An explanation of the certification programme for forests. It contains critical analysis of what certification may or may not achieve in solving certain problems, and presents an comparison between certification and other international efforts at forest management.

Christopher Upton and Stephen Bass

From forester to retailer, stakeholders in the industry are under increasing pressure to assure customers that their wood products have come from well managed, sustainable forests. The Forest Certification Handbook gives practical advice on developing, selecting and operating a certification programme which provides both market security and raises standards of forestry management. It provides a thorough analysis of all the issues surrounding certification, including the commercial benefits to be gained, the policy mechanisms required, the interpretation and implementation of forestry management standards, and the process of certification itself. Three unique directories give details of currently certified forests, international and national initiatives, and active certification programmes.

List of Illustrations, Foreword by Duncan Poore, Preface, Acknowledgements, 1 Introduction, Part 1 Certification in Context, 2 Forest Problems, 3 Competing Stakeholder Interests and the Goal of Sustainability, 4 Policy Requirements, 5 Standards, 6 What Certification Achieves, Part 2 Certification in Practice, 7 Design Issues, 8 How Certification Works in Practice, Part 3 Current Initiatives and Views, 9 Forest Initiatives and Certification, 10 Views on Certification, Annexes, Part 4 Directories, 11 Active Certification Programmes, 12 Other international and National Certification Initiatives, 13 Certified Forests, Bibliography, Glossary