PEFC has popularized the concept of group- and regional certification, while FSC releases modified, lower requirements for small and low-intensity managed forests. 

Forest Products topic editor: Matthew Edwardsen