Task Force on Forest Management Certification Programs
Preface
In reviewing the charter for our task force, we determined that even though the name of the task force refers directly to, "Forest Management Certification Programs," the direction from the SAF Council was to assess forest management standard-setting and evaluation programs. Therefore, this report covers programs that certify forest management and programs that evaluate forest management, but may not offer a certification. The 1993 SAF task force on certification faced a similar situation, and followed the same course.
Since publication of the 1993 report, several standard-setting programs have changed and evolved, and new programs have emerged. The dynamic nature of these programs led Council to charter this task force's work, recognizing that these programs will continue to evolve after this report's publication. This has led us to publish the report on SAF's website so that the document can be periodically updated, has internet links to the standard-setting programs, and can be provided free of charge to SAF members.
Our report represents the collective thinking of sixteen individuals, and hundreds of SAF members who have participated in the development of this work. It has been reviewed by the Committee on Forest Policy, the Forest Science and Technology Board, and local units of the SAF through the House of Society Delegates. This report provides a means for SAF members to begin to understand standard-setting programs, as it provides objective, basic information. We recommended that members desiring more information contact the programs directly.
The objectives for this report, as stated in the Task Force Charter, were to:
- Provide information to SAF members to help them better understand the complexities of the issue (i.e., development of forest management systems, standards, and forest product labeling processes), including impacts upon the forestry profession.
- Assess the status, trends, and issues related to national and international programs to establish standards for forest management practices, forest management systems, and/or labeling of forest products. This assessment would include a review of representative organizations and associated authorities for developing standards and indicators and/or providing certification services.
- Develop recommendations and guidelines for Council and State Societies about SAF participation in the development of forest management standards, systems and/or forest products labeling strategies, issues, and opportunities.
We hope the information we offer allows SAF to continue the dialogue about standard-setting for forest management. We believe professional foresters should be informed on these issues.
Return to the Task Force on Forest Management Certification Programs homepage
|
