Overview
Environmental Certification of Timber
Certification of forests and forest products is a means of verifying timber is sourced from sustainably managed forest.
The Development of Forest Certification
Forest certification grew out of the desire to reduce the uncontrolled cutting of the world’s tropical hardwood forests. Forest certification schemes have developed in size and complexity over the last decades.
The Process of Timber Certification
Certified timber provides buyers an assurance the timber is supplied from sustainably managed forest. While they differ in some detail, internationally accepted schemes have similar processes.
Benefits of Forest Certification
Establishing forest certification can have many benefits but there are some concerns
Differences between Certification Schemes
All internationally recognised forest certification schemes embrace sustainable forest management, but there are differences that range from the definition of key terms to the approach that underpins the certification process.
Certification Internationally
Major International Forest Certification Schemes
Several forest certification schemes have become established with significant areas certified
Mutual Recognition and International Trade
Mutual recognition of qualifying forest certification schemes avoids forest certification becoming an international trade barrier.
Certification in Australia
The Australian Forestry Standard
Since early 2003, AS 4708-2003 the Australian Forestry Standard has provided the basis for an Australian third party forestry certification scheme. It was developed with recognition of Australian considerations and with respect to international certification initiatives.
An overview of AS 4708 the Australian Forestry Standard
The content of AS 4708 the Australian Forestry Standard reflects international and national sustainable forestry agendas.
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