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Forests
Special Issues
Forest Management and Certification Systems
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Forest Management and Certification Systems

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2021) | Viewed by 17945

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hubert Paluš

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Marketing, Trade and the World Foresty, Technical University in Zvolen, 96001 Zvolen, Slovakia
Interests: examination and modeling of forest products market and trade; the role of forest certification for ensuring sustainable forest management; competitiveness of forest-based sectors; innovations in forestry and wood processing industry; bioeconomy and green marketing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Richard P. Vlosky

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Louisiana Forest Products Development Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
Interests: sustainable forest business management; forest sector marketing; innovation in the forest products industry; green forest products marketing and certification; wood-based energy; mass timber engineered wood products; international forest products trade

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For the past three decades, sustainable forest management has become an integral part of regulatory as well as voluntary forest policy tools. Certification is a voluntary verification process that provides an independent third-party assessment of sustainable forestry practices and chain-of-custody tracking of certified wood products from forests to the end consumer. Apart from existing national and international certification standards, there are also regional and guidelines. Using a bottom–up approach, certification aims to support forest owners and managers, local communities, as well as policy makers to integrate sustainability requirements into their strategies and business practices. Certification is intended to support development of best practices in forest management. Most third-party certification programs and procedures allow for the participation and input from a broad range of stakeholders, thus ensuring that environmental, social, and economic aspects of forest management will be considered. Approximately 520 million ha of forests were certified globally by 2019 under one or both of the two major third-party programs: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC); 93 million ha were certified by both programs. This Special Issue welcomes studies that consider environmental, social, and economic aspects of forest certification and their influences on sustainable forest management. Articles will focus on research addressing the role forest certification plays in the enhancement of forest resources and their contribution to global carbon cycles, maintenance of forest health and vitality, encouragement of productive and protective functions of forests, conservation of biodiversity, socio-economic influences and forest health, and certification perspectives of stakeholder sectors.

Dr. Hubert Paluš
Prof. Dr. Richard P. Vlosky
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Forest certification
  • Certification schemes
  • Sustainable forest management
  • Ecosystem services
  • Forest management practices
  • Biodiversity

