Government launches Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme

New Delhi: The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on Monday launched the “Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme” to promote sustainable forest management and agroforestry in the country.  

The scheme includes forest management certification, tree outside forest management certification, and chain of custody certification. As per the Ministry, this national forest certification scheme offers voluntary third-party certification designed to promote sustainable forest management.

It said the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme can provide market incentives to various entities that adhere to responsible forest management and agroforestry practices.

This includes state forest departments, individual farmers, or Farmer Producer Organizations engaged in agroforestry farm forestry, and other wood-based industries in the value chain.

The Forest Management certification is based on the Indian Forest Management Standard, consisting of 8 criteria, 69 indicators, and 254 verifiers, an integral part of the National Working Plan Code 2023, launched earlier this year.

A separate Trees Outside Forests Standard is now introduced as a part of the newly launched Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme.

The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme will be overseen by the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Council, which will act as a multistakeholder advisory body.

The Council is represented by members from eminent institutions such as the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Forest Survey of India, Quality Council of India, and Indian Institute of Forest Management including representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Ministry of Commerce and Industry, State Forest Departments, Forest Development Corporations, and representatives from wood-based industries.

Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal will act as the scheme operating agency and will be responsible for overall management of the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme.

The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies under the Quality Council of India will accredit the certification bodies which will carry out independent audits and assess the adherence of various entities to the standards prescribed under the scheme.