Monograph on Forest
Certification
Centre Advisory
Committee meeting
Training
Programmes
Forest
Certification & SFM for IFS Feb 9-13, 2009
Forest
Certification a marketing tool for SFM Sept 14-18,
2009
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Center for Sustainable Forest Management
&
Forest Certification (SFM &
FC)
Background & Genesis
Sustainable Forest Management was recognized as
integral part of sustainable development during Earth Summit at
Rio (1992). Around 160 countries have initiated C&I
(Criteria & Indicators) approach for SFM in association with
one or the other internationally recognized 9 processes. One
such process named as Dry Forest Asia Process was evolved in
1999 at Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal involving
representatives from 9 countries viz. Bangladesh, Bhutan, China,
India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Srilanka, and Thailand. The
Bhopal-India process is offshoot of this internationally
recognized process and has semblance with internationally
recognized processes specifically the Dry Forest Asia and ITTO
initiative. The Objective 2000 (ITTO) envisages that forest products
reaching to the international market should come from
sustainably managed forests. India is also committed towards
fulfillment of this objective. The Government of India has
opened a "SFM Cell" in the Ministry of Environment &
Forests. The National Forestry Commission has recommended
creating enabling environment to facilitate periodic assessment,
monitoring the changes and reporting on national level criteria
& indicators. The commission has also emphasized on the need
to develop Minimum Acceptable Standard (MAS) for SFM. The SFM
approach has been recognized as a thrust area in the XI five
year plan.
The Government of India constituted a "Task
Force" on SFM for modalities to adapt this approach. This task
force recognized 8 criteria and associated indicators developed
under Bhopal India Process as the national set of C&I. The
states and UTs have been advised for adopting the C&I
approach for SFM. The SFM Cell under the aegis of Survey &
Utilization division of MoEF has finalised 8 criteria and 37
indicators for SFM as National Set applicable to Indian forestry
situations through multi-stakeholder discussions. This National
Set of C&I is being pilot tested in two Forest Management
Units, one each in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal
Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Similarly, the Government of India also
constituted a "Task Force on Initiating Forest Certification in
India" under the Chairmanship of the Director General of Forests
& Special Secretary MOEF, GOI in 2004. This task force has
constituted a National Forest Certification Committee in Oct
2007 to suggest a framework for initiating Forest Certification
in India. The coordinator of centre of SFM & FC is a member
of this task force as well as the national committee,
representing IIFM.
In the backdrop of the above happenings at the
national level and the growing awareness about sustainable
forest management & forest certification at global level and
the increasing demand for legally sourced & certified timber
in developed markets, IIFM has set up the Center for
Sustainable Forest Management & Forest Certification (SFM
& FC) in February 2006 . The centre is expected to generate pool of
knwoledge and understanding on this emerging field of stainable
Forest Management & Forest Certification for the benefit of
forestry sector in the country.
Objectives of the Centre
To serve the sector by undertaking
and coordinating academic activities (research, training,
workshops, consulting etc.) pertaining to forest products
marketing, SFM, forest certification and related issues.
Publication and dissemination of
technical documents related to forest products marketing, SFM,
forest certification, and related issues.
To provide inputs for policy-making
and work as Think Tank (knowledge base).
To help develop a framework for a
national forest certification scheme for the country in
consultation with various stakeholders and work towards its
mutual recognition from the international schemes
To act as coordinating agency with
State Forest Departments for planning & implementation of
SFM and forest certification activities.
The mission of the centre is to integrate,
strengthen, and redirect the centres forestry research,
education, and outreach to address the needs of the 21st century
and a globalized environment. The centre fosters leadership
through innovative programs, activities, and research to support
sustainable forest management worldwide.
Thematic areas of centre activites
Training & skill development
The concept of sustainable forest management is
not new to Indian forestry. The forests are managed on the
prescriptions of the working plan formulated as per national
working plan code and duly approved by the state and national
competent authority. The revised working plan code envisages
incoporation of C&I approach for assessment of direction of
change in the forests over the period.
In order to appreciate the understanding and
application of these new aspects in the Indian forestry
management scenario it is imperative to provide sensitisation
and skill development training to different stakeholders. Thus
this activity has been identified as one of the thrust area of
the center.
Research & documentation
Under the aegis of center for SFM & FC the
research will be conducted to provide policy inputs to the
Central & State Governments. India provides a unique
opportunity and has substantial area under the natural forest
and plantation. The development of standards for forest
certification for various components of forest will be
undertaken in consultation with various stakeholders and work
towards its mutual recognition from international schemes.