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 3536 KiB  
Article
Motives for Sustainability Certification—Private Certified Forest Owners’ Perspectives
by Anna Thorning and Cecilia Mark-Herbert
Forests 2022, 13(5), 790; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13050790 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1967
Abstract
Traditional forest-management practices are currently being scrutinised. Forest certification may verify sustainable development practices in primary forest production. However, certification of privately owned forest lands cannot be taken for granted, as it is associated with the demands and challenges of forest management. Despite [...] Read more.
Traditional forest-management practices are currently being scrutinised. Forest certification may verify sustainable development practices in primary forest production. However, certification of privately owned forest lands cannot be taken for granted, as it is associated with the demands and challenges of forest management. Despite these challenges, some private owners of forest lands chose to certify their operations. The aim of this study is to explain these motives for certification. A qualitative approach, based on thematic interviews with selected forest owners, offers a context-bound and contemporary understanding. The implications of this research are seen in market development for certified forest resources and policy adaptations to support voluntary certification schemes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management and Certification Systems)
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18 pages, 2260 KiB  
Article
Revisiting Forest Certification in Sri Lanka: The Forest Management and Export Wood-Based Manufacturing Sector Perspectives
by Priyan Perera, Rajitha Lakshan Rupasinghe, Devin Weerasekera, Richard Vlosky and Rangika Bandara
Forests 2022, 13(2), 179; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13020179 - 25 Jan 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3691
Abstract
There are discussions and debates surrounding forest certification in developing countries. In this study, we surveyed 50 forest-based companies in Sri Lanka (43 wood-based manufacturers and 7 plantation companies) to ascertain their participation in forest certification, current and future forest certification trends, as [...] Read more.
There are discussions and debates surrounding forest certification in developing countries. In this study, we surveyed 50 forest-based companies in Sri Lanka (43 wood-based manufacturers and 7 plantation companies) to ascertain their participation in forest certification, current and future forest certification trends, as well as their satisfaction with the performance of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification in its economic, environmental, and social aspects, using an importance–performance analysis (IPA). Study results indicate that certified companies typically focus on exports and supplying raw materials for value-added exporters. The customer demand/signaling mechanism appears to be the primary driver of FSC certification in Sri Lanka. Forest certification was found to be helpful for companies to access new markets, keep market share, and sell products in existing markets. Results further indicate that price premiums for FSC-certified products exist, though they may not always be significant. However, certification positively influences sales volume and reduces business risks via securing continuous orders from the buyers. The IPA results further indicate that FSC certification has substantially improved company images by positioning certified companies as socially responsible businesses, while helping to create better business stakeholder relationships. FSC certification was found to have weak links in improving on-the-ground environmental performances of certified companies. Study findings have implications for the FSC certification scheme and independent certifiers, enabling them to identify the areas of FSC certification with significant performance gaps. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management and Certification Systems)
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20 pages, 2863 KiB  
Article
Conducting an Evaluation Framework of Importance-Performance Analysis for Sustainable Forest Management in a Rural Area
by Hsing-Chih Chen, Tien-Pai Tseng, Kun Cheng, Supasit Sriarkarin, Wanyun Xu, Arockia E. J. Ferdin, Van Viet Nguyen, Cheng Zong and Chun-Hung Lee
Forests 2021, 12(10), 1357; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f12101357 - 06 Oct 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2903
Abstract
We established an evaluation framework for sustainable forest management (SFM) development based on locals’ perspectives using the importance-performance analysis (IPA) method in a rural area of Taiwan. It identified the factors that affected local people’s participation in and awareness of SFM based on [...] Read more.
We established an evaluation framework for sustainable forest management (SFM) development based on locals’ perspectives using the importance-performance analysis (IPA) method in a rural area of Taiwan. It identified the factors that affected local people’s participation in and awareness of SFM based on local demographics, development factors of SFM, and perceptions of SFM, through the logistic regression method (LRM). Both the levels of importance and performance (I-P) of the SFM indicators were rated by the local residents and the differences between importance–performance among indigenous and non-indigenous people were examined. The factors that affected differentiation of local people’s participation in the SFM program were: (1) forestry workers, (2) indigenous people, and (3) SFM development factors. The findings provide both theoretical constructs and policy implications for SFM mechanisms for the forest stewardship council (FSC) and sustainable development goals (SDGs) in a sustainable rural development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management and Certification Systems)
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16 pages, 1344 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Forest Certification as a Tool to Support Forest Ecosystem Services
by Hubert Paluš, Martina Krahulcová and Ján Parobek
Forests 2021, 12(3), 300; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f12030300 - 05 Mar 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3276
Abstract
Certification provides a way to demonstrate the positive impacts of sustainable forest management (SFM) on ecosystem services. Ecosystem services provide society with a wide range of benefits, from clean water and carbon sequestration to the production of wood and non-wood products. This study [...] Read more.
