CSA's SFM Program: Market access through sustainable forest management

Abstract

A growing number of national and international buyers are now specifying "certified" forest products in their procurement policies. In response, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has worked with a diverse range of stakeholders interested in Sustainable Forest Management in Canada to develop CSA's Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Program. CSA's SFM Program consists of four distinct, yet inter-related components: CAN/CSA Z809, Canada's National Standard for Sustainable Forest Management; chain of custody for forest products; product marking with CSA International's SFM Mark; and, CSA International's Forest Products Group. When these components are combined they provide a comprehensive, credible, and affordable forest certification and product-marking program. The list of organizations accepting forest products certified through the CSA SFM Program is growing within Canada, the United States and abroad. Key words: Canadian Standards Association (CSA), forest certification, certified forest products, chain of custody, product marking, criteria and indicators.