The Top Three Things to Know About Forestry Management and Chain of Custody Certification

Our forests are one of the most important natural resources we have. That’s why they are so vital for both human and planet health.

They help our environment as they:

• Absorb carbon dioxide, helping to regulate the earth’s temperature and mitigate the effects of climate change.
• Produce oxygen – essential for most life on earth.
• Provide a habitat for diverse species of wildlife.
• Regulate water by absorbing rainfall.
• Protect the soil as tree roots stabilize the soil where they sit.

For humans, forests can provide a place of peace, rest and spiritual enrichment. They are the epicenter for many recreational activities. Many communities also rely on forests as a source of food, timber and income. But managing these important ecosystems for the good of the planet and for the good of people is a delicate balance.

Ensuring the correct and effective management of forests and ensuring that the materials derived from them – from forest to end user – have been responsibly sourced is important. In this article we look at two certification programs that seek to uphold good and ethical practices in these areas.

By certifying the forest you manage, your customers are reassured that it meets independently verified standards that take social, environmental and sustainable business practices into account:

• Forest Management (FM) certification assesses forestry operations to ensure they meet international recognized standards for responsible forest management.
• If the forest you manage is certified, your customers know that it meets independently verified standards.
• FM certification shows a commitment to ending deforestation, conserving biodiversity, and protecting local communities that work and use forests.

As we face increasing environmental and social challenges, consumers are demanding that the products they purchase aren’t causing damage to people and the environment. NSF is accredited to SFI and PEFC Chain of Custody. NSF’s FSC certification body is Soil Association Certification, who are accredited on behalf of the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC).

• Chain of custody certification ensures that from forest to end user, materials have been traced at every stage of processing to demonstrate its origin.
• It ensures customers know that products come from responsibly managed forests with high ethical standards.
• Certification allows us to label our products using some of the most well-known logos in the industry.