Certification in Honduras: Perspectives of wood product manufacturers, consumers, NGOs and government forest policymakers

Although research has been conducted that examines certification issues from stakeholder perspectives in temperate forest regions, very little has been done in tropical supplier countries. This study identifies key certification issues in Honduras, a Central American producer and exporter of forest products. Five stake-holder groups were studied: primary wood products manufacturers, secondary manufacturers, government forestry policymakers, non-governmental organizations and consumers. Results indicate that there a general lack of awareness about certification, an increasing willingness-to-pay for certification as one moves from the forest to the consumer, the need for transparency in the process, and the belief that certification should be conducted by the government at a national level. Key words: certification, wood products, Honduras