Program on Forest Certification and Market-Based Initiatives

The past 15 years have seen increasing landowner interest in independent, third-party certification as a means to ensure and demonstrate conservation-minded forest management. Along the way the Institute has helped public agencies, First Nations, corporations, and universities test certification on their lands.

We specialize in assessing certification systems and in helping landowners understand how they can be applied on their forestlands. Our work includes evaluations of the major independent certification systems, including the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and the European Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

What is forest certification? Click here for definition and background.