Certification Systems

Certification programs are intended to play a key role in ensuring consumers that the forest products they purchase are produced from forests that are managed in a sustainable manner. These forest products include lumber, paper, fiber board, strand board, and could include energy and other bio-based products. For example, eucalyptus plantations in Brazil, managed by Plantar SA to make charcoal for pig iron production, are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC Brazil). Another company in Brazil, Tramontina (www.tramontina.com.br) produces FSC certified wood products using Brazilian timbers, and uses manufacturing residues to supply the majority (60%) of their energy demand and reduce their net carbon dioxide emissions, since use of mill residues for energy reduces their demand for fossil fuels. There are many international, national, or regional certification programs that can be adhered to by industry today.

The four major certification programs under which most Southern forests are certified today are the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC US), the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program (SFI) created by the American Forest and Paper Association, the American Tree Farm System, and ISO 14001.

• Forest Stewardship Council
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program
• American Tree Farm System
• ISO 14001

While these programs are currently used to certify forest management systems and traditional forest products, these standards could be applied to forest energy products in the Southern United States (Richardson and others 2005; Lewandowski and Faaij 2006). Energy product suppliers in the United States could certify that they were using raw materials from certified forests, as are Brazilian companies (e.g. Plantar SA and Tramontina). It should be recognized that many of these suppliers would be using materials from both certified and uncertified sources, and that type of mixed source could be accounted for within the chain of custody or labeling system. This would be one way to ensure that at least some forest biomass used to produce energy, whether it is heat, electricity, or fuel, is being produced under sustainable forest management practices.

The majority of forests (93%) that have been certified around the world are located in the Northern Hemisphere (Siry and others 2005; Taylor 2005), although a major driver was originally concern about tropical deforestation. Siry and others (2005) argue that forests which have been certified are typically well managed and that Northern forest resources are generally expanding. It appears that forest certification has developed as a market-oriented program designed to reduce global environmental degradation, maintain market access for certified producers, and possibly promote higher prices for wood products produced on certified land (Siry and others 2005).

As of 1999, non-industrial private forestland (NIPF) owners in the Southern U.S. had a relatively low level of involvement in the development of certification programs, as measured by a survey of landowners (Vlosky 1999). Furthermore, 62% of survey respondents felt that certification of NIPF land was not necessary, and that some combination of adherence to state guidelines, education of NIPF owners regarding sustainable management and harvesting practices, and "certification" of NIPF lands by professional foresters were preferred alternatives. These results indicate NIPF owners preferred to protect private landowner rights, as opposed to delegation of that authority to the federal government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and third-party certifiers.

The objective of this and related sections of the Encyclopedia of Southern Bioenergy is to inform landowners about the issues involved, certification programs currently being adopted in the South, and to educate them about sustainable forest management practices and guidelines available for their state. While it is not appropriate for this encyclopedia to direct landowners to certifying agencies, the information provided should be helpful in comparing certification programs which will be useful in discussing alternatives with professional foresters, including forestry extension specialists and agents. Readers interested in a comprehensive comparison among internationally recognized certification systems are encouraged to read the FERN report (Ozinga 2004).