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WWF position paper
- WWF Position on Forest Certification 58 KB pdf
related resources
A sure investment in improved forest stewardship
Forest certification is widely seen as the most important initiative of the last decade to promote better forest management.
What has forest certification achieved?
This way, we can ensure that products have come from forests which are well managed; meaning they take into account environmental, social and economic principles and criteria.
The key to improving the way forests are managed through forest certification is the credibility and quality of a certification system.
Currently WWF considers the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system to be the only credible system to ensure environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests.
WWF therefore recommends the FSC system to consumers, forest managers, policy makers, businesses and the public.
FSC enjoys the support of most national and international environmental NGOs, unions, social groups, indigenous peoples, private, communal and state forest owners, timber industries, scientists and numerous individuals in more than 80 countries worldwide.
- It has led to greater recognition of the importance of environmentally and socially sound wood products
- It has engaged producers, consumers and retailers in a positive effort to help clean up the timber industry.
What is forest certification exactly?
Forest certification is a system of forest inspection plus a means of tracking timber and paper through a "chain of custody"—following the raw material through to the finished product.This way, we can ensure that products have come from forests which are well managed; meaning they take into account environmental, social and economic principles and criteria.
An issue of credibility
The key to improving the way forests are managed through forest certification is the credibility and quality of a certification system.Currently WWF considers the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system to be the only credible system to ensure environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests.
WWF therefore recommends the FSC system to consumers, forest managers, policy makers, businesses and the public.