Forest certification

Is it Sane!?

It is the only sane choice. Who knows what destruction has been caused to provide your timber if its not certified! Certification shows that the timber comes from a managed woodland.

Why manage a Woodland?

Trees are a potentially sustainable source of building materials, energy and much more besides. This means they can not only supply us with the materials we need today, but they can supply the needs of future generations as well. To achieve this goal woodlands and forests need careful management, (replanting felled trees, selective felling where trees are to close together and pest control, are a few of the many activities, which are necessary to manage a woodland).

How do I know if my timber is from a ‘managed’ woodland?

If the timber is certified then it is from a managed woodland. The certification works on a ‘chain of custody’. Each company or individual handling the timber is certified that they have facilities for, and are keeping any certified timber separate from non certified timber: -

Managed woodland - Certified by independent body that it has a management plan, which is being followed.

Trees are felled - The company doing the felling is certified by an independent body that they have separate storage for certified timber and that they use and manage it only for certified timber.

Trees are milled (sawn in to planks) - The company doing the milling (sawing into planks) is certified by an independent body that they have separate storage for certified timber and that they use and manage it only for certified timber.

Planks are seasoned (dried) - The company doing the seasoning is certified by an independent body that they have separate storage for certified timber and that they use and manage it only for certified timber.

Planks are sold - The company selling the timber is certified by an independent body that they have separate storage for certified timber and that they use and manage it only for certified timber.

The certification has a wider interest than just the woodland. It makes sure that the woodland or forest the timber is sourced from meets a set of international standards and the laws of the country the timber has come from. These includes making sure that indigenous people are treated with respect, wildlife consideration are taken into account, and that forest management operations maintain or enhance the long-termwell being of forest workers and local communities.

Suppliers of FSC timber in S. Yorkshire

B&Q
Arnold Laver

Who can certify your wood?

FSC Forestry Stewardship council, The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international network to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC brings people together to find solutions to the problems created by bad forestry practices and to reward good forest management.

PEFC The PEFC Council (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, founded in 1999, which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third party certification. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests.

Both organisations use third parties to certify woodlands and chains of custody. In England these are:-

Independent Forestry
BM TRADA Certification Ltd
Wood Mark Soil Association