Forest Management Certification

While the concept of sustainable forest management is global, its implementation is local. This is why PEFC International works with national governing bodies such as PEFC Canada to advance responsible forestry through national forest certification systems. PEFC Canada takes this concept one step further, and requires participation and communication with local Indigenous Peoples, communities and interested parties.

Please visit the PEFC International website to learn more about their assessment of the PEFC Canada Certification System application.

The following are highlights of the PEFC International assessment of PEFC Canada Forest Certification System. For full details visit their website Introduction to the PEFC Canada Forest Certification System.

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PEFC International Public Consultation period for the revised certification system was completed on March 28, 2024. PEFC Canada Certification system is now undergoing an assessment by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor; all comments received in the public consultation period will be reviewed by the Assessor. For additional information, watch the webinar recording or review the PEFC International website. Find out more about PEFC Canada's certification system.

The Endorsement Process

After revising the certification system in line with the updated PEFC requirements, PEFC Canada submitted the revised system to PEFC International for endorsement. The PEFC Canada certification system is now undergoing the assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this process and be approved by the PEFC International General Assembly before it can achieve endorsement.

An important aspect of the assessment process is the public consultation. Over the sixty-day consultation, stakeholders from around the world can give their comments and provide feedback on any aspect of the system. The Registered Assessor will use the information received from this consultation in their assessment of the system.

• Find out more about PEFC Canada's certification system.
  

PEFC Canada – Forest Management

The PEFC Canada Board of Directors and Technical Committee has approved the PEFC Canada – Forest Management standard PEFC CAN ST 1001:20xx. This standard has been submitted to PEFC International to begin the endorsement process. A copy of the standard submitted for re-endorsement is available for information purposes at this time; it may be subject to change through the assessment process.

• Download a copy of the PEFC Canada – Sustainable Forest Management standard PEFC CAN ST 1001:20xx.

PEFC Canada now has ownership of the technical content of the withdrawn Canadian Forest Management Standard (CSA Z809:16 (R2021) formerly owned and administered by CSA Group. The PEFC Canada Technical Committee has developed a new draft standard, based off withdrawn CSA Z809:16(R2021). A Development Report for the draft is available upon request.  

Regular reviews and revisions are a key part of the continual improvement process to ensure the standard is kept current with the evolution of Canadian values and needs. As part of the revision process, open and inclusive public review and comment periods are held to provide input to the draft standard.

PEFC Canada held a public review and comment period in spring 2023. The ‘enquiry draft PEFC Canada – Sustainable Forest Management standard PEFC CAN ST 1001:20xx’ went out for public review in the spring of 2023. Concurrently, a focused outreach and notification was executed to connect with specific organizations, groups or individuals that had been identified based on the nine major stakeholder groups as defined by Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED in Rio de Janeiro in 1992) and consistent with the PEFC Canada Technical Committee Terms of Reference.

During the revision process and public review period comments were received from community groups, public advisory group participants, current users of the CSA Z809 standard, Indigenous representation, forestry consultants and academic institutions. There were multiple comments related to the language used in the standard, in particular the introduction and Annex A (informative) – Guidance and Certification. Certification Bodies commented on the Annex B Certification Body requirements as well as system requirements. Additionally, there were some comments on specific local topics of interest. The PEFC Canada Technical Committee reviewed all input received and changes were made to the standard to address issues raised as a result of the public review. A summary of comments received and actions taken is available here.

The draft PEFC Canada - Forest Management standard was submitted to PEFC in September to begin the endorsement assessment process. PEFC International undertook a secondary public consultation as part of the endorsement process; completed on March 28, 2024. Please visit the PEFC International website to learn more about their assessment of the PEFC Canada Certification System application. 

Feedback and future ideas

PEFC Canada welcomes input on sustainable forest management at anytime.

Updates in the PEFC Canada draft standard include:

• modernization of the standard to reflect current forest management issues in Canada, including recognition of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
• building on the strength of the existing public involvement model while adding flexibility to acknowledge the value of diverse processes and existing public input methods; for example, Indigenous, government, or locally-lead processes that allow for alternate processes;
  
• improved public reporting requirements; and
• improved accessibility for implementation by different types of forest managers across Canada, including Indigenous communities and smaller tenure holders.

The PEFC Canada standard does not compromise on the existing core requirements to meet international sustainability benchmarks for environmental, cultural, social, and economic values. The goal of the PEFC Canada forest management standard continues to be a framework for forest managers to plan and practice forest management activities in a manner that is reflective of the diverse Canadian forest values, and to recognize and protect the multiple benefits derived from Canadian forests.

The diversity of Canadian forests across our huge geographical and ecological range, and the multitude of diverse cultures, adds to the challenge of creating a standard that works in all Canadian jurisdictions and circumstances. That is why the standard requires local input into the process of developing locally derived values and targets for core indicators that link to the international elements and objectives for sustainable forest management through a process that is transparent and inclusive. These foundational aspects of the standard are consistent with the bottom-up approach of PEFC International.

Current Certificates to the withdrawn CSA Z809:16 (R2021) standard remain valid

It is important to note that PEFC Canada’s ownership of the technical content of the withdrawn CSA Z809:16 (R2021) standard does not impact current certificates or users of withdrawn CSA Z809:16 (R2021). PEFC Canada and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) are working cooperatively to ensure a smooth transition for all parties, with support from PEFC International. During the transition period, we can clarify the following points as they relate to certification under the withdrawn CSA Z809:16 (R2021) standard:

• Current certifications completed under the withdrawn CSA Z809:16 (R2021) will remain valid.
• Current public advisory groups will continue.
• Certification bodies can continue to conduct audits to the withdrawn standard and issue certificates to both existing and new users.
• The Standard Council of Canada’s accreditation of certification bodies remains in effect.
• PEFC International endorsement remains in effect.
• Fibre certified to withdrawn CSA Z809:16 (R2021) continues to be recognized as a certified input into PEFC chain of custody.

