Sustainable forest management certification: The Canadian programme

In 1994, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) was asked by a coalition of twenty-three Canadian forest industry associations to undertake development of standards for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM). CSA agreed with the proposal and, for this purpose, formed a Technical Committee with representation from a wide variety of interested parties, including producers, woodlot owners, professionals and scientists, public and environmental groups, and governments. The open process, which was entirely that of CSA, was completed in two years, with the draft standards being approved by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as National Standards of Canada in September 1996. Verification that the standards have been achieved is accomplished through an independent audit conducted by a Registrar (certifying organization) accredited by the SCC. Certification is voluntary.The Standards framework consists of an environmental management system which is consistent with that of ISO 14001; however, requirements also include a public participation component, field performance measures, and the use of national SFM Criteria and Indicators developed by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, which in turn are based on results of the international Montreal process.