Certification
Independent audits conducted by external certification bodies confirm that forest management in the State Forests is carried out in a sustainable and responsible manner. The assessment covers not only forest management practices, but also nature conservation, compliance with the law, cooperation with local communities and responsible management of forest resources.
Certification of areas managed by the State Forests is carried out under the FSC® system, the Forest Stewardship Council®, and the PEFC system, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. Obtaining an FSC® or PEFC certificate confirms that forests are managed in a way that preserves their biological diversity, capacity for regeneration and ability to fulfil environmental, social and economic functions - both today and in the future.
Forest management certification is based on national standards - documents setting out the requirements used to assess activities carried out in forests. Compliance with FSC® and PEFC standards is verified through certification audits conducted by independent external auditing bodies. Positive audit results enable Regional Directorates of the State Forests to obtain certification under both systems: FSC® and PEFC.
The fundamental FSC® requirements are:
- Compliance with the law
- Workers’ rights and employment conditions
- Indigenous Peoples’ rights — not applicable in Poland
- Community relations
- Benefits from the forest
- Environmental values and impacts
- Management planning
- Monitoring and assessment
- High Conservation Values
- Implementation of management activities
In the case of PEFC, the fundamental requirements are:
- Maintaining or enhancing forest resources and their contribution to the global carbon cycle
- Maintaining the health and vitality of forest ecosystems
- Maintaining and enhancing the productive functions of forests, including wood and non-wood products
- Maintaining, conserving and enhancing biological diversity in forest ecosystems
- Maintaining and enhancing protective functions in forest management, especially soil and water protection
- Maintaining other socio-economic functions and conditions
- Compliance with the law