Extension
The center has identified dissemination of
information on forest certification and tools and techniques
available for the sustainable forest management in field as well
as the curricula in graduation and post graduation level where
the forestry is being taught. The publication and dissemination
of technical documents on SFM and forest certification.
Networking
The center at IIFM will provide four-pronged
network between Central Government; State Government; Research
& Academic institutions; and International organizations.
The centre will be a pivot for sharing and dissemination of
information of SFM and FC through a worldwide network of
researchers, academic and research institutes, policy makers,
community networks, non-government organisations for
facilitating work for bringing professionalism in forestry
sector.
Activities undertaken at IIFM related to SFM & FC
A. Books
Yadav, Manmohan; P.C. Kotwal and B.L.
Menaria. 2007. Forest Certification: A Tool for Sustainable
Forest Management. ISBN: 81-7969-047-4. Pages 1-190.
Kotwal, P.C.; Manmohan Yadav; M.D.
Omprakash; B.L. Menaria and D. Dugaya. 2006.
Annotated Bibliography on Sustainable
Forest Management and Forest Certification - 2006. ISBN:
81-7969-036-09. Pages 1-186.
B. Workshop Proceedings
Proceeding of Sensitization Workshop on Forest
Certification and labelling - 9th November 2002. Page
1-13.
C. Workshop Papers
Yadav, Manmohan; P.C. Kotwal; M.D. Omprakash;
B.L. Menaria and D. Dugaya. 2008. Forest certification of
planted forests based on the experience of Bhopal-India process
at the Processing and Marketing of Teak wood products of planted
forests. FAO, ICFRI. Pp 132-145.
D. Workshops Organised
- 2000: Organized Regional workshop
for Dry Zone Asia.
- 2002: Organized a workshop on
Forest certification and labeling in association with Madhya
Pradesh Forest department.
- 2003: Organized Workshop
Sensitization on Forest Certification was at Agartala,
Tripura State in July 2004 under this project.
- 2005: Organised International
workshop on SFM- C & I.
E. Training Programmes Conducted
- 2006: Conducted 3 days MDP on
Forest Certification for SFM during November 29- Dec 1,
2006.
- 2007. Conducted One-week compulsory
training programme for IFS officers on Forest Certification
for SFM during 15-19 October 2007 sponsored by MoEF, GoI.
- 2008: Conducted 3 days MDP on
Forest Certification for SFM during June 25-27, 2008.
- 2009. Conducted 2nd One week compulsory training
programme for IFS Officers during 9-13 October, 2007 on
Forest Certification for SFM sponsored by MoEF, GoI.
- 2009. One week compulsory training of IFS Officers on
the topic "Forest Certification: A marketing Tool for
SFM is scheduled
during 14-18 September 2009. The MoEF, GoI, is sponsoring
this training.
F. Research Studies undertaken
- 2001: A project on "Operational
Strategy for Sustainable Forestry Development with Community
Participation in India" has been commissioned by ITTO.
(Initially 6 FMUs in MP and Chhattisgargh then 2 FMUs each
in states of Orissa, Gujarat, Sikkim and Kerala also
included).
- 2002-2004: IIFM was commissioned a
study on Study in Northeast, Training in Certification and
Auditing and Certification of forest areas by the
Development Commissioner, Ministry Textiles, GoI.
G. Policy inputs provided
Recommendation to incorporate
C&I for SFM in national Work plan code 2004 communicated
by MoEF to state Forest Department. The National Working
Plan Code (2004) is under revision.
Future Strategy and Work Plan
Further development and strengthening
of appropriate links between criteria and indicators at the
national, state and FMU levels, and efforts towards the
development and implementation of forest certification
programmes.
Providing policy inputs to Govt. of
India for initiating Forest certification scheme in the
country.
To develop field specific case
studies to demonstrate application of national forest
certification scheme standards.
To demonstrate application of FMU
specific C&I of SFM through intensive field studies in
different states.
Information dissemination- through
the centre specific website, quarterly newsletter, working
poapers, monographs, workshops, conferences, and training
prgrammes.
CONTACT
Prof. Manmohan Yadav
Coordinator Centre for SFM and Forest
Certification
Indian Institute of Forest Management
Nehru Nagar, Bhopal
Mobile: 9424413670
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