New forest certification scheme launched

It will offer an alternative to private foreign agencies

- AMITABH SINHA

AMID RISING INTERNATIONAL concerns on deforestation and illicit trade in timber, the government has launched its own “national” forest certification scheme to validate entities that adhere to sustainable practices in management of forests and its products.

The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS) will offer an alternative to the private foreign certification agencies that have been operating in the Indian market for the last two decades. A report in The Indian Express, as part of a global investigation into deforestation and greenwashing by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), in March this year, had revealed that there were serious questions over the integrity of these certifications, which affected acceptance of Indian products in international markets and resulted in high dropout rates among certified entities. That report had also mentioned that the government was planning to start its own certification scheme for improved regulation of the market.