In other words, it is business as usual for current users of the withdrawn CSA Z809:16 (R2021). When PEFC Canada publishes the new standard, transitional provisions will allow current users to certify to the PEFC Canada standard.

History

In 2008, PEFC Canada was incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and applied to PEFC International to become the PEFC National Governing Body for Canada, effective on January 21, 2009.

Canada originally joined the PEFC alliance in 2001 with Canadian Standards Association (CSA) International, part of the CSA International Group which developed the National Standard of Canada Sustainable Forest Management (CAN CSA Z809). This Forest Management standard was first published in 1996, with CSA Group acting as the National Governing Body (NGB). The role of an NGB was outside of CSA International’s normal business and so a new organization had to be created to assume that role.

The initial Technical Committee for the development of a standard for sustainable forest management was established in 1994, based on the concept of multi-stakeholder participation. The basis of the standard is the Criteria and Indicators of sustainable forest management in Canada published by Canada’s Forest Ministers in response to the Rio de Janeiro Environment and Development conference in 1992 Statement of Forest Principles. A key concept of the standard is the use of adaptive management procedures that recognize sustainable forest management as a dynamic process that incorporates new knowledge acquired through time, experience, and research, and that also evolves with society’s changing environmental, cultural, social and economic values. The Z809 standard was revised in 2022, 2008, 2016 and reaffirmed in 2021.

The first Canadian Forest Management standard was endorsed by PEFC March 22, 2005. Since that time, several standard revisions were made, including re-endorsement in June 29, 2011 and March 29, 2018. Work is currently underway with the Technical Committee on the next revision of the standard.

The Forest Management standard has both performance requirements and management system requirements, including but not limited to:

• Recognition of environmental, economic, social and cultural values;
• Forest Ecosystem condition and productivity;
• Conservation of biological diversity;
• Soil and water resources;
• Timber and non-timber benefits;
• Communities and stability;
• Society’s responsibilities;
• Ongoing public participation; and
• Indigenous title, rights and treaty rights.

The CSA Z809 Forest Management standard has been approved by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as a National Standard of Canada.

Any forest company or individual with management responsibility for public or private forest land may seek certification to the PEFC endorsed Forest Management standard regardless of the size of the forest area - from a few hectares to several million hectares.

Certification to the Canadian Forest Management standard requires an independent third party audit conducted by a certification body accredited by a member of the International Accreditation Forum such as the Standards Council of Canada. The initial certification audit is followed up by an annual surveillance audit, with recertification audits occurring every three years.

Forest Management Technical Committee

The PEFC Canada Technical Committee's primary purpose is developing, reviewing and revising the standard(s) and guidelines related to the Forest Management (FM) standard. The scope includes systems for all types of forest organizations in Canada in both the public and private sectors. Standards will be consistent with the relevant PEFC International benchmark standards and guidelines in their current versions.

The Technical Committee is a broad-based and includes groups with multiple perspectives and interests, for example representatives from forestry academia and research, forest companies, non-government organizations, consumer groups, workers and trade unions, Indigenous communities, scientific and technological community, public advisory group members and government. If you are interested in participating please send your inquiry to info@pefccanada.org.

Development and maintenance of the PEFC Canada Forest Management standard and related documents is the work of the Technical Committee. The standard-setting and revision process is governed by the key principles of:

• Engagement – an opportunity for meaningful participation in the process that is open to all interested and effected groups, stakeholders and the public through participation in working groups, outreach and public consultations.
• Balanced representation – no single group should dominate or be dominated in the process. While each party is free to decide on its participation, the standardizing body makes an effort to ensure that all relevant groups are represented and considers an appropriate gender balance.
• Consensus – standards are approved by consensus. Any sustained opposition to specific issues is resolved by means of dialogue whenever possible.
• Improvement – periodic review of a standard seeks continual improvement and to ensure the standard continues to meet expectations of stakeholders.
• Transparency – relevant documents are publicly available so interested parties can follow developments during and after the process.

Standard Setting & Revision Procedures

Development and revision of the PEFC Canada forest management standard will generally include: reviewing and developing requirements based on international sustainability benchmarks for environmental, cultural, social and economic values, incorporation in a manner that is reflective of the diverse Canadian forest values, and recognizes and protects the multiple benefits derived from Canadian forests; discussion of issues relevant to sustainable forest management; review and consideration of input; and review of the draft standard. The following is a summary of the overall process:

1. Membership confirmation of existing Technical Committee members.
2. Identification of additional/ replacement and new members, including group mapping to ensure balanced membership (consistent with the membership categories). Also including identification of any barriers to participation and disadvantaged groups that may require accommodations for participation.
3. Public announcement of the process.
4. Review and revision of Technical Committee Terms of Reference.
5. Draft development and reviews.
6. Public Review and comment.
7. Development of the Final draft.
8. Formal Adoption of the standard.

The review shall be based on consideration of feedback received during the standard’s implementation and a gap analysis. If necessary, a public review and consultation shall be organized to obtain further feedback and input.

PEFC Canada welcomes input at anytime, please contact us and let us know what you think!

PEFC Canada will follow the complaints and appeals procedure for any concerns noted on the standard setting or revisions process.