Statement on SFM Certification

May 30, 2005

The International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) promotes sustainable forest management (SFM) and sustainably produced forest products to meet society’s needs. ICFPA members support high forest management standards around the world and are committed to using forest management and manufacturing practices that meet environmental, social, and economic objectives.

ICFPA members agree that credible forestry certification is a significant voluntary, market-based tool for promoting SFM, improving forest management on the ground and assuring customers that they can buy forest products with confidence.  ICFPA members agree that the continued credibility of certification systems depends to some extent on the following principles:

Internationally Recognized SFM Criteria—ICFPA members believe that forest certification standards should have requirements consistent with internationally recognized SFM criteria

Independent 3rd-Party Audits—ICFPA members believe that the credibility of certification relies on the independence of the 3rd-party audit process as much as the criteria in the standard itself.

Continual Improvement—CFPA members promote the continual improvement of the audit process, procedures and qualifications of the certification bodies.

Transparency and Stakeholder Input—ICFPA encourages certification systems in being transparent and inclusive in the development and implementation of the various certification systems.

ICFPA members are supportive of multiple certification standards reflecting the diversity of the forested landscape, not just in terms of ecosystem diversity, but also in terms of tenure diversity and other national operating contexts. 

ICFPA members support accuracy of information in the marketplace with regards to certification standards and their implementation. ICFPA members support constructive initiatives that increase the accurate understanding of forest certification standards.

ICFPA members support proactive constructive engagement of industry, private landowners, governments, ENGOs and other stakeholders aimed at improving forest certification and forestry in general.

ICFPA members support a separate set of principles, which aim to reduce illegal logging through institutional development and other appropriate mechanisms.

The ICFPA associations are committed to these principles and to communicating them with their member bodies.