Forest Certification: a potential tool to promote SFM in Africa

Forest certification is a mechanism by which well-managed forests are able to communicate information about the quality of forest management to markets. Activity Outline Forest certification schemes are based on developing two strategic tools. Firstly, national performance standards, developed in consensus with national forest stakeholders to be applied at the level of a forest management unit. Secondly, systems to inspect and evaluate forest management against agreed standards The need for institutions that will mainstream and guide the process of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), is fundamental Forest certification on its own cannot ensure commercial success. It is important that forest product processing is of a high quality. However, forest certification in combination with a high quality product can give access to high value markets. If African countries are to realize the commercial and value-added potential of the production, and trade/export of wood and non-wood