Current Affairs Date: 09 May 2024

⇒ The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has launched the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme in December 2023.

Key Points:

• • This national forest certification scheme offers voluntary third-party certification designed to promote sustainable forest management and agroforestry in the country.
  • The scheme includes forest management certification, tree outside forest management certification, and chain of custody certification.
  • The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme can provide market incentives to various entities that adhere to responsible forest management and agroforestry practices in their operations. This includes state forest departments, individual farmers, or Farmer Producer Organizations engaged in agroforestry and farm forestry, as well as other wood-based industries in the value chain.

Forest Management Certification is Based on:

• • The Forest Management certification is based on the Indian Forest Management Standard, consisting of 8 criteria, 69 indicators and 254 verifiers, which is an integral part of the National Working Plan Code 2023.
  • A separate Trees Outside Forests Standard, is now introduced as a part of the newly launched Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme.

Advisory Body:

The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme, will be overseen by the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Council, which will act as a multistakeholder advisory body.

• • The Council is represented by members from eminent institutions such as Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Forest Survey of India, Quality Council of India, Indian Institute of Forest Management including representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Ministry of Commerce and Industry, State Forest Departments, Forest Development Corporations, and representatives from wood-based industries.

Operating Agency:

Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal will act as the scheme operating agency and will be responsible for overall management of the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme.

Accreditation the Certification Bodies:

The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies under the Quality Council of India will accredit the certification bodies which will carry out independent audits and assess adherence of various entities on the standards prescribed under the scheme.

National Working Plan Code 2023:

“National Working Plan Code-2023” for scientific management of forests and evolving new approaches was released on the occasion of the ‘World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought’ on 17 June 2023.

The United Nations General Assembly declared 17 June to be “World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought” by its resolution A/RES/49/115 adopted in December 1994. The theme of the International Day Against Desertification, and Drought 2023 was “Her land. Her rights”.

• • The National Working Plan Code-2023 acts as a guiding principle for State Forest Departments in preparation for the working plan for different forest divisions in the country.
  • National Working Plan Code-2023 deals in detail with the essentials of forest management planning, incorporating the principles of sustainable management of forests.
  • This includes extent and condition of forest and tree cover; maintenance, conservation and enhancement of biodiversity including wildlife, forest health and vitality, conservation and management of soil and water resources, enhancement of forest resource productivity, maintenance and enhancement of social, economic, cultural and spiritual benefits, and providing the appropriate policy, legal and institutional framework.

Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme Guidelines (Official Link)