Centre launches forest certification scheme to counter foreign agency
- December 19, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Centre launches forest certification scheme to counter foreign agency
Subject: Schemes
Section: Environment
Context: Center launches forest certification scheme to counter foreign agency
More about the news:
- The Indian government has launched the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS) to address rising global concerns over deforestation and illicit timber trade.
- IFWCS will serve as a national forest certification scheme, providing an alternative to foreign private certification agencies that have operated in India for the past two decades.
- The move follows concerns raised in a global investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) about the integrity of existing certifications, affecting the acceptance of Indian products in international markets.
- The new certification scheme is government-backed and aims to bring transparency and trust to forest-based product processes.
- It covers sustainable forest management, sustainable management of trees outside forests, and chain of custody to trace the origin of forest products throughout the supply chain.
- While certification is not mandatory for forest divisions, adhering to the newly developed Indian Forest Management Standards makes them eligible for certification.
- The IFWCS is expected to enhance the acceptability of Indian forest-based products in international markets.
- The scheme will be overseen by the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Council (advisory), involving various stakeholders, and managed by the Indian Institute of Forest Management (overall management of the scheme)