Forest management certification

Forest certification  takes place based on independent, third-party assessments of operations according to well recognized standards of responsible forest management.

The certificate documents that the forest management incorporates economic, social, and environmental concerns in a balanced manner. 

why get certified

There are many good reasons to get certified. Some of the benefits are:

1. Increasing demand: Demands for certified raw material are growing, and often exceed existing supply.
2. Your market access is reinforced and enhanced. 
3. Communication with stakeholders is facilitated.
4. Certification helps you to improve the efficiency of your quality management.

5. Certification matters! it makes a real positive difference on the ground, as shown by several independent studies. Forest workers, local communities and the forest's wildlife all benefit from certification.

If you wish your operation to get certified, you may apply for certification to start the process.

You are also welcome to contact NEPCon for a non-committal talk about your opportunities.   

Your options

In collaboration with system accredited partners, NEPCon performs third-party assessments leading to certification. We offer single certification services as well as service packages leading to more than one type of certificate.

We work within the two most widely recognized international forest certification systems: FSC and PEFC. In addition, we provide assessments leading to FSC Controlled Wood certification and SmartWood certification of loggers. We also offer ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification.

For forest operations which aim towards certification but need some time to adjust their management practices, we offer to verify the progress towards FSC certification through the SmartStep verification program. We can also verify key aspects of legality: verification of legal origin (VLO) and verification of legal compliance (VLC).

Service packages
Some forest owners choose both FSC, PEFC and/or ISO certification in order to enhance their management performance and ensure access to specific markets. In case of multiple certification, the different assessments may be conducted in one single process, whereby the total costs of certification is reduced.

Pre-assessment
If the operation is large or if some need for adjustment is anticipated before you are ready for certification, we may recommend a pre-assessment. A pre-assessment may often be combined with controlled wood certification.

Group certification
If your operation is small to medium sized, we may recommend group certification where costs are split between all members of a group managing one joint certificate.

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