Forest Certification

Ontario’s forest policy and legal framework has been established to ensure sustainable forest management. Forest companies operating in Ontario are required to develop long-term, ecosystem-based forest management plans. Sustainable forest management is assessed on each forest management unit every five years through an independent forest audit.

Forest certification is a tool for forestry organizations to have their forest management practices assessed to maintain access to consumer markets. The forest management practices are independently audited to a forest management standard that has been developed according to certain environmental, economic and social values. These standards are accredited independently of government and forest companies. This process requires applicants to demonstrate they are complying with or progressing towards those certification standards.

Forest companies in Ontario are encouraged to seek certification by independent third party organizations.

Within the limits of its mandate, the Ministry of Natural Resources provides technical and policy advice, both during the development of certification systems and to forest companies seeking certification of forest lands in Ontario.

On April 1, 2004, the Minister of Natural Resources announced his intention to require that all Sustainable Forest Licence (SFL) holders be certified to an accepted performance standard by the end of 2007. The government’s intent to require certification will help ensure the Ontario forest industry maintains preference in markets, and will contribute to a more innovative and thriving economy.

The forest certification standards being considered by forest companies in Ontario (and which meet the intent of the Minister’s announcement) are:

1. The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Sustainable Forest Management Standard (SFM), approved by the Standards Council of Canada
2. The two standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Principles and Criteria for Forest Management that are applicable to Ontario - FSC Standards for Well Managed Forests in the GLSL Forests of Ontario and Quebec (draft) and the National Boreal Standard; and,
3. The SFI Inc.’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

Figure 1  - depicts the status of forest certification on management units at February, 2008.

Ontario’s forest management standards are progressive and demanding. Forest companies are well positioned to meet the requirements of any forest certification standard or registration system.