India introduces IFWCS, a national forest certification scheme, ensuring sustainable practices, transparency, and global acceptance of its forest products, countering concerns over deforestation and illicit timber trade
In response to escalating global concerns regarding deforestation and illicit timber trade, the government has taken a decisive step by introducing its own "national" forest certification scheme.
The initiative, known as the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS), aims to validate entities committed to sustainable practices in managing forests and their products. This move provides a viable alternative to private foreign certification agencies that have dominated the Indian market for the past two decades.
A comprehensive investigation into deforestation and greenwashing conducted by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in March of this year cast serious doubts over the credibility of existing certifications.
These concerns not only impacted the acceptance of Indian products in international markets but also led to a high dropout rate among certified entities. The report hinted at the government's intention to launch its certification scheme, focusing on enhanced market regulation.
The launch of the certification programme coincides with the establishment of new forest management standards, which are soon to be made mandatory for all forest divisions across the country. Professor Manmohan Yadav, who was involved in developing these standards at the Indian Institute of Forest Management in Bhopal, emphasised their importance.
He explained that forests in India are managed according to their respective working plans, which have now been updated with the newly developed Indian Forest Management Standards. These standards consist of eight criteria, 69 indicators, and 254 verifiers. While obtaining certification is not mandatory for forest divisions, adherence to these standards makes them eligible for it.
While the government-backed certification scheme is not compulsory for forest divisions, it is viewed as a positive step towards instilling trust and transparency in processes. Professor Yadav envisions its evolution into an independent entity akin to the Bureau of Indian Standards or Quality Council of India.
The IFWCS covers certification for sustainable forest management, the sustainable management of trees outside forests, and chain of custody—a guarantee of traceability throughout a forest product's supply chain.
The guidelines emphasise the potential benefits for various stakeholders, including forest management units, corporations, wood-based industries, tree growers, timber or non-timber forest produce traders, saw millers, exporters, importers, and other end-user industries.
Given that Europe and the United States are major export markets for India's forest-based products, particularly handicrafts and furniture, the IFWCS responds to the tightening import rules due to heightened sensitivity around deforestation and climate change concerns.
The global commitment at the Glasgow climate change conference in 2021, with over 100 countries pledging to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030, underscores the urgency and importance of such initiatives.