Certification status & intentions
Status, i.e. statistics
Increasingly, customers are considering the environmental impacts of the forest products they buy, and the environmental policies and processes of their suppliers and the regions they draw resources from. The Forest Products Association of Canada and its member companies believe that customers of Canadian forest products appreciate the added assurance of sourcing products originating from 3rd-party certified forests. FPAC member companies are actively involved in all three sustainable forest management (SFM) certification programs in use in Canada:
- Canadian Standards Association (CAN CSA/Z809)
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Program (SFI)
SFM Certification Status in Canada—January 2008
| Standard Used | Acronym | Area Certified (hectares) | Area Certified (acres) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada’s National Sustainable Forest Management Standard (CAN/CSA-Z809) | CSA | 77,841,700 | 192,268,999 |
| Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program | SFI | 39,138,774 | 96,672,772 |
| Forest Stewardship Council | FSC | 24,352,520 | 340,577,514 |
| Total Certified for SFM standards combined: | 137,885,633 | 340,577,514 | |
As of January 2008, there are 138 million hectares (341 million acres) certified to the 3 SFM certification programs in use in Canada. The State of Canada’s Forests 2005-2006 report clarifies that of the 310 million hectares of forest land in Canada, less than half of it (143 million hectares) is subject to forest management. With 137 million hectares dedicated to forestry operations in Canada, and 123.75 million hectares certified, the Canadian forest sector has drastically closed the gap between the land they are allowed to operate on and the portion of that land that is certified.
Canada is in the world leadership position for certified forest lands. Only 1/10th of the world’s production forests are certified and yet Canada’s contribution is second to none, accounting for over half of the certifications recognized by the global Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) through certifications to the SFI and CSA standards in Canada. Canada is also responsible for one quarter of FSC certifications worldwide.
Forest Sector Achievements To Date
- Canada has the largest area of 3rd-party independently certified forests (CSA, FSC, SFI) in the world. FPAC members account for over 70% of all certifications in Canada.
- Canada has more CSA, FSC and SFI certified forest land in one country (138 million ha) than international schemes such as the Forest Stewardship Council has worldwide (100 million hectares).
- Both the CSA and SFI standards have been endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC).
- The PEFC has 203 million hectares certified globally and Canada is responsible for 58% of those certifications through CSA and SFI certifications in Canada.
- Canada accounts for more than 1/2 of the PEFC endorsed certifications world-wide and almost 1/4 of the FSC certifications world-wide.
- Canada has more fibre originating from 3rd-party certified forests than any other country in the world.
- Canada has more fibre originating from 3rd-party certified forests than any other country in the world.
See Canada-wide and Provincial Information to learn more.
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