Certification is third-party verification of sustainable forest management, done to assure customers that the wood they’re buying comes from well-managed forests. A company may choose from several systems to satisfy specific market demands. Some major forest companies, woodlot owners and value-added firms are certified and the ministry’s small business program is running certification pilot projects.

In the Forest Service we work with the various certification systems and certifiers—auditors—to provide data for their assessments and comments about their report checklists. As well, we help people who are considering applying for certification and we answer questions from the media and the general public.

Ministry staff are planning half-day training and information sessions this fall to increase awareness and understanding of certification. These sessions will include train-the-trainers courses for region and district representatives. An information toolkit is available in every BCFS office from your office’s designated contact. You can find information at: www.for.gov.bc.ca/het/certification/

Provincial certification contacts are Harry Drage, Victoria; and Pete Lishman, Kamloops. In the regions, contact Frank Blom in Kamloops, Hal Reveley in Vancouver region, Phil Zacharatos in Prince George, Barry Jenkins in the Cariboo, Terry Peter in Nelson, and Neil Endacott in Prince Rupert.

www.for.gov.bc.ca/het/certification

Tree Quotes

Why are there trees I never walk under but large and melodious thoughts descend upon me?
Walt Whitman,
Song of the Open Road