Certification provides a way to demonstrate the positive impacts of sustainable forest management (SFM) on ecosystem services. Ecosystem services provide society with a wide range of benefits, from clean water and carbon sequestration to the production of wood and non-wood products. This study evaluates forest owners’ and managers’ perceptions of forest certification as a tool to support SFM and forest ecosystem services in Slovakia. The questionnaire survey focused on the understanding of the concept of SFM, the objectives of forest certification schemes, and especially on the examination of the perceptions of 288 PEFC- and FSC-certified forest owners and managers on how forest certification helps to support individual ecosystem services. Among the important factors influencing the level of understanding of forest certification and its role in ensuring forest ecosystem services is the size of the managed forest area and the implemented certification scheme. The results of this study indicate that forest certification is positively perceived as a supporting tool for ecosystem services, and certified forest owners are sufficiently aware of the objectives of SFM. Regardless of the size of the managed forest area and the type of the implemented certification scheme, forest certification is mainly perceived as a tool which improves the company image and represents a commitment to environmental responsibility while promoting SFM. Certified companies managing large forest areas see the role of certification as being more significant in ensuring selected ecosystem services, in particular, the provision of woody biomass and water. However, in general, forest certification is mainly perceived as a supporting tool for the ecosystem services related to the control of erosion, soil formation, and natural composition, as well as the function of species and ecosystem diversity, followed by the provision of aesthetic, scientific, and educational values. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management and Certification Systems)
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13 pages, 760 KiB  
Article
Procedural Factors Influencing Forest Certification Audits: An Empirical Study in Romania
by Aureliu-Florin Hălălișan, Bogdan Popa, Iñaki Heras-Saizarbitoria, Olivier Boiral, Germán Arana-Landín, Adelin-Ionuț Nicorescu and Ioan Vasile Abrudan
Forests 2021, 12(2), 172; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f12020172 - 02 Feb 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1732
Abstract
In the recent decades, forest certification based on third-party external audits has gained momentum. This type of certification has been developed as a monitoring tool aimed at improving governance in corporate environmental management and differentiating products in the increasing environmentally sensitive markets. Although [...] Read more.
In the recent decades, forest certification based on third-party external audits has gained momentum. This type of certification has been developed as a monitoring tool aimed at improving governance in corporate environmental management and differentiating products in the increasing environmentally sensitive markets. Although the scholarly literature has extensively analyzed the adoption and dissemination of forest certification, the findings of the external audits and certification practices remain under researched. On the basis of the analysis of 105 audit reports issued by accredited third-party certification bodies in Romania, this article sheds light on procedural factors that have significant influence on the characteristics of non-conformities (NCs) identified by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) third party audits. Our research offers empirical evidence that certain procedural factors such as the type of assessment, auditing days, number of auditors, or the presence of foreign members in an audit team have a significant influence on the auditing process outcomes: number and grade of non-conformities, standard references, or methods of NC detection. The study opens interesting new lines of research—the influence of procedural or other types of contextual factors on certification outcomes—and provides indications on the effectiveness of the certification procedures and guidelines in certification process quality assurance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management and Certification Systems)
19 pages, 1855 KiB  
Article
Effect of Forest Certification on International Trade in Forest Products
by Jiaojiao Chen, Lanhui Wang, Lingchao Li, Juliana Magalhães, Weiming Song, Wenming Lu, Lichun Xiong, Wei-Yew Chang and Yujun Sun
Forests 2020, 11(12), 1270; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f11121270 - 28 Nov 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2956
Abstract
Forest certification plays an important role in the global trade of legal, sustainably harvested timber. There is no accurate definition of how international forest certification systems impact international trade from a global perspective. This paper is intended to evaluate the influence of forest [...] Read more.
Forest certification plays an important role in the global trade of legal, sustainably harvested timber. There is no accurate definition of how international forest certification systems impact international trade from a global perspective. This paper is intended to evaluate the influence of forest certification on international trade, so that it can provide a scientific basis for the improvement of the international forest certification systems and for the development of relevant forestry industries in different countries. First, the influence of forest certification on international trade of forest products is explained in the economic model; hence, four hypotheses are put forward. Second, to test these hypotheses, we verify the panel data of bilateral trade and forest certification of all forest products among 67 economies from 2009 to 2018 by incorporating forest certifications into the gravity model. Finally, tests by country groups and product groups were further analyzed, respectively. The results show that: (1) The extended Poisson pseudo maximum likelihood (PPML) estimation solves the problem of the heteroscedasticity and zero trade value problems of the gravity model well in the forest industry. (2) Forest certification has an export competitive effect, a trade barrier effect, as well as common language effect. (3) Forest certification has asymmetric trade effects. The export competitive effect of forest certification in developing countries is greater than that in developed countries. Forest certification has become a trade barrier for developing countries, especially in the process of trade with developed countries. The common language effect is higher during the trade between developed and developing countries. The export competitive effect of wood products is higher than that of furniture products. Forest certification has trade barrier effect on wood products in developing countries, while it has trade barrier effect on furniture products in developed countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management and Certification Systems)
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