Sustainable Forest Certification Standards
There are many sustainable forest certification systems in Canada and the U.S., some of which recognize certification by other programs (mutual recognition). For instance, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative ® (SFI^sm) program recognizes the American Tree Farm System®, the oldest sustainable forestry program in the U.S. As a company, PALCO is encouraging smaller forestland owners to become certified under this free program. Other programs, such as the Pan European Forest Certification PEFC and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) may be recognized by the SFI program in the future.

These various certification programs have one thing in common: they work. Certification programs have raised standards for sustainable forest practices nationally and globally. A comparison of these systems is available at http://www.certifiedwood.org/ search-modules / CompareCertSystems.asp

For all practical purposes, there is little difference between the major certification systems in California when it comes to forest practices on the ground. A recent study at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) suggested that this lack of differentiation is due in part to the already high standards set by the California Forest Practices Regulations and in part to the published standards and core indicators of the programs.

To obtain a copy of this study, visit the Cal Poly website at www.ufei.calpoly.edu The study, located in the publications section, is titled, "A Comparison of California Forest Practice Rules and Two Forest Certification Systems."