Sustainable Forest Management: The Canadian Standards Association System, 1996 Pulping Conference Proceedings

Kenneth A. Armson R.P.F.

Consultant to the Canadian Sustainable Forestry Certification Coalition

In 1994 the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) established a Technical Committee to develop a standard for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM). The initiative for this came from a coalition of 23 Canadian forest industry associations. The process of developing the standards was entirely that of the CSA, i.e. open and inclusive with representation loom producers, including woodlot owners, professionals and scientists, public and environmental groups, and governments. The standard applies to forest management systems for defined forest areas, and is not of forest products. Certification that the standards have been achieved is dependent on an independent audit by a “registrar” accredited by the Standards Council of Canada. Application to be audited is voluntaly. Requirements of the standard include public participation, the use of Criteria and Indicators for SFM developed by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, and adaptive management procedures. The framework of the standard is consistent with that of IS0 14001.