Consumers demand that goods are produced in an environmentally responsible way. Markets respond to this demand by making various ‘‘eco’’ claims. Certification is one way to prove that products have been sourced in well managed forests, providing environmental, social and economic benefits. It reassures consumers of the origin of wood used in timber products.

Independently audited certification schemes provide a full paper trail from finished product back to the forest where the timber was harvested. An independent organisation carries out an audit and, as a result,will issue a certificate confirming that a forest is being managed in accordance with a certain standard.

The two best known schemes operating in Ireland are the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Each standard has been developed nationally by stakeholders affiliated to an economic, environmental or social group or chamber. Both schemes comply with an internationally agreed framework of standards.

In timber certification, two different processes are involved. Forest management (FM) certification aims to ensure that the management of a forest complies with certain rules and regulations from tree establishment to timber harvest. The second process aims to track the timber once it leaves the forest until it ends up with the customer. This is called chain of custody (CoC) certification.

Certification is a voluntary commitment but the message from Irish timber processors to private growers is to get your timber certified. It is becoming increasingly difficult to export uncertified timber and timber products. Although FSC and PEFC allow 20% to 30% of uncertified timber, this option is gradually disappearing because more and more private timber is reaching the market.

I believe that the only viable option for private forest owners in Ireland is group certification as costs are shared among many forest owners. Group certification can be organised for a number of forests owned by different people. Forest owners can formally join the group, agreeing to implement the required levels of management in their forests. A group manager defines management requirements and monitors members’ performance.

The group manager can provide support with the implementation and monitors compliance. An external auditor checks and inspects a random number of group members. The Department is setting up a pilot scheme to support group certification.

Steven Meyen is a forestry adviser with Teagasc and vice-chair of Sustainable Forest Management Ireland.