Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification PEFC

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is the world’s largest forest certification system. PEFC UK Limited was established in the year 2000 and is a member of PEFC international, founded in 1999. It developed following the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which highlighted the importance of sustainable development.

The programme is an international not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation that aims to encourage sustainable forest management by means of independent third-party certification. PEFC is an umbrella organisation which works through the endorsement of national forest certification systems.

Its activities are financed almost entirely from membership fees. Membership is open to international stakeholders and national forest certification organisations.

It is governed by a general assembly, board of directors and the secretary general.

PEFC work to transform and manage forests locally and globally to ensure everybody can enjoy the benefits that sustainable forests can offer. To achieve sustainability, forest management practices should result in outcomes that are:

• Economically viable.
• Ecologically sound.
• Socially just.

Without meeting these three outcomes, forests cannot be protected, family foresters cannot thrive, forest-dependent communities cannot exist, illegal logging will not be abated and carbon emissions will not be mitigated.

PEFC promote good practice right through the whole forest supply chain. They ensure both timber and non-timber forest products are produced in ways that meet and respect the highest standards.

Core values of the organisation include:

• Respect for all forest ownership structures.
• Respect for forest based communities and social infrastructures.
• Belief in co-operation, openness and transparency.
• Respect for the tenets of federalism.
• Belief in free and fair market systems.
• Belief in multi-stakeholder participation.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and excellence.

The principles of PEFC include:

• Accepting mistakes and recognising where others may be correct.
• Building alliances around common causes.
• Recognising economic, environmental and social realities.
• Respecting governments and international processes.
• Honouring relationships within the PEFC community.
• Acting with integrity and honesty.
• Providing value for members.

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