Learn moreWHAT IS FOREST CERTIFICATION?
Forest certification is a voluntary process that ensures that companies and their products meet sustainability standards, based on the ecological, social and economic pillars. Both Forest Management and Custody Chain can be certified, ensuring the responsible management of a forest and the traceability of the stages of production, distribution and sale of a product of forest origin to the final product. The most widely used certification systems are the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC).
In Brazil, the certification of forests and the custody chain is done by several certification companies that use the FSC certification systems and the Brazilian Forest Certification Program (Cerflor), which is recognized by PEFC. In 2023, about 14 million hectares of forests were certified in Brazil under the FSC and PEFC certification schemes, including both planted and native forests.
Source: preparation by the Brazilian Forest Service.
1FSC: Forest Stewardship Council; PEFC: Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes.
In terms of the number of custody chains, in 2023 there were a total of 1,252 certified chains in Brazil under the FSC and PEFC certification schemes.
Source: preparation by the Brazilian Forest Service.
1FSC: Forest Stewardship Council; PEFC: Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
The Forest Stewardship Council aims to disseminate good forest management according to principles and criteria that reconcile ecological safeguards, social benefits and economic viability. These principles and criteria are common to all countries. It is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization created to promote responsible forest management around the world. In Brazil, the Brazilian Forest Management Council (FSC Brasil) was formalized in 2001.
In 2023, Brazil had 8,761,913 hectares certified in the forest management modality, which involves 155 management operations, between native and planted forest areas. In the custody chain modality, Brazil has 1,220 FSC certificates.
Brazilian Forest Certification Program (Cerflor)
The Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) is an international non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management through independent certification. It acts by endorsing national forest certification systems adapted to local conditions and priorities. In Brazil, the endorsed system is the Brazilian Forest Certification Program (Cerflor).
Cerflor aims to certify forest management and the custody chain according to the criteria and indicators prescribed in the standards prepared by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) and integrated into the Brazilian Conformity Assessment System and the National Institute of Metrology (INMETRO).
In 2023, there were 32 custody chain certifications for forest products in Brazil and 5,348,267 hectares of Cerflor-certified forest management from 38 management operations.