Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme

13.12.2023

Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme , Daily Current Affairs , RACE IAS : Best IAS Coaching in Lucknow 

Why in news:

The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme was recently launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to promote sustainable management of forests and agroforestry.

important point

• Forest Management Certification is based on the Indian Forest Management Standard, comprising 8 criteria, 69 indicators and 254 verifiers, which is an integral part of the National Action Plan Code 2023 launched earlier this year.
• A separate tree standard outside forests has now been introduced as a part of the newly launched Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme
• Recently, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Harsh Vardhan, under the 'Green Good Deeds Movement' had stressed the importance of purchasing products made only from certified wood to promote sustainable forest management.

About Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme:

• Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme has been launched to promote sustainable management of forests and agroforestry.
• The scheme covers forest management certification, tree outside forest management certification and chain of custody certification.
• The scheme covers state forest departments, individual farmers, or farmer producer organizations engaged in agroforestry and agroforestry, as well as other wood-based industries in the value chain.
• Indian Forest and Timber Certification Council: The Indian Forest and Timber Certification Scheme will be overseen by the Indian Forest and Timber Certification Council, which will act as a multi-stakeholder advisory body.
  • The Council is represented by members from prestigious institutions such as the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Forest Survey of India, Quality Council of India, Indian Institute of Forest Management.
  • Which includes representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Commerce

• Operating Agency of the Scheme: Under this scheme, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal will act as the operating agency of the scheme.
• Management of the Scheme: Indian Forest and Wood Certification will be responsible for the overall management of the scheme.
• National Board of Accreditation: National Board of Accreditation for Certification Bodies under the Quality Council of India will be accredited certification bodies which will conduct independent audits and assess the adherence of various entities to the standards prescribed under the scheme.

Components of the scheme:

• With three important components, namely Forest Stewardship Certification, Tree Out of Forest (TOF) Management Certification, and Chain of Custody Certification, the scheme seeks to set high standards for environmental responsibility.

Objective:

• This National Forest Certification Scheme aims to provide a voluntary third-party certification facility to promote sustainable forest management and agroforestry in the country.

Importance:

• The Indian Forest and Timber Certification Scheme can provide market incentives to various entities that follow responsible forest management and agroforestry practices in their operations.