Central Idea
- The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has introduced the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme to promote sustainable management of forests and trees outside forests.
Understanding Forest Certification
- Definition: Forest certification is a process for evaluating the quality of timber, wood, pulp products, and non-timber forest products against set standards.
- Purpose: It ensures that forest products are sourced from responsibly managed forests or recycled materials.
Forest and Wood Certification Scheme
- Voluntary Certification: The scheme offers voluntary third-party certification to encourage sustainable forest management and agroforestry.
- Certification Types: Includes Forest Management Certificates, Trees outside Forest Management Certificate, and chain of custody certification.
- Standards: The Forest Management certification is based on the Indian Forest Management Standard, which includes 8 criteria, 69 indicators, and 254 verifiers.
Implementation and Oversight
- Scheme Operating Agency: The Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, will manage the scheme.
- Accreditation Body: The Quality Council of India will accredit certification bodies to assess adherence to the standards.
- Advisory Council: The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Council, comprising members from various eminent institutions and ministries, will oversee the scheme.
Significance of Forest Certification
- Buyer Assurance: Helps buyers identify products sourced from well-managed forests or recycled materials.
- Discouraging Illegal Sources: Aims to reduce the use of supplies from illegal sources.
- Holistic Benefits: Ensures that forest activities contribute to environmental, social, and economic benefits.
