Sustainability Information
Forest certification is a process by which an independent third party assesses and verifies that a forest management operation, whether owned by a private company, government, or community, complies with a set of established sustainability and environmental standards. The primary goal of forest certification is to ensure that forests are managed in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable manner.
Below are two of the most well-known forest certification programs.
Certification Programs
Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI)
SFI works with the forest sector, brand owners, conservation groups, resource professionals, landowners, educators, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, governments, and universities to help address local and global sustainability challenges. The Minnesota SFI State Implementation Committee performs outreach and services for certified organizations operating in the state.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
FSC is an international organization that sets high standards for responsible forest management. They provide certification for forests and forest products to ensure they meet strict environmental, social, and economic criteria.