Behind the logo. An environmental 
and social assessment of forest certification schemes.

Report produced by Fern, May 2001, based on case studies by WWF France, Taiga Consulting, Taiga Rescue Network, Robin Wood, NRDC, Fern, Finnish Nature League, Greenpeace International

The full report is available from Fern web page at: http://www.fern.org/Library/Reports/behindthelogo6.pdf 
Other relevant information / Behind the logo case studies:
http://www.fern.org/Library/Reports/reports.html  

Contents:         

1 Introduction (see below)

2 Forest certification: five-minute guide to the key technical terms

3 Methodology

4 Who’s who in forest certification: FSC, PEFC, SFI and CSA

5 The assessment
I Objective, comprehensive, and performance-based standards, with clear environmental and social thresholds
II Equal and balanced participation of a broad range of stakeholders
III A labelling system, including a credible chain of custody
IV Independent third party assessments, adequate control mechanisms and stakeholder consultations
V Full transparency to all concerned parties and the public
VI Certification at the forest management unit level, rather than at country or regional level
VII Cost effectiveness and voluntary nature
VIII Commitment from the forest owner/manager to improving forest management
IX Applicability to all forest sizes and tenure systems
X An effective and transparent complaints procedure
XI Repeatability and consistency
XII A transparent and high quality accreditation procedure

Boxes and tables with relevant background information
Box 1: Comments on the CEPI matrix
Table 1: The number of hectares certified under the FSC, PEFC, SFI and CSA
Box 2: Governments and industry demand certification
Box 3: Performance-based or system-based standards?
Table 2: Comparison between the PEFC Sweden and FSC Sweden standard
Table 3: Comparison between the SFI and FSC USA standard
Box 4: Criteria and indicator processes and their relation to certification

6 Summary and conclusions
Endnotes
Appendix A: The questionnaire
Appendix B: FSC and PEFC certifications
Appendix C: The FSC certifiers
Appendix D: The Helsinki and Montreal Criteria and the FSC Principles and Criteria
List of abbreviations

Bibliography 

Forest certification is widely seen as the most important initiative of the last decade to promote better forest management. Backed by both Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the private sector, it has led to greater recognition of the importance of environmentally and socially sound wood products and has engaged producers, consumers and retailers in a positive effort to help clean up the timber industry. It has also strengthened a global debate on the future of forestry. Issues such as standards for forest management, who should participate in forest management decisions, and the merits of certification as a forest management tool, are now openly and thoroughly investigated. 

The only forest certification scheme currently operating at a global level is that of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), created in 1993. In recent years, several regional forest certification schemes have been set up. With all these schemes active in the same market, it is important that the significant differences between these schemes are understood and publicly known. Using the information presented here, forest-based-industries, governments, retailers, environmental and social NGOs, and forest owners can judge the validity of different certification schemes with a sound knowledge of their strengths and flaws. 

The focus of this report is on the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Canadian Standards Association’s Sustainable Forest Management Standard (CSA), the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Pan European Forest Certification Scheme (PEFC).Although other schemes are in operation, we chose to limit our research to these four schemes because together they supply over 90% of certified timber to the market and, in terms of hectares certified, are by far the largest 1 .

Each of the four certification schemes is assessed against a set of criteria, based on recommendations by governments, academics and the forestry industry. We believe that these criteria establish the essential minimum requirements of any certification scheme seeking the support of the NGO community. Our report aims to make an objective evaluation of the merits of each scheme. 

Although we would encourage everybody to read the whole report, those with little time available, are encouraged to refer to the summary and conclusions chapter, as well as to the introductory paragraphs that summarise the outcome of each criterion’s assessment in chapter 5. 

Last but not least, the certification debate is clouded by misunderstandings over terminology. This report contains a glossary explaining the most important technical terms. 

The full report is available from Fern web page at: http://www.fern.org/Library/Reports/behindthelogo6.pdf