Certification programs used in Canada

Common Elements

Canadian forest managers can certify their forest management practices to one of three internationally recognized forest certification programs. These are the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

All three set high thresholds that forest companies must clear – above and beyond Canada’s tough regulatory requirements. They are tailored to circumstances specific to the Canadian landscape, such as the livelihood of local communities and the interests of Aboriginal people. They all include requirements for:

conservation of biological diversity
maintenance of wildlife habitat and species diversity
protection and/or maintenance of special sites (biological and cultural)
maintenance of soil and water resources, including riparian areas next to streams and lakes
ensuring harvest levels are sustainable, and harvested areas are reforested
protection of forestlands from deforestation and conversion to other uses
no wood from illegal or unauthorized sources
Aboriginal rights and/or involvement
Public disclosure

Globally, they are endorsed by independent non-profit certification programs as promoting sound forest management through principles, criteria and objectives that are viewed as the basis of sustainable forest management by governments around the world.

CSA and SFI are endorsed by PEFC - the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes.
FSC Canada’s regional standards are accredited by FSC International

All programs:

have optional on-product labels for use by organizations that have a valid chain-of-custody certification under that standard.
remain current and relevant through an open, inclusive revisions process involving public input, which typically occurs in Canada on a five-year cycle
are based on decisions made with representation from a balance of social, economic and environmental interests, and
require that independent third-party audits be done on a regular basis.

For information specific to each program, click